Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-10

Tho life story Of Samuel 3. Arnold re-
manned unrecordcd for many years aitc1
his nar6on by President Johnson, save lor
-ba, norton set down ir his statement
immediately after arrest in Inc ohice
of Marshall McPhail, in Baltimore III
,ha, made before ". II. Gleason, notary
pulolic. at Dry Tortugas, in 1867. and IN
writings compiled from testimony adj
duoed at his trial. In the carly nine
lies Mr. Arnold began what he AYERS is
;hc true story of his entire connection
With the Lincoln conspiracy. and its sub
seuucnt events.
With some Very slight and minor
changes the manuscript is as follows:
Twenty-Five years have rolled around
stree my return TO my native Stat.-a
free man. During that period have ST.
,ently borne my sorrows and the many
wrongs thrust upon me by over-Zeaious
writers declined to be interviewed hF
correspondents of the press. ABIDING IN!
OWN time TO give TO the public any and
sIl facts which ] possessed. Knowing thas
when ] did so it would come under my
own hand and everything would be. hutf-
fully Transcribed. ] feel it my duty MOI
only to myself. but TO my country az
large to come before the public and to
give. as far as my knowledge extends.
En- authentic account OF every part taken
and every par, known, during my con-
.lection 18th John Wilkes Booth.
The standard from which the history
Of the country is at present made up rs
compiled from that military inquisition.
termed a military commission. held al
Washington. D. c.. in the year 1873. Oh
which ! will deal as ] pursue my SUBJ
5ect.
was born in the District Of Columbia,
Of respectable parentage. AT birth there
were four traits of character which grew
stronger as agc progressed. Ihey we're
honor. honesty, truthfuiness, and will
power IT required neither law nor tute-
lage TO engraft them in my nature as
they were part and parcel of my being
ct birth. Through life. even TO my OLD
age trey have been Just strong and
firm as in my youth. yield to 20 one
in this vast country pre-elninence I'D
these qualifications. My parents were
Christians who impressed these virtues
on my nir6; beside. my preceotors were
men Of nigh standing within my native
State, who both looked after my spir-
itual welfare and TO the observance and
obedience to The governing laws OF the
country.
Asa youth WAS wild only to enjoy the
pleasures Of life. which must say were
bountiful from youth to middle age. No
wish Of the heart but was gratitied, and
life during that period WAS one vast sea
Of plea sure. There was nothing vicious
in nv nature. but / was FIRM and decided
IN all the walks of life. never allowing
any one to impose upon me. From my
birth, which occurred in 1894 / had never
violated n law Of the land, nor hal l
violated any when arrested in 1865, al
though if is So recorded that l did. let
the public disprore my assertion
WAR CHANGED FE1ENDSHIP.
Fate accompanied me III all my wander
ings. Through ill-heal;h ard a broken
down cor stitu:ion l returned from the
South in tbs early part of 1864. ] came
estensibly to Sec my mother. who was
very ILL., To restore her to .ea1th ] FROM
ised To remain. and ] found thar she
gradually began to improve My sojnurh
AT home was not q bed of roses. 1t was
beyond my minds conception to believe.
much less 10 feel. iIlat the nature of man
or The feelings Of the human heart could
undergo SO varied 4 change. through civil
WSir, as became the "ltntSS Oh, ufllil
brought into direct contact with the wide
sstrangtmen' it was productive of among
those with whom from earliest years the
frraest friendship and association had eX
tsted. unrnoved. unchanged and unbro'icn.
II was a Borrowing sight to behold the
hard so frequently pressed in friendships
warm GRASP. hang cold ana listless by
the side Of thcs whom the heart had
ever cherished as ones war:nest friends.
Where in former years all had beer
fri,ndness. behold, changed to hatred
and bitter aEimosity, ready and willing to
ac: in concert will. those whose inward
dispositicns delighted in -eVilins and per-
scouting their fellew-naan. That all these
marked and woeful charges have heen
seen and bitterly and sadly felt my
tuarred life and raclzad frame bear wit
ness Of superinduced. and, in its greatest
measure. brought TO its present stage
through acts Of baSest means by my fell
low-man.
unable TO cope against The swelling tide
of persecution that set in upon me- from
every side possessing :piiit that cc uld
nor would not brook tauntiEig insult, nor
tan1cIy submit to every indignty the
passion Of the hour felt disposed 10 i'm
pose and to exact, / determined to sever
myself from these in whose midst / could
lot dwell in peace and happiness lowing
to the difference OF political sentiment
2nd views. and endearor, if possible to
md in lard among strangers that lust
Inheritance, denied me in my own native
St2te
LEFT But TO RETURN
Every Gift of nature at my command
was brought into reauisiton to stay and
soften the evil passions engendered by
he war. Fruitless and unara.ling were
al my efforts. and the only course left
me to adopt and pursue was TO seek
more congenial cline. This resolve was
carried into execution during the summer
of 1874, urGer the most trying circum-
stances but was shortlivcd. necessity OF
4 private nature Very much against my
inclination. compelling me through force
of surroundings, II return TO my hrme
again in the month of July
This destiny Cver which ! had no con-
trolling agency. nor The power 10 avert
forced misfortune and suffering upon NE.
After my return ] was Very guarded in
both actions and speech. studiously avoid
ing entering into political discussions, al
though al periods they We're forced upon
me. left tie city. goinS 10 my fathers
country home. in Baltimore county. near
Hookstown. and there remained in re-
tirement anG happy contcntment. In,aSi-
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