The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-09

niy ee'. VA as SabIulaH anu suCSceueu
IN go doing, as WAS proved by my witnesses
In Elmira. believe that costume guarded
! me safely through St. Adams. ! went In
| with others, and moved around, with the
detectives standing there most OF the time
looking ct US. OF course was obliged to
| talk as loud as anybody about the late trag-
edy. After having hearty meal lighted
q cigar and walked mp town. One Of the
detectives approached me, stared me d.
rectly in the face, and looked him quietly
back. In few moments was speeding
on my way to Montreal, where arrived at
O'Clock In the afternoon, going again to
the st. Lawrence Hotel. Soon after call
ed on a friend, to whom I explained my
former connection with Booth, and told
him was afraid the United States Govern
| ment would suspect me Of completely in
the plot OF assassination. He advised me to
MAKE Myself SCARCE.
I immediately went to the hotel, got my
things, and repaired to the room Of friend
When my friends tea time came would
not go to the table with him, but remained
in the room. The ladies wanted to know
why he didn't bring his friend to tea with
him. He replied that I didn't want any.
One OF the ladies remarked, I" / expect you
have got Booth In there" [Laughter.]
Perhaps so," he answered, laughingly.
That was rather close guessing. Laugh
teri At nightfall 7 went to the house of
one who afterwards proved to be most
| devoted friend. There I remained until
the evening of the next day, when was
driven out in carriage with two gentle
men, strangers to ms. One day walked
out and saw
wR1CHMAN ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MH.
He had little idea I was 80 near. One
night about IL o'clock my friend, in whose
house l was, came to me and said, In a
smiling way: "The detectives have offered
me 900 If will tell them where you
are" Every well" said I "giye me one
half, and let them know" They suspected
this gentleman Of protecting me, and they
had really made him the offer. One day
about II O'Clock was told that they were
going to search the house, and that / must
leave immediately which did. They
searched it before morning. This gentle
man was poor man, with large family,
plause.] 1 remained with this gentleman
until I left Montreal, within week or so
afterwards. The detectives were now hunt
ing me very closely, and would doubtless
have succeeded in capturing me had it not
been for blunder on the part Of
NY FRIEND wE1cHMAN.
He had, it appears, started the detectives
on the wrong track by telling them that
had left the house Of Mr.. Porterfeld in
| company with some others and was going
| north Of Montreal. Soon that section was
sWarming with detectives. was not with
that party, but about the same time I, too,
left Montreal in hack, going some eight or
nine miles down the st. Lawrence river,
| crossing that stream in small canoe. was
attired as a huntsman. At o'clock Wed
nesday morning we arrived at our destina-
ton, a small town lying south of Montreal.
We entered the village very quietly, hoping
no one would see us.
It has been asserted over and over again,
and for the purpose of damning me in the
estimation Of every honest man, that I
DESERTED HER WHO GAVE NE BIRTH
In the direst hour of her need. Truly
would l have merited the execration of
every man. had such been the case. But
| such was not the case. When l left Mon
treal there was no cause for uneasiness on
my part, and upon my arrival in the coun.
| try I wrote to my friends in Montreal to
| keep me posted in regard to the approach
| ing trial, and to send me the newspapers
regularly. I received letters from them
frequently, in all of which they assured me
| there was no cause of anxiety; that it was
only matter of time, and it would all be
well. After y while papers did not come so
| regularly, and those that did spoke very
encouragingly. A little while afterwards,
when they came,
SENTENCES WERE MUTILATED WITH INK AND
PAPER.
I Iprotested against such actions, and for
| some time l received no papers ut all. l
became very uneasy, and wrote for publi-
cation an article signed by myself, which
sent to Montreal to be forwarded for publi-
| cation in the New York World. It is need.
less to say it never went. Things continued
| in this way for some time, until I could
stand the suspense no longer. I deter
mined to send messenger to Washington
for that purpose, and secured the services
Of an intelligent and educated gentleman.
started him off Immediately, paying all
expenses. I gave him a letter to friend of
mine in Washington, with instructions to
| say to him to put himself In communica-
tion with the counsel for the defence, and
to make correct report to me as to how
the case stood if there was any danger !;
and also to communicate with me ii my
presence was necessary, and to inform me
without delay ) with an urgent request
that he would see and inquire for himself
how matters stood.
He left me, and God alone knows the sus-
pense and anxiety OF my mind during the
days Of his absence. imagined and thought
all kinds of things; yet was poWeriess to
act. At last he returned, and so bright and
cheerful was his countenance thnt confess
one-half of my fears were dispelled. He
represented
EVERYTHING As PROGRESSING WELL,
and brought me this message from the gen.
tleman in Washington to whom had sent:
d. opnrahoroinr IN
rious consequences. Remain perfectly quiet,
as any action on your part would only tend
to make matters worse. If you can be OF
any service to us we will let you know, but
keep quiet" ~.
Just on the eve Of my departure to join
party of gentlemen on hunting excursion,
while / was waiting at the hotel for the
train, the proprietor handed me paper,
saying:
"READ THAT ABOUT THH C0NsPIRAT0Rs."
Little did the man know who was, or
how closely that paragraph bore upon me
or mine. That paper informed me that on
q day which was then present, and at an
hour which had then come and gone, the
most hellish of deeds was to be enacted.
It had been determined upon and carried
out even before had intimation that there
was any danger. It would be folly for me
to attempt to describe my feelings. After
gazing at the paper for some time I dropped
It on the floor, turning On my heel and going
directly to the house where l had been stop
ping before. When I entered the room
found my friend sitting there. AS soon as
he saw me,
he TURNED DEADLY PALE,
but never uttered word. Isaid:" You
doubtless thought you were acting friend,
the part of friend, towards me, but you