The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-11

During the entire month of February
the project was at a standstill and sell
dom met Booth For the first time my
situation dawned upon me and began TO be
felt deeply. Here | was without any KIND
of employment. wandering from place to
place in my idleness, making frequent
visits to Baltimore. watched, no doubt.
and my footsteps logged by the govern
ment detectives and spies. who in various
ways sought TO obtain some clew as to my
business and how engaged. This became
insupportable. as 1 felt every eye was
watching my movements. thereby making
my position very insecure.
After the presidential election Booth
worked energetically in the affair, and had
completed all his arrangements, so he in
formed O'Laughlin and myself. He was
always busy and in motion, having very
limited time to hold conversation. 1 was
unaware, even at this late day, that there
were any Others beyond those spoken of
before, who were connected with the at
fair.
Prisoners were now being exchanged
and the purpose for which each had
bound himself 20 the other and for which
months of labor and time had been ex-
pended, had been accomplished. Yet he
still insisted upon carrying out the abduc-
ton. Patriotism had converged into heart
less ambition on his part, and 1 looked
upon him as a mailman, and resolved, IL
the project were not speedily executed, to
sever my connection with him.
Mr.. Arnold next recites at length, as de-
tailed in his sworn statement before Glea-
son, in 1867, of the meeting of the con-
spirators at Golfers saloon and there
meeting for the first time Lewis Payne
George A. Atzerodt and David K. Herold,
who. with Arnold, Booth. O'Laughlin and
Surratt, made up the party of conspirators
that gathered in the private parlor OF the
saloon to discuss the abduction. Arnold
says at this point that when Booth out
lined the plans that his audience was SEEM
ingly carried away with his visionary ideas.
Some few remarks of an Objectionable
character started a lengthy discussion. The
fact that the suspicious of the govern
ment had seemingly been aroused from the
fact that double stockades were being
erected at the bridge crossing the Eastern
branch, on the Prince Georges side of
the river, which made the undertaking
more difficult. even if success crowned the
and Arnold advanced the idea of the utter
impracticability of the whole plan.
SPELLBOUND BY BOOTH.
He then says: stood not alone, yet none
seemed to consider II i'm it's proper light,
they being completely spellbound by the
utterarces of Booth, not looking at the
consequences which would follow. After
arguing 10 great length. in fact, until the
subject became exhausted and before any
reasonable decision could be arrived at or
| rendered, it eliminated i'm a very exciting
and violent controversy between Booth and
myself, the others silently looking on when
Booth. in his rashness and madness. find
ing that he could not swerve me from my
purpose and firm stand taken in the man
| of its accomplishment, threatened to
| shoot me, or words to that effect
| At this time 1t looked very much as If the
meeting would be dissolved with serious
consequences attending it, as two stubborn
character as the other when deeming the
was finally settled and compromised with.
out resorting to shooting, after which, In
the presence of the entire company. L stated
my connection with the affair in case it wa.
not carried out during the week, stating
also, Gentlemen, you have naught to feal
from me in the matter, as l never would
| betray YOU"
The resolve to attempt to carry off thu
President from the hospital or encampmen
on Seventh street, where the chief execu
! tive failed to appear after the conspirator.
| had arrived on the scene on horseback, i.
dealt with again by Arnold at this point
! The plan to take the carriage of tn,
President and all seated within ii, drive i
| around by way of Bladensburg. theme,
| through the lower counties in the direction
of Port Tobacco, cross the river at or nea
that point and thence onward to Rich
| mond.
A QUIXOTIC UNDERTAKING.
Commenting on this plan, Mr.. Arnol,
says: The most quixotc and vsionar,
undertaking that has ever entered a san
mans brain. / looked upon him as de
mented, but made objection, stain;
that we would be ready at the appointe
time. OF all the.ideas existing i'm a man
brain, this was the most foolhardy eve
advanced, and we concluded that it wa
We looked upon him as a mailman, We
could offer no objection, from the fact tina
we had given our word to assist him i
it during the week
O'Laughlin, Payne and Arnold rode par
of the way 10 the city in company, an
Booth and Surratt went on out the road
What became of Atzerodt l am unabl
to state, and Herold was not present. h
having been sent to T. b. or Surrattsvill
with Booths horse and buggy, conveyin
the box containing the two carbines an
other minor articles. About s o'clock tina
same evening O'Laughln and myself me
Booth and Surratt back of the Nationa
Hotel, at the stable where our horses ha
been placed at livery, and from that da
1 never saw John III. Surratt until 1 me
him a clerk at the Norfolk line of steamer
in Baltimore. some ten years ago.
The interval allotted for carrying on
the scheme expired. and OLaughlin an
and his confederates, and, in fact, tn
general idea of the entire party was tina
the project was entirely abandoned, an
We returned to our respective homes i
Baltimore on March 20, 1865
STILL ANOTHER APPEAL.
But a few days had elapsed before Boot
was again soliciting my assistance, to whic
paid not the slightest attention. O