Middletown transcript., 1870-12-17

anxious to get all the information out of
me he could, | refused to tell him any
thing at ALL At last / said to him, " 1t
is useless for You, Mr.. Booth. to seek any
information from me at all | know who
you are and what are your intentions. +"
He hesitated some time, but finally said
be would make known his views to me
provided would promise secrecy. re-
piled Il will do nothing of the kind
You know well | am Southern man. If
you cannot trust me we will separate :"
He then said II will con6de my plans
to you; but before doing so | will make
known to you the motives that actuate
me: In the Northern prisons are many
thousands of our men whom the United
States Government refuse to exchange.
You know as well as the efforts that
have been made to bring about that much
desired exchange. Aside from the great
suffering they are compelled to undergo,
we are sadly in want of them as soldiers
We cannot spare one man, whereas the
United States Government is willing to
let their own soldiers remain in our prison
because they have no need of the men.
| think, if we can carry it out, will bring
about the desired exchange There was II
long and ominous silence, which at last
was compelled to break by asking
"Well, sir, what is your proposition 2"
He sat quiet for an instant, and then, bo-
fpre answering me, arose and looked un-
de-; the bed, into the wardrobe. in the
doorway and the passage, and then said ::
-" We will have to be careful walls have
ears" He then drew his chair close to me
and in whisper said: 1t is to kidnap
President Lincoln, and carry him off to
Richmond" " Kidnap President Lin
coln!" | said, | confess that | stood
aghast at the proposition. and looked upon
it as foolhardy undertaking. To think
Of successfully scizing Mr. Lincoln in the
capital of the United States, surrounded
by thousands of his soldiers, and CARRYING
him off to Richmond, looked to me like II
foolish idea. l told him as much. He
went on to tell with what facility he could
be seized in various places in and about
Washington as, for example. in his va
rious rides to and from the Soldiers
Home his summer residence. He enter
ed into the minute details of the proposed
capture, and even the various parts to be
performed by the actors in the perfor-
nance. | was -thunderstruck--
and in fact, might also say, frightended
at the unparalleled audacity of this scheme.
After two days reflection ] told him I
was willing to try it. | believed it prac-
ticable at that time, though now regard
it as foolhardy undertaking. I hope you
will not blame me for going thus far.
honestly thought an exchange of prison
ers could be brought about could we have
once obtained possession of Mr.. Lincoln's
person. And now reverse the case
Where is there a young man in the North
with one spark of patriotism in his heart
who would not with enthusiastic ardor
have joined in any undertaking for the
capture Of Jefferson Davis and brought
him to Washington? There is not one who
would not have done so. And so / was
led on by a sincere desire to assist the
South in gaining her independence. I
had no hesitation in taking part in any
thing honorable that might tend towards
the accomplishment of that object. TTre-
mendous applause. Such thing as the
assassination of Mr. Lincoln I never heard
spoken of by any of the party. NeUer
Sensation. Upon one occasion, I re-
member, we bad called a meeting in Wash
ington for the purpose of discussing mat
ters in general, as we had understood that
the Government had received information
that there wus plot of some kind on
hand. They had even commenced to
build stockade and gates on the navy
yard bridge gates opening towards the
south, as though they expected danger
from within, and not from without. At
this meeting explained the construction
of the gates, SO. and stated that I was
confident the Government had wind of our
movement, and that the hest thing we
could do would be to throw up the whole
project. Every one seemed to coincide
in my opinion except Booth, who sat 81.
lent and ahstraeted Arising at last, and
bringing down his fist upon the table he
said: 'sWell, gentlemen. if the worst
comes to the worst / shall know what to
do"
Some hard words and even threats then
passed between him and some of the par
ty. Four of us then arose, one saying :
If I understand you to intimate any.
thing more than the capture of Mr. Lin
coin I for one will bid you good bye"
Every one expressed the same opinion.
We all arose and commenced putting our
hats on, Booth perceiving probably, that
he had gone too far, asked pardon. saying
that he .shsd drank too much cham
pagne." After some difficulty everything
was amicably arranged, and we separated
at five o'clock in the morning Days,
weeks. and months passed by without an
opportunity presenting itself for us to at
tempt the capture We seldom saw one
another. owing to the many rumors afoat
that conspiracy of some kind was being
connected in Washington. We had all
arrangements perfected from Washington
for the purpose, Boats were in readiness
to carry us across the river. One day
- =. 4. AI.l Al