The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-11
Lincoln Conspiracy and
It's COnSpirdtOrS,asas.ss
BY
SAMUEL BLAND ARNOLD
Who was imprisoned at
the Dry Tortugas.
copyrighted 1902 by The Baltimore Americana

abandoned. During the conversation Booth
informed US that he had learned through
Lewis j. weichman. with whom he was on
the most friendly terms and from whom
he derived all information relating 10 the
number of prisoners held by the United
States government, that John II. Surratt
had accompanied a lady to Richmond. ow-
ing to the capture of the person by the
United States authorities who had been in
the habit OF ferrying parties across the
river, and IL was through this circumstance
alone that the services of Surratt were Of
fered
HAD HE But DONE so.
Among the last words uttered by Booth on
that occasion were that he intended return
ing TO his profession upon the stage and
that he had given up forever his project.
This was the last interview 1 ever had and
the last time / ever met him. and / have
never seen nor heard from him since. OF
all the others connected with the affair /
never saw nor heard from any after March
IL. 1885, excepting Atzerodt. whom ! acci-
dentaIly ran upon March 81 my visit to
Washington
After dealing with his securing work at
Old Point Comfort, Mr.. Arnold tells Of the
receipt of news of I.ircoln's assassination in
the following words:
On the 18th of April. 1865. about u o'clock
noon, whilst seated in the counting rooms
at Mr.. Wharton's. at Old Point Comfort.
Va, 1t became rumored that Abraham Lin
coin had been assassinated the evening pre-
cedng, whilst walking along Pennsylvania
avenue, in Washington. The name of the
person perpetrating the deed was unknown.
In fact, the report was vague that but
few persons credited it. Toward evening
other dispatches arriving announced the
assassination of Mr.. Seward and other off,
Gals of the government. The greatest ex-
element prevailed.
1t was not until the following day that
any clew had been obtained to the person
who had committed the deed. when the
public mind became gradually impressed
with the idea that John w. Booth was the
guilty hand that struck the blow. This
news startled me, feeling assured that my
former connection and intimacy with Booth
would lead to my arrest. and to be even
suspected L felt was almost equivalent to
death.
Had I been differently situated. or been
where 1 felt that the law would have pro-
tected me, l would have surrendered my
self Gn my entire innocence) into the hands
of the government; but, as it was. deter
mined to let affairs pursue their own course.
and quietly as possible, to my minds ex-
cited condition, await my arrest
TWO DETECTIVES ARRIVE.
On April IL whilst seated in the store two
| government detectives arrived and inquired
| for me. 1 went from the office and met
| them, when letter was handed me by one
| of them purporting to have been sent from
] my father, In which II was stated that a
| communication written to John Wilkes
| Booth March q had been found within
| Booths trunk. which seemed to connect
| me in some way with the deed committed
| and advising me to state all / knew con-
corning it.
| After perusing ii the detectives asked
| whether I Intended to comply with the re-
| quest Of my father. l stated yes and told
them that l knew nothing concerning 1t
nor was 1 at any time in any manner con-
nected with Booth or others. II became
| necessary from Booths betrayal of me Ono
matter whether it emanated from malice
| or forgetfulness) to become a witness
| against myself. and 1 was forced to ac-
|
| engaged with Booth in scheme to at
| tempt the abduction of Abraham Lincoln
but that / was totally disconnected with
| him any other persons at this period in
| any unlawful undertaking
/ was then asked by the detectives IL the
communication found in Booths trunk was
written by me. / desired to be informed
| of some of it's contents or expressions
where headed from and when dated. They
gave me the desired information-where
dated and how signed-when without hest
tatlon or denial / acknowledged it was
penned by me. did not deny writing it
as sworn by Horner when a witness on thu
stand. neither could it be expected thai
| acknowledgment would be made to a com
munication before its contents were In q
measure made known. il was just a.
likely to have been written by some on,
else as myself.
OTHER NAMES MENTIONED.
The detectives were the first to mention
the name of O'Laughln. Surratt and Atze
rodt. and 1 was informed that O'Laughlir
had given himself up. Finding that sus
picion had centered itself upon those will
whom 1 had been associated. in conjunc
ton with my betrayal of Booth, deemed 4
necessary in justice not only to myself. bu
to those with whom 1 had been formerl,
connected, to state the whole truth, as EN-
bodied In the statement made on the 1stl
of April in Marshal McPhairs Office II
Baltimore
After my acknowledgment to the forego
ing facts / was taken into the back part o
the storehouse, my person and baggag,
| searched n fa aftrr
confiscated, which TO this day has neve
been returned, although I have repeated,
asked it's restitution. There was nothin,
found Of compromising nature among m,
effects, because / had no correspondent
with anyone during the time that | wa
employed by Mr.. Wharton.
1 was then turned over to the militar,
authorities, conveyed to a prison pen. wher
i remained during the best part of the da,
without a morsel of food and quizzed b.
some of the inmates. who seemed to be vol
OF both reason and sense. In the Afternoon
l was brought before the provost marsha
at Fortress Monroe. when l remained il
the presence of its military dignitary 70
upwards of half hour, and was theme
conveyed TO the steamboat. arriving in tn
city of Baltimore the next morning, an
confined in the office of Provost Marsha
McPhail, where | remained for the mos
part of the day.