The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-08

The statement was sworn to before no.
tary public at Dry Tortugas, Fla. on Dec.
3. 1867, and the conditions under which it
was drawn up, with its significance are
dealt with by Mr.. Arnold in his general
statement to follow
The following is the full text of the docu-
ment:
1t was in the latter part of August or
about the first of September. A. D., 1864,
that ]. Wilkes Booth. hearing 1 was in
town. sent word to me that he would like
to see me at Barnums Hotel, in the city
of Baltimore, at which place he was then
stopping. / had not seen Booth since the
year 1851, at which time we were fellow
students at st. Timothy's Hall. Gainesville,
Md, the Rev. L. Van Bokkelen being the
president Of the said institute. / called
upon him and was kindly received as an old
schoolmate and invited to his room. We
conversed together, seated by a table,
smoking cigars, of past hours Of youth
and the present war. He said he had heard
had been South, etc., when tap at the
door was given and OLaughlin was
ushered into the room. O'Laughlin was
a former acquaintance of Booth, from boy
hood up, so he informed me. L was intro
duced to him. and this was my first ac-
quaintance with O'Laughlin.
In a short time wine was called for by
Booth. and we drank and freely conversed
together about the war, the present con-
dition of the South, and In regard to the
non-exchange of prisoners. Booth then
spoke Of the abduction or kidnapping of the
President. saying If such could be accom-
plished, and the President taken to Rich
mond, and held as a hostage, he thought
it would bring about an exchange of pris-
oners. He said the President frequently
went to the Soldiers Home, alone and un-
guarded, that he could be easily captured
on one of these visits and carried to the
Potomac, boated across the river and con-
veyed to Richmond.
These were the ideas advanced by Booth,
and he alone was the moving spirit. After
a debate OF some time. and his pointing out
its feasibility, and being under the effects
some little of wine, we consented to join
him in the enterprise. We alone comprised
the entire party to this scheme at that
time as far as my knowledge extends.
We separated that afternoon and / re-
turned to my brothers home, near Hooks
town, Baltimore county, Maryland. Booth
stated that he would leave for New York
the next day to wind UP his affairs. and
make over his property to different men,
bers of his family, reserving enough to
carry out his projected scheme, and would
soon return.
HAD LARGE INCOME.
Booth said he would furnish all the neces-
sary materials to carry out the project. He
showed me the different entries in his
diary, of what his engagements paid him
in his profession, and judge from what
have heard his income therefrom to have
been $4,000 to $4,000. He also informed me
that he owned property In the oil regions
of Pennsylvania and Boston. He was taken
sick while at home, and upon his recovery
he arranged his business and went to the
oil regions, from which place he wrote me,
inclosed $40 for expenses, requesting me to
look around and pick out horse for him.
This was all the money / ever received
from Booth, or any other person In con-
nection with the undertaking. He went
from the oil regions to Canada, and shipped
his wardrobe to Nassau. as he afterwards
some time in November or December, 1864.
ne pun SHdSCu, WuiiSl xNOIlils SOiut
to defend himself in case of pursuit viz.
two carbines, three pairs OF revolvers, three
knives and two pairs of handouts. Fearful
that the weight of his trunk might attract
attention, he asked me to take part OF
them, which did, and sent them to him
by express to Washington.
A short time after his return from Can
ada to Baltimore, he went to the lower
counties of Maryland, bordering on the
Potomac as he said, for the purpose OF
purchasing horses and boats. L met him
in Baltimore in January, / think, at which
time he purchased the horse L had selected
for him. He also purchased buggy and
harness, and said that all was completed
and ready to work. / informed my parent:
that was in the oil business with Booth
20 prevent them from knowing the true
cause of my association with Booth
O'Laughlin and L drove the buggy tC
Washington. This was sometime in thu
| part Of January, 1865.
EARLY PREPARATIONS.
We left the horse at Majors livery stable
| on the avenue, near Thirteenth street. anC
| we went to Rullman's Hotel (kept by
| Lichau, on Pennsylvania avenue. We re-
| manned there a few days and then went Il
| Mitchelrs Hotel, near Growers Theater anC
| remained few days. We went from tier,
| and rented a room from Mrs. Van Tyne
| APO d street, and obtained our meals a
| the Franklin Hotel, at the corner of d anc
| Eighth streets. We remained there of
and on, until March 20. 1865, during which
| time 1 frequently went TO Baltimore-near
| ly every Saturday. OLaughlin as gen
| eral thing, went and returned with m,
| on these visits.
| When In Baltimore 1 remained at m,
| fathers home. When in Washington
| spent most of my time at Rullman's Hote
kept by Lichau). on Pennsylvania avenue
| at which place OLaughlin and myself ha,
acquaintance.
| The President having ceased visiting tn
Soldiers Home. Booth proposed a plan t
| abduct him from the theater, by carryin,
| him back off the stage by the back en-
| trance place him in a buggy which he wa
| to have in attendance, and during the con
fusior which would be produced by tn
| turning off of the gas. make good our es
cape. | objected TO any such arrangement
| and plainly pointed out it's utter imprac
| ticability and told Booth it could not b
accomplished. He would listen to no argu
ment 1 could bring forth. and seemed re
solved in carrying out this mad scheme