St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-22
Recolleetions of the Assassin
by the Owner of Ford's
Theatep.
The Original Plan of Abduc-
! ton and the Scheme of
Conspiracy.
Booths Conduct on the Day
the Great Crime Was
Done.
John 7. Ford's Original Story
in the North American
s Review.

s. premise this history of day with
the statement, that John Wilkes Booth,
several months prior to March 4, 1863,
had conceived project to kidnap
President Lincoln, either at one of the
theaters OF in the highways of the Dis
trlct, and convey him through Southern
Maryland to the lower Potomac, then
across into Virginia and into the Con-
federate lines; and that he had con-
spired with Payne, Adzerott, O'Lough-
lin and Arnold in 1864, and with
John III. Surratt. in addition, in 1865,
promising these associates the aid of
an actor. If the capture was made in
the theater all the lights were to be eX-
tinguished by one knowing how to do
it, and it was arranged, if necessary, to
use Lloyd'S house Ell route to the lower
Potomac, where they expected to cross
into Virginia. This conspiracy failed,
and the conspirators separated soon
after the 4th of March, 1868, Arnold,
O'L0ughlin and Surratt leaving " ash
ington. The design of abducting the
president was then finally abandoned.
On the morning of April IA, eS65, it
was fully IL a. IN. when John Wilkes
Booth came from his chamber and en-
tered the breakfast room at the Ma
tional hotel, Washington. lie was the
last man at breakfast that day. One
lady only was in the room, flush
ing her morning meal. She knew
him, and responded to his bow
of recognition. He breakfasted
IQi laf In No hal
finished, went to the barber shop, and
after his toilet was completed walked
out, and stopping few minutes at
Humphreys stables, near the hotel, lie
went up Sixth street to III. Going
then to Mrs. Surratt's dwelling
near by, ON FL street, he met
that lady, and she told him she
was preparing to 60 to Surratts-
vile to urge the payment of debt due
her; that she had a letter from the es-
tate of Charles 3. Calvert, urgently de-
handing settlement Of debt due it;
that she had been to church during
the morning Gt being Good Friday,
and that Mr.. Welchman was to drive
her to her country place, from which
she hoped to return before night.
Booth, knowing the people there lit be-
ing probably rendezvous intended to
be used by the kidnapping eonspirators,
II successful, sent vague message by
her to Lloyd. He then left her house.
and there is no evidence, save clouded
advertisements by Welchman, contro-
verted by other testimony, that
he was there afterward or ever again
met Mrs. Surratt. She went to the
country with Wrlchman, was there
some time, and waited for Lloyd. Be
fore he came her buggy had been turned
,:t nrH l,rn
en-. affecting its security, and
it is probable that Mrs. Sur
raft would not have waited at all
had it not been that she wanted the
wagon made strong enough to take her
back. Lloyd came at last, beSotted and
unfit to talk understandmgly,b but he did
fix it with rope. When she reached
her home in the city with Welchman it
was about nine o'clock.
When Booth left the Surratt house in
Washington. on Ii street, OH April H.
about midday, he walked up to Tenth
street and turned down toward FOrd'S
theater. A group of young men was in
front Of the theater on Tenth street,
near E. When they perceived him APP
prOaching,O one of them SAID. Here comes
the handSomeSt man in Washington
and the appearance of the youngest of
the Booth race justified the admiring
words. He was elegantly dressed in a
dark suit, light drab overcoat, hands
glOved. with cane in one, a black silk
hat, slightly tipped. on his head; his
long hair, black to brightness, glistened
in its sheen, and his walk. one of easy
swagger, was full of grace. He was
then twenty-siX years of age. AS he
passed, four out of five on the street
would turn to look at him again-such
was his personal magnetism. The
writer has always maintained that
Booth was animated by pride that
contained elements of insanity, and
many of his acquaintanceS recognized
this peculiar bent.
1t may here be said with propriety
that with his health, youth, personal
grace and dramatic inheritance, he
could earn in the very alluring work of
a leading actor, from 500 to $1,000
week at that time. ct the ecccntricity
born within him made him ambitious.
when I'D strange mood, of emulating
the youth who fired the Ephesian
dome. Tor to actth part of Brutus in real
life. His abduction plot was a matured
plan, conceived in the fall of 1864. brill
liant, daring and full OF danger: but it
failed, and he felt the modification as
II it were sort of disgrace. The assas-
Sination was the BrutuS impulse. and it
came to him only on the day of its per-
Torrance, and after he learned of an
opportunity. as may be seen by what
followed his arrival at the theater.
Letters from other cities were waiting
for him that day. He received and read
them in front of the building. He was
pleasantly tainted by some of his Tn
ion friends there with the information
that the president and Gen. Grant would
both be at the theater that evening, and
one added: "Gen. Lee will be with
Them
Booth quickly responded: "They
won't parade Lee as the Romans did
their caDtives, l hope
The remark about Lees coming was
withdrawn, but the effect of the in
formation as to President Lincoln and
Gen. Grant was apparent. Booth grew
distracted and thoughtful, and soon de-
parted with the first possible informa-
ton he could have had of the presidents
intention to visit the theater that night.
He went down Tenth street to
Pennsylvania avenue. He was met
there by several yet living. He spoke
toiJohn f. Coyle of Brutus. as he paused
for moments talk. He first went to
the Kiskwood house and sent his card to
Vice President Johnson, inquiring if
he was disengaged. The vice president
not being in his room, Booth sought
and found AdZerott and Payne
and arranged to meet them both at s
p. M, at the Herndon house. He then
probably went to Growers now the Ma
tionaD theater, as Humphrey testifies,
and wrote communication for the Ma
tional Intelligencer. From Humphreys
stable he took horse at a or 4:3U
p. m. to find Herold whom he
wanted as a guide. He observed
Matthews. the actor. walking, as he
Booth was riding along PENNSYLVANIA