Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-06-04

In ScTijHer's for June we find some inter-
esting recollections of Charles Sumner. by
his former secretary, A. B. johnson. The
following extract is an account land ezpla-
nation) of the plot to asslsSinate Mr.. Sum
ner, in 1865
simultaneously with the murder Of the
President, two rough, s;alwart men had gone
twice to Mr.. Sumner rooms, and their sus-
picious demeanor had 50 frightened the
women servants who say them, that no con-
current story had been obtained from them
as to the appearance of the intruders. The
servants had been carefully examined and
their every word had been Photographed
drawings OF the suspicious visitors had been
made by artists from the description shown
to them, and altered again and again until
they could no longer suggest any change in
form or feature. Photographs Of these had
then been placed in the hands of the detec-
tIves, but up to this time no tidings had been
gained as to the persons sought. They might
have come up from hell and then gone back
there, for all he could learn. the secretary
SAID. But 50 long as they We're undisc0v-
cred, or at least 50 long "a their identity
was not known, Mr.. Stanton thought il ab-
sOlutely necessary that some care should be
taken OF Mr.. SumLer, 50 VIGOROUSLY careless
was he OF his own safety. On hearing these
details, Mr.. Sumner ceased 10 demand the
removal of the guard, though he loosely
prOiessed to be more afraid Of them than of
those they were to defend him against.
Perhaps he had reason, for the soldiers had
refreshments each night at his expense, and
the kind of Teireshmeat was left to the Sc
lection Of the sergeant. But when the lady
Of the house permitted her cook t. give the
soldiers coffee and sandwiche, in the kitchen
at midnight, instead of having the refresh
ments served from the ncghboring restau-
rant, the guards were less dangerous 20 their
friends
no the two men were thG: - frightened
the servants at Mr. Summers lodgings and
by their singular actions gave point 10 the
suspicious OF the secretary OF war, was often
subject OF conversation among the very
few OF the senator friends to whom the in
cldent was known. They naturally watched
the developments made during the trial of
the cOnsplratOrs, but no conclusion was
reached. 1t remained a. one of the unray-
elled tangles Of affairs until after the seua-
tor : death. when | accidentally came upon
the trail which led 10 the discovery of me
Identity OF the suspicious characters, and !
received from their own lips, they having
little idea Of the commotion their course
had caused, an account Of their visit to Mr.
Summers rooms on that oyenttul night
They were members OF the Massachusetts
delegation to congress, one the late chair
man Of the committee OF ways aad means,
now Mr.. Sumnor' : successor 10 the senate.
Henry L. Dawes ani the otheg bis lriend
Mr.. G0och.
The facts were thus dclilel Mr.. Dawes
and Mr.. G0Och had been to Richmond, aud
returning TO Washington. had made a tour
OF the battle fields about Manassas. reaching
Washington on the night OF the fourteenth
Of April, l,G5, about sunset. Alter supper
they started out for walk, joking each
other as to their appearance. And well they
might. Their clothing was rough, travel
worn, dusty, and even mud-s,ailci. Iheir
hands, faces. and nccks were much sun
burned, in spite of the wiie-brimmcd hats
they wore. Each carried a stick, or rather,
a cuigel, cut a. q souvenir on some battle
field. and the hair and beard Of each were
longer than usual Thus accJgter5d, they
concluded to call on Mr.. Sumner. lie then
had chambers at the corner %! and Ihir-
toenth streets. they knew tho house well
SO. without ringing, they mounted tie stairs
and raped at his door, using their sticks
When it appeared that the senator was out
they lett the house, anu passing on, con-
cluded to call on the President. There again
they were disappointed. tor it appeared,
when they rung at the White House, that
Mr.. Lincoln had gone with some friends 10
the theatre. On their way back to their
hotel they stopped again At Mr.. Summers
lodgings, and again went up 70 his rooms,
and raped at his door. The noise they
made brought servant to the loot Of the
stairs They leaned over the baluStrade and
questioned her When did the senator %
out? Did he say when he should return?
Would it, they Queried between themselves,
be worth while to wait? And then they
laughed at the evident fear the servant had
of two such rough-loaking customers. As
they were quite iatigued, they went back 10
their hotel, and in the morning woke to
learn that while they were last AZ Mr.. Sum
ner's lodgings, the shot had been fired that
took the life of Mr. Lincoln.