Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-09

| opinion except Booth, who sat silent and
distracted, arising at last, and bringing
down his fist upon the table, he said,
"Well, gentlemen, if the worst comes to
the worst shall know what to do"
THEY DON'T AGREE WITH HIM.
Some hard words and even threats
then passed between him and some of
the party. Four of US then arose, one
saying:
eff l understand you to intimate any
thing more than the capture of Mr. Lin
coin, l for one bid you goodbye
Every one expressed the same opinion
We all arose and commenced putting our
hats on. Booth perceived, probably, that
he had gone too far, and asked pardon.
saying that he had drank too much cham
pague. After some difficulty everything
was amicably arranged, and we separated
at o'clock in the morning.
EVERYTHING IN READINESS.
Days, weeks and months passed by
without an opportunity presenting itself
for Us to attempt the capture. We sell
dom saw one another, owing to the many
rumOis ail0at that a conspiracy of some
kind was being cOncocted in Washington.
We had all arrangements perfected from
Washington for the purpose Boats were
IN readiness to convey US across the river.
NARROW ESCAPE OF Mr.. LINCOLN.
OIe day we received information that
the President would visit the Seventh
Street Hospital for the purpose of being
present at an entertainment 70 be given
for the benefit of wounded soldiers. The
report only reached us about three quar-
teis of an hour before the time appointed,
but so perfect was our communication
that we were instantly in our saddles, On
the way to the hospital; this was between
one and tive O'Clock in the evening. II
was our intention to seize the carriage,
which was drawn by splendid
pair of horses, and 30 have one of our
men mount the box and drive for
Southern Maryland, via Benning's bridge.
We felt confident that all the cavalv 10
the city could never overhaul US, we were
all moulted on swift horses, besides hsv-
ing thorough knowledge of the country,
it being determined to abandon the c4rri-
age after passing the city limits. Upon
the sUddenness of the blow and the &C.
| lerity of our movements we depended for
SUCCESS. By the time the alarm could
have been given, and horses saddled, we
| would have been on our way through
| Southern Maryland towards the PoGmac
river. To our great disappointment,
| however, The President was not there,
but enc If the Government officers, Mr..
Chase, if l mistake not. We did not dis
turb him, IS we wanted bigger chase
| Qaugh;er) than he could have afforded us.
1t was certainly bitter disappointment,
but yet, l think, most fortunate
one for US. 1t was our last attempts
THE PLOT ABANDONED.
We, soon after this, became convinced
| that we could not remain much longer
undiscovered, and slat we must abandon
our enterprise. Accordingly a separation
finally took place, and | never after saw
any of the party except one, and that
was when was on my way from Rich
mond to Canada on business of quite a
Different nature, about which will speak
presently. Such is the story of our alb
ductiOn plot. The last time saw any of
the party went to hotel and stopped
over hist night. As detective hal been
to ny house inquiring of the servant my
whereabouts, in tie early train next
morning, Tuesday, April 4, 1865, / left
fol- New York, and that was the last time
ever was in Washington till brought
there by the United States Government, q
captive in irons, all reports to the con-
trary notwithstanding.
HIS WHEREABOUTS ON THE 18th OF APRIL.
The United States, you will remember,
tried to PROVEN presence in Washing
ton on the 1Sih of April, the day on
which Mr.. Lincoln met his death. On ar
irving in New York l called at Booths
house and was told by the servant that he
he'd left that morning, suddenly, on the
| ground of going to Boston to fulfill an
engagement at the theater. In the eve
ming Of the same day took the cars for
Montreal, arriving there the next day
put up at the St. Lawrence Hotel, regis
iering myself as John Harrison, such be-
Jog my two first names.
PLOT FOR THE RELEASE OF THE ELMYRA PRI-
soNERs.
Then be details his trip made once TO
Einyra, n. Y to make sketch Of Con-
federaie prison there, and to perfect a
plot formed in Csnsda 10 release the pr
sOners. The next day after bis arrival at
Elmyra he heard of the assassination, and
just as he was about to start for Washing
ton, but he reconsidered his trip and went
straight back to Canada, where he was
secreted till he went to Europe. o
| DID NOT DESERT HIS MOTHER.
He repels the charge that he deserted
his mother, and says that his Washington
friends advised him that she was in no
danger, but does not mention that she
knew anything of the abduction plot He
says that the witness Weichman, on
whose testimony Mrs Surratt was hung,
was in the abduction plot, and, while a
clerk in the War Department furnished
Surrstt with a knowledge of Federal
troops, which the latter conveyed to Rich
| mOnd.