The Portland daily press., 1898-05-13
CONFESSION OF A HERMIT.
A Plot TO Abduct Lincoln and Murder
Mystery of the st. Lawrence.

Robert McAdam, who lived the life cf
hermit near Binghamton, died few
days ago at the age OF "a years. The Cape
Vincent Eagle has since printed the follow
ing story of plct to abduct President
Lincoln in 1864, which, it says, is found
ed on confession made by MoAdam just
before he died:
"McAdam said that in 1864, with five
others, he went to Quebec and formed a
plan to abduct Lincoln. a sum of $780,
600 in gold had been raised by friends of
the Confederacy, and it was proposed to
carry the Chief Executive to secluded
placed In the South and hold him prisoner
until one or more blows could be struck
for the lost cause which might prove sue
csssfuL 1t it failed the President was to
be carried to one of the Florida keys and
held for large ransom. Lincoln was in
the habit OF taking horseback rides about
Washington, and it was intended to ay-
lay him during one Of these excursions
The day had been fixed for the attempt
and everything pointed to success, when
McAdam was notified by the holder of
the syndicate money in Quebec that the
abduction plan had been declared off, as
a surer method Of disposing of their vic
tim had been arranged. OF the five men
in the abduction plot, McAdam was the
only one who knew of the proposed re-
moval, the Others supposing The syndicate
had weakened. How the crime was finally
committed is matter of history. but
there are subsequent details that are not
generally known. McAdam was present
in Toronto when Jake Thompson paid the
$500, 600 in gold to John A. PAYNE.
Payne was to act as treasurer for the Sur
| |rott MAJ rtx nd divide ha xrylo
opportune moment should come. For the
Surratts this never arrived, but there
were others who thought they were entit-
led to share of the reward, and when
Payne failed to show up became interest,"
ed. Among these was McAdam.
During the month of June, 1865,
stranger came down the St. Lawrence
River and stopped at Fishers Landing,
The river was not the summer resort that
it is now, and the arrival of a stranger
caused considerable comment He re.
fused to talk, but it was known he had
come over in skiff from, Gananoque, but
this was the extent of the information OBJ
tainable. AT first he confined himself to
his hotel and seemed in constant fear of
meeting strangers. One day he an
nounced his intention Of building house
on Maple Island, a spotSthen far removed
from any habitation. Procuring carpen-
ters and lumber, he soon erected cozy
home on bluff overlooking the river in
such position that none could approach
it without his knowing. He was an ex-
cellent musician, and many an evening
the tones of his violin would float across
the waters of the st. Lawrence, but NJ
one was ever invited to his abode. It was
known that he was the possessor of many
books and man of high attachments,
but he Stunned and apparently distrusted
his fellow beings.
tIt was late in the fall when one night
a bright light was seen on Maple Island
and word was passed among the specta
tors on shore that the hermits building
was in flames. 1t was supposed he had
escaped and rowed to Clayton, Grinnell,s
or Fishers Landing, but as he was not
seen the following day party rowed to
the spot, and there a CHASTITY sight met
their eyes. The hermit had been muir.
dered, his throat slit from ear to ear. and
on his breast were gashed three crosses in
the shape of triangle. About week
before the murder three men were seen
about the place, and on the night of the
tragedysthey took a boat early in the even
ing and went out for row. 1t was very
late when they returned, and they seemed
greatlyiexcited. They hired a boat to row
them to Alexandria Bay, where they SEN
arated, and all further trace was lost.
Before his death MoAdam is said to have
confessed that he was one of the trio who
made the trip to Maple Island. PAYNE
and McAdam belonged to the Knights of
the Golden Circle, the violation of whose
oath meant death. Payne, to secure ssthe
S3oo, 600 in gold for his own use, had
broken his oath to the society, and death
was meted out to him at his lonely
home.'
In Major Haddock IS Picturesque st.
Lawrence" story is told of murder
which took place on Maple Island in the
st. Lawrence just at the close of the civil
war. A stranger who built a shanty there
and led hermit S life was found dead one
morning with -his throat cut. 1t was
suspected that he had been concerned in
a plot to assassinate Lincoln, and if Mo.
Adams's confessional is authentic it clears
up that mystery.