The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-10

him to Richmond, turn him over TO the
Confederate States government: to be
held as a hostage for the exchange Of
prisoners, as the United States govern
ment had refused to exchange them.
BY SO doing it would strengthen the
forces of the Confederate Army and be
the means of filling up TO some extent
their depleted ranks. He pictured in
most glowing terms how easy it could
be accomplished.
THE PLANS OUTLINED.
Often Abraham Lincoln, attended by
no one except his carriage driver, visit
ed the hospital over the Anacostia
bridge. He proposed to intercept him
on one of these visits, take him, coach
man and all. drive through the lower
counties of Maryland, place him in
boat, cross the Potomac to Virginia and
thence convey him to Richmond. EV-
erything was prepared for this end,
boat purchased and moored, to be
moved at a moments notice, ana
boatman in waiting constantly at mis-
bidding.
When the brain was to a great extent
clouded by drink and reason, in
measure, had lost it's power of concen-
trating thought, O'Laughlin and myself
entered into the enterprise with Booth.
after taking an oath to secrecy and
good faith The undertaking was for
sole purpose of bringing about an eX-
change of prisoners. The contemplate
ed design within itself was purely hu-
name and patriotic in its principles,
void of all ambitions, aspirations or ag-
/ nc 1nf
of war.
There was no violence contemplated
in the execution of the design other
than the seizure Of the body or person
of Abraham Lincoln and his convey
ance to Richmond, Va, as has already
been set forth, as violence would have
been in fiat contradiction to his avow-
ed purpose and the object to be attain
ed. When l entered into the combina-
ton with him, my condition prevented
me from giving it its proper consider
alton, otherwise / never would have
been mixed up in the affair
NO MERCENARY INCENTIVE.
! Men often do things upon the spur of
the moment which they never looked
have done had they carefully looked
and weighed the subject under discus
sion. Of course, had the attempt been
made and we should have proved sue
cessful, or we had been taken or cap
tured during it's undertaking, the con-
sequences attending it would have been
of a very serious nature. There was no
propelling force brought to bear, Meth
er was assent to his proposition OBTAIN
ed under promise of pay or reward.
No. it was the free outpouring of each
heart, stripped of all mercenary mo-
tives or thought, which impelled the
action of each.
The enterprise being deemed feasible
and productive of good, we jointly en-
tered into the plan as an act of honor
able purpose, humanity and patriotism
being the binding links to nerve us in
the accomplishment Of the design.
That was my first acquaintance with
Michael OLaughlin, and we three,
Booth, O'Laughlin and myself, COM
prised at that period the only persons
engaged in the affair. The entire after
noon was spent in company with Booth
discussing measures to be adopted tot
the furtherance of his newborn enter
prise. 1t was calculated to accomplish
the undertaking before the coming
election, in the month of November
EVERYTHING having been arranged sat
isfactorily, duties were apportioned
| for each to perform without delay and
we parted company with one another
to meet again at a certain appointed
time.
THE CANADIAN VISIT.
7, Wilkes Booth a few days later
started for his home in the North, for
the purpose of settling and arranging
all his claims. etc, and to dispose Of
, his property and possessions satisfac-
torily to himself, thence intending Wis
ting Canada, ostensibly for the pur-
pose of shipping his wardrobe by the
, way of Nassau to the Confederate
= States purposing on his return from
Canada the purchase of all required ar
ticles needed to carry out the enter
prise.
: At this point Mr.. Arnold deals witt
t the movements of Booth, of variou:
= conversations and with the purchase o
the arms, etc, as detailed in the sworn
, statement taken before w. Fl. Gleason
t the notary public, on December g. 1867
= After detailing the change of plan tt
- abduct Lincoln from the theater be
t cause of his having ceased to visit thu
t Soldiers Home, MIR. Arnold writes:
5 Every preparation as far as known a
this period had been completed, ant
I each watched as far as practicable, tn
r movements of Lincoln, being cautious
t not to draw the attention, nor arous
= the suspicious, of the numerous horde
| of detectives and spies who at tina
t time thronged every thoroughfare o
g the City of Washington. Mr.. Lincoln
r during the month of January paid sew
;. eral visits to the theater, and had
: been Booths intention to have assas
e sinated him at this time he could hav
Y accomplished it with the same cas-
v then that he did at a later period L
= fact, many instances presented them
t selves, afar from the intercourse of
/ crowded city or a theater, when h
could have done So and perhaps non
would have been able to have discov
cred whose hand it was that struck tn
. blow.
o WAS A MONOMANIAC.
4 After detailing his first meeting wit
Il John II. Surratt, Mr.. Arnold says:
a J. Wilkes Booth, if l may be above
4 to pass an opinion, might have bee
Il justly termed monomaniac on tn
ID subject Each day he was becomin