Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-07

they had relation to the conspiracy TO kill Mr.,
Lincoln. They were only accounts Of some
week or 50 after my arrival there, General Lee
caRe TO my room, and told me he had
A PLAN ON FOOT
Esnlra, \. Y. He said he had sent many pa n
ties there, but they always got frightened, and
only half executed their orders. He asked me
# would 60 there and take sketch OF the
prison, find out the number of prisoners, also
minor details in regard to the number of SOL
dieIs on guard, cannon, small arms, Sc.
readily accepted these new labors, owing TO the
fact that could not return to Washington for
fear of the detectives. The news of the evacu-
alton of Richmond did not seem to disturb the
General much in his plan, as he doubtless
thought then that the Contederacy wanted men
more than ever, no one dreaming that il was
virtually at an end. l was much amused at one
expression made use of by an ex-reb with re-
gard to the suddenness of its demise -" D-n
the thing, it didn't even flicker, but went right
out" Laughter and applause.l In accord
ance with Gen. Lees order, 1 went to Elmira,
arriving there on Wednesday, two days before
MIR. LIncOln's death, and registered at the
Brainard House, as usual, as " john Harrison"
The following day went to work, and made a
complete sketch OF the prison and surround
ings. About ten O'Clock on FRIDAY night I re-
tired, little thinking that on that night
BLOW WOULD BIZ STRUCK
which would forever blast my hopes, and make
me awanderer in a foreign land. ] slept the
night through, and came down the next morn
ing little dreaming of the storm then brewing
around my head When / took nv seat at the
table about O'Clock a. M, gentleman to my
left remarked: "Haye YOU heard the news?''
NO, I've mott 1 replied. what is it?''
why
PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND SECRETARY SEWARD
HAVE BEEN AssAssINATRD."
really put so little faith in what the man said
that made remark that 1t was too early in
the morning TO get OIL such jokes as that. ''Its
so, he said; at the same time drawing out pa
per andshowipg it to me. Sure enough there
saw an account of what he told me, but as no
names were mentioned, it never occurred to me
for an instant that it could have been Booth or
any OF the party, for the simple reason that
had never heard anything regarding assassina-
ton spoken OF during my intercourse with them.
] had good reason TO believe that there was
ANOT HER CONSPIRACY AFLOAT IN WASHINGTON.
In fact we all knew il. One evening as | was
partially lying down in the reading room of the
metropolitan Hotel, two or three gentlemen
that no one was around. They then commenced
to talk about what had been done, the best
means for the expedition, &c. 1t being about
dusk, and no gas light, and partially concealed
behind writing desk, was an unwilling list
eDer OF what occurred. told Booth OF this after
ward, and he said he had card something to the
same effect. 1t only made us all the more eager
TO carry out our plans at an early day for fear
some one should get ahead of us. We didn't
know what they were after exactly, but we were
well satisfied that their object was very much
the same As ours. Arising from the table I
thought over who the party could be- for at that
time no names had been telegraphed. was
pretty sure it was none Of
THE OLD PARTY.
L approached the telegraph OH ce in the main hall
OF Tue hotel for the purpose OF ascertaining IL
81 Wilkes Booth was in New York. picked up
blank and wrote "John Wilkes Booth" giviag
the number of the house. l hestated mo-
ment, and then tore the paper up, and then
wrote one
"a. W. B,'
with directions, which / was led to do from tbe
fact that during our whole connection we rarely
wrote or telegraphed under our proper names
but always in such manner that no one could
understand but ourselves. One way of Booths
was to send letters to me under cover TO NV
quondam friend,
LOUIS J. wKICHMAN.
Doubtless you all know who Louis j. WEIGH
man is. They were sent to him because he knew
OF the plot 10 abduct President Lincoln | pro-
claim 1t here and before the world that Louis j.
Weicbman was a party to the plan to abduct
President Lincoln. He had been told ali about
IL, and was constantly importuning me TO let
him become an active member. / refused for
the simple reason that told him he could
NEITHER EIDE HORSE NOR SHOOT A PISTOL
which was a fact. ILaughter.l These were two
NECESSARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
for us. My refusal nettled him some; so he went
OF, a. II afterwards appeared by his testimony,
and told some government clerk that he had a
vague idea that there was plan OF some kind
on hand to abduct President Lincoln. This he
says himself: that be could have spotted every
man on the party. Why didn't he do IT? Booth
sometimes was rather suspicious of him, and
asked me If thought he could be trusted. Said
SOUTHERN MAN.
ard always believed 1t until had good reason
to believe otherwise, because he had furnished
Information Tor the Confederate government,
ACCESS TO THE GOVERNMENT RECORDS
after office hours. 1 have very little to say of
Louis y. Weichman. But i do pronounce him
a base born perjurer; murderer OF the mean
est hue Give me man who can
STRIKE HIS VICTIM DEAD,
put save me from man who, through perjury,
ha nf
Double murderer :! He'll possesses no worse
fend than a character OF that kind. lApplause.l
Away with such character. leave him in the
PIT OF INFANY,
which he has dug for himself, prey to the lights
OF his guilty conscience. rAppause.l
telegraphed Booth thus:
81. W. B., in Nely York
''If you are in New York telegraph me.
John HARRISON, Elmira, y. Y"
The operator, after looking over it. said, :" Is
y; w: B.? TO which replied, "Yes." He
evidently wanted the whole name, and had
scarcely finished telegraphng when a door
rlght near the once, and opening on the street.
was pushed open, and l heard some one say,
" es, there are three or four brothers of them,
John, Junius Brutus. Edwin. and j. Wilkes
Booth The whole truth flashed on me in an
instant, and said to myself,
MY GOD! WHAT HAVE DONE"
The dispatch was still lying before me, and
reached over and took ii up for the purpose OF
destroying it, but the operator stretched forth
his hand and said, I've must file all tele-
grams" My first impulse was to tear il up, but
i pitched ii back and walked OFF. The town
was in the greatest uprOar, flags at half mast,
bells tolliDg, &c., &c. Still did not think that
was in danger, and determined to 60 immedi-
ately to Baltimore to find out the particulars of
the tragedy. But here wish to say few words
concerning the
REGISTER OF THE BRAINARD HOUSE
When my counsel, by my own direction, went
to seek that register. it could not be found.
Our inability to produce it on the trial natu-
rally cast suspicion over our ali6i. For
weeks, months, did we GEEK to find its where
abouts, but to no purpose. Every man who was
connected with the hotel was hunted up and
questioned. Every register OF the hotel before
and after the one which ought to contain my
name was to be found, but the most important
one Of all was gone. Now the question is what
became of that register? The U. s. govern.
ment, by one OF its witnesses, Doctor Mcmillan,
knew in November, 1865, that was in Elmirs
at the time Of the assassination. They knew it.
and they naturally traced me there to find out
what was doing That some of the govern
ment emissaries distracted that register firmly
believe, or perhaps it is stored away in some OF
the other government vaults, under charge OF
SOME JUDGE HIGH IN POSITION,
but this is only surmise Of mine. But the
circumstance involves . mystery Of villainy
which the All Seeing God will yet bring to light.
The dispatch sent to Booth also from Elmira
it was impossible to lind. We had the Operator
nj Washington during ny trial, but bs Said the
original was gone though he had copy Of It.