The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-03


60 foolhsrdy. ] walked in and out Of the
lines Of the two armies, entered and left
Washington. went from Richmond to New
York and London. returned 10 Washington
and eleowed tho Union Generals, all the
while gathering valuable information for
the service. knew every cross road, bye
path and hiding place in northern Virginia
and southern Maryland
Captain surratt it has been stated in
enc Of the principal magazines that Booth
was anxious to get your cooperation on
that very account. and that when you were
introduced TO him in Washington by DIR.
Aiudd you thought at first that he was
Union spy. 1t is stated that you were with
Weichmann."
MEETING WITH BOOTH.
"Ahi Wilkes Booth. I loathe him. In
the first place. Wilkes Booth was never
introduced to me by Dr. Mudd or the street
or anywhere else. Booth came TO me with
a letter Of introduction from a valued and
trusted friend. In the second place WEIGH
mann was nowhere rear when Booth pre-
scented his letter. I looked upon Booth from
the start as a hot-headed, visionary man,
and the moment he preached his wild
scheme to me of abducting Lincoln 1 SIM
ply laughed at him.
It is utterly impracticable,' I said to
him; in the first place, / know Northern
Virginia and Southern Maryland by heart
IT is on that very account that L have
come to you for your assistance. corpora
ton and advice said Booth.
And it's on that very account that l
tell you that the idea is not feasible 1 re-
piled; in the second place you do not realize
the danger
I don't consider that for a moment
said Booth.
Nor l., I replied, but 1t must be con-
sidered. After leaving Washington, provid-
ed we are able to leave with President Lin
coin, which 1 doubt, We will have to drive
over one hundred miles before we can cross
the Potomac. After having crossed that in
safety we will have to drive from one end
OF Midland Virginia to the other. Don't
you know that that section is simply
swarming with YankeesT / do because
have just come through there. Granted
that we do get through all right, we reach
the Rapahhannock and cross it, we will be
reasonably safe. But we stand about one
chance in five hundred of surmounting all
those obstacles. Inside of an hour, or at
most, two hours from the time we get pos
session of Mr.. Lincoln's person, the entire
country will be in furore. The President
of the United States cannot be spirited
away like an ordinary citizen Booth said
he was willing to take any chance. I be-
1ieve he was monomaniac on the subject.
he had brooded over the South's wrongs
so much that his mind was unsettled on the
subject. He talked good deal of riding
the country of an arch tyrant, of helping
the South and of dying FOR his country.
He was unquestionably insane when he shot
F.ss r,ofr,
have done that The South lost its best
friend when it lost Lincoln He understood
its conditions and the character of its peo-
pie as no man did before or since. Booth
was the South's worst enemy, although he
was sincere in wanting to aid her.
VISIT TO ELMIRA.
After engaging in this conversation with
Booth 1 dismissed the matter from my
mind and supposed Booth had done the
same. Going direct to Richmond, 1 report
ed to General Wilder, and was directed by
him to go at once to Elmira, n. Y, and
earn the plans of the Notifications, prison.
etc. at that point, with the number of pris-
oners. was in Elmira for several weeks,
and as my pockets were full of Uncle Sans
gold, furnished me by the government,
made hosts of friends, and I may add that
It was a blessed good thing for me that
did, for it saved my life at my trial. Among
the people met at that point was a Union
colonel who was connected with the FORTH
cations. He seemed to be suffering from a
chronic state of dead broke and. finding
that / had plenty of money and was not
averse to accommodating a friend, he soon
began to borrow. That was exactly what
] wanted At first it was so and $40 at
time. Then it was 800 and 5000. / finally
had him completely in my power. One day
we were walking along the street and he
said to me: Look here. Let me ask you a
question. What are you doing around here,
and what do you want?' 1 told him that
was in Elmira because liked the place,
and / added that 1 was anxious to get in
side of the prison and see what it looked
Ike He promised to get me inside, and on
the following day was as good as his word.
He took me all through the place, and
finally left me on a tower, where 1 made
careful plans of the place. 1 repeated my
visit on the following day, and having
gained what / wanted, determined to go
hack to Richmond. 1t was on my journey
from Elmira to Albany that first learned
OF Lincoln's assassination. was shocked,
and my conversation with Booth imme-
diately required to my mind. The next
day, en- route from Albany to New York,
/ bought a New York paper and
read in it that it was supposed
that was with Booth IN his
flight, and that a reward of $4,000
was offered for my capture, dead or alive.
When L read that startling intelligence I
Immediately left the train and took the first
one north-bound that came along. Late
that night crossed into Canada, and that
was thelast time 1 saw the United States
until brought back on man-of-war two
years later. I went to Montreal and then
10 Quebec. In the latter city was secreted
in monastery, and there remained for five
months. Thinking it wiser to he out of the
country, on account of the angry feeling of
the people, boarded steamer and went
to London. I was in London soma time, and
also visited Liverpool and Birmingham. l
then went to Paris, and from Paris went
to Rome and enlisted in the Papal Zouaves
under the name of Matson. My life while in
the Papal Guards was very pleasant, hut
continually longed for my native land. /
eventually became a sergeant, and in the
war between the PapaI States and the Carl
baldians was in my element. 1t was while
in the service of Plus TX that 1 wrote to
one of the most prominent Union statesmen
in this country, telling him who and where
was, and asking him if it would ne safe