Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-04
STRANGE STORY TOLD BY AN OLD SECRET
SERVICE OFFICER.

A STRANGE STORY TOLD BY AN OLD SECRET
SERVICE OFFICER.
The New York Herald to-day prints an inter
view, reported by its Philadelphia correspond
cnt, with an old eX-secret service officer in ex-
PLANTATION of Mr.. Chauncey NJ. Depews reference
to what Gen. Grant had said to him of the inn
minence of a second revolution. 1T relates to
the assassination plot said this officer when
asked what Gen. Grants secret was.
THAT conspiracy was Matched before Lincoln
was inaugurated the second time. 1t contenl-
plated the abduction of Lincoln for the benefit
of another man. / refer to Vice President
johnson. He was to be made the great man of
the war. Lincoln was to be got out of the way.
johnson was a southern man; the struggle was
then an admittedly hopeless one for the SOUTH
but it desirable to have q man who could
be depended on for satisfaction, as Lincoln,
with Stanton behind him, could not be expected
to be lenient Remember, do not say that
Johnson was party to the conspiracy, but
johnson during The impeachment trial. Read
it carefully between the lines and see what it
means l tell you only this, that the list of
if printed tomorrow, convulse this nation to
its center. / have seen myself a note from
eai hi 70 tSn Eons asHng nm 70
any inferences; l merely mean that they were
on intimate terms"
"When and where was the conspiracy organ
at was the outgrowth Of Stewards direct in
terpositiOn in the case of Beal, the man con-
victed Of the plot to nberate the prisoners at
JOhnstOns Island, in Sandusky Bay. Lincoln
was appealed to and promised that Beal should
not die. Seward personally interfered and
was held at St. GATHERINGS Canada, a few
weeks afterward. The plot was Matched there
1t was born of personal malice more than south.
ern sympathy. The Beal case, and 1t alone,
accounts for the attack on Secretary Seward.
But this malicious scheme Of a small cabal Of
vindictivc men grew into widely ramified
conspiracy. Most dreadful OF all, 1t became
known among large circles in Washington.
There were plenty OF men in the Capitol on
March who Wentth to hear a different man
from Lincoln make the inaugural address. It
y, i terrible even now to think now rotten the
was The surrender at AppOmattox was q
crushing blow. It came sooner than was ex-
pected. Lincolns death had been resolved
tive few knew that this change had been made
in the scheme.
II have often wondered II Gen. Lee had not
temptation and FASTENED the capitalization. He
never would have sanctioned q dastardly act.
After the shooting the abject fear manifested
by some people In washington who had not
people were hanged or not enough. The most
experienced men In the service were put on the
case. But one by one they were withdrawn. I
conspiracy. found was shadowed BY other
people. have always suspected there was q
conference one very dark night between STAN
Information obtained about the conspiracy. /
was not present. though was in the house
when 1t occurred. The archives Of the House
Judiciary committee contain, or did contain,
able. Gen. Butler and George 8. Boutwell, knew
all that Gen. Grant knew. Ii either man would
tell what he knows, though It IL not all the
have merely limited Ct shows how wise CEN en.
Grant was to keep this awful secret 60 long. and
how indiscreet he would have been 70 confide
- 49, $50 49,