The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-10


mediately after arrest in the office of Mar
shall McPhall, in Baltimore; in that made
before w. II. Gleason. notary public. at
Dry Tortugas. in 1867, and in writings COM
piled from testimony adduced at his trial.
In the early nineties Mr.. Arnold began
what he AYERS is the true story of his entire
connection with the Lincoln conspiracy and
its subsequent events.
With some very slight and minor changes,
the manuscript is as follows:
Twenty-Five years have rolled around
since my return to my native State-a free
man. During that period L have silently
borne both my sorrows and the many
wrongs thrust upon me by overzealous
writers. | declined to be interviewed by
correspondents of the press, abiding my
own time to give to the public any and all
facts which possessed, knowing that wnen
did so it would come under my own hand
and everything would be truthfully trans
cribed. L feel it my duty not only to my
self, but to my country at large, to come
before the public and to give, as far as my
knowledge extends, an authentic account OF
every part taken and every part known
during my connection with John Wilkes
Booth
The standard from which the history of
the country is at present made up is COM
piled from that military inquisition. termed
a military commission, held at Washington,
ID. c.. in the year 1865. of which Will deal
as pursue my subject.
was born in the District of Columbia of
respectable parentage. AT birth there were
four traits of character which grew strong
er as age progressed. They were honor,
honesty, truthfulness and will power. 1t
required neither law nor tutelage to en-
graft them in my nature. as they were
part and parcel of my being at birth.
Through life. even to my old age. they
have been just as strong and firm as In
my youth. 1 yield to no one in this vast
country ipre-eminence in these qualifica-
tions. My parents were Christians who
impressed these virtues on my mind; be-
sides my precept0rs were men OF high
standing within my native State, who both
looked after my spiritual welfare and TO
the observance and obedience to the gov
erning laws of the country.
AS youth was wild only to enjoy the
pleasures of life, which 1 must say were
beautiful from youth to middle age No
wish of the heart but was gratifed and life
during that period was one vast sea of
pleasure. There was nothing vicious in my
nature. but 1 was firm and decided in all
the walks of life, never allowing anyone
to impose upon me- From my BIRTH which
occurred in 1884, had never violated law
of the land nor had L violated any when
arrested in 1866, although it is so recorded
that l did. Let the public disprove my as
sertion.
WAR CHANGED FRIENDSHIP.
Fate accompanied me in all my wander
ings. Through i'll health and a broken
down constitution / returned from the
South i'm the early part of 1864 I came
ostensibly to see my mother, who was very
ill. To restore her to health promised to
remain, and found that she gradually be-
gan to improve My sojourn at home was
not a bed of roses. 1t was beyond my
minds conception to believe, much less to
feel, that the nature of man or the feelings
OF the human heart could undergo so varied
a change, through civil war, as L became
the witness of, until brought into direct
contact with the wide estrangement it was
productive of among those with whom from
earliest years the firmest friendship and
association had existed, unmoved, un-
changed and unbroken.
1t was a scrrowful sight to behold the
hand frequently pressed in friendship s
warm grasp. hang cold and listless by the
side of those whom the heart had ever
cherished as ones warmest friends Where
in former years all had been friendliness,
behold changed to hatred and bitter ami
mostly, ready and willing to act in con-
.x;.l,
delighted in reviling and prosecuting their
| fellow-man. That all these marked and
woeful changes have been seen and bit
! terly and sadly felt, my marred life and
racked frame bear witness of. superin-
duced, and. in it's greatest measure, brought
| to its present stage through acts of basest
means by my fellow-man.
Unable to cope against the swelling tide
of persecution that set i'm upon me from
every side, possessing a spirit that could
nor would not brook haunting insult, mol
tamely submit to every indignity the pas
sion of the hour felt disposed to impose
| and to exact, 1 determined to sever myself
from those in whose midst L could not
dwell in peace and happiness lowing to the
difference of political sentiment and views)
and endeavor. If possible, to find in a lanc
among strangers that just inheritance, de-
MED me in my own native State.
LEFT BUT TO RETURN.
Every gift of nature at my command wa
| brought into requsition to stay and softer
the evil passions engendered by the war
Fruitless and unavailing were all my eff
forts, and the only course left me to adop
| and pursue was to seek a more congenia
cline. This resolve was carried into execu
ton during the summer of 1864. under tn
most trying circumstances but was short
lived, necessity of a private nature yer,
much against my inclination, compelling m
! through force of surroundings, to return
to my home again in the month of July.
This destiny over which / had no con
trolling agency, nor the power to avert
forced misfortune and suffering upon me
After my return | was very guarded i'm bot
actions and speech, studiously avoiding en-
tering into political discussions, although
at periods they were forced upon me-
left the city, going to my fathers countr
home in Baltimore county, near Hooks
town, and there remained i'm retremen
and happy contentment. Imagination coul
conjure up no sweeter life than this quie
country solitude. and for over a month
was truly happy. The pleasures of tn
past resumed their former status i'm m
nature: lived over again the halcyon day
passed there, when peace resigned through
fhn Lon ha rtr6n IL, -