The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-10
lRHOLD's STORY OF
THE LINCOLN PLOT
The Only Survivor of the
Conspirators Imprisoned
at Dry TOrtugas Gives
His Confession to
the Public.
SILENCE OF YEARS BROKEN
THRILLING CHRONICLE OF THE
FAMOUS CONSPIRACY.
SILENCE OF YEARS BROKEN
THRILLING CHRONICLE OF THE
FAMOUS CONSPIRACY.

ArnoId's Parsntnge and Ills Early Life
-Four Traits of Character at Birth
gressed-Nar changed FriendShip-A
Fateful Journey-BOoth's Canadian
Visit-The Assassin "a MOnomaniHc.
The life story of Samuel B. Arnold
remained unrecorded for many years
after his pardon by President Johnson,
save for that portion set down in his
statement Immediately after arrest in
the office of Marshal McPhall, in Bal
timore; in that made before w. Fl.
Gleason, notary public, at Dry Tortu-
gas, in 1867, and in writings compiled
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 con-
spiracy 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 have
silently borne both my sorrows and the
many wrongs thrust upon me by over
jealous writers, I declined to be inter-
viewed by correspondents of the press,
abiding my own time to give to the
public any and all facts which 1 pos
sessed, knowing that when did so it
would come under my own hand and
everything would be truthfully tran
scribed. 1 feel it my duty not only to
myself, but to my country at large, to
come before the public and to give, as
far as my knowledge extends, an au-
thentic account of every part taken
and every part known, during my con-
nection with John Wilkes Booth.
The standard from which the history
of the country is at present made up is
compiled from that military inquisition,
termed a military commission, held at
Washington, D. c., in the year 1855, of
which I will deal as 1 pursue my sub
ject.
I was born in the District of Column
bia of respectable parentage. At birth
there were four traits of character
which grew stronger as age progress
ed. They were honor, honesty, truthful
ness and will power. 1t required neither
law nor tuelage to engraft them in my
nature, as they were part and parcel of
my being at birth. Through life, even
strong and firm as in my youth. |
yield to no one in this vast country,
pre- eminence in these qualifications.
My parents were Christians who i'm
pressed these virtues on my mind; be-
side my preceptors were men of high
standing within my native state, who
both looked after my spiritual welfare
and to the observance and obedience to
the governing laws of the country.
AS a youth 7 was wild only to enjoy
the pleasures of life, which I must say
were bountiful fromS youth to middle
age. No wish of the heart but was
gratified and life during that period
was one vast sea Of pleasure. There
was nothing vicious in my nature, but
/ was firm and decided in all the walks
Of life, never allowing anyone to i'm
pose on me. From my birth, which oc-
Cured in 1884, I had never violated a
law of the land nor had l violated any
when arrested in 1855, although it is so
recorded that did. Let the public dis
prove my assertion.
WAR CHANGED FRIENDSHIP.
Fate accompanied me in all my wan
derings. Through ill-health and a
broken-down constitution 1 returned
from the South in the early part of 1864
I came ostensibly to see my mother
who was very ill. To restore her tc