The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-08


Territory. hut Each Time the Would-Be
liidnappers Met Disastcr-Some Of
Them Wore raint.Hearted and All but
Booth stopped At Assassination-They
Thought the Scheme Abandoned.
Samuel Bland Arnold begins his life story
by telling Of his meeting with Booth in
September. 1894, and then Of the plots 10
kidnap President Lincoln and the attendant
Circums anccs.
This statement was sworn to before a
notary public at Dry Tortugas. Fla, on
Dec. 8, 1867. The conditions under which
1t was drawn up, with its Significance, are
dealt with by Mr.. Arnold in his general
statement to follow.
This is tho full text Of his early confess
zion:
ARSoLDs EARLY CONFESSION.
Il was in the latter part OF August or
about the LIST OF September, A. d. 1894.
that J. Wilkes Booth. hearing was in town.
ten, word to me that he would like to sec
me az Barnum's Hotel, in the City of Bal
timore. at which place he was then stopping.
had not seen Booth since the year 1881. at
which time we were fellow students at ST.
Timothy's Hall. Catonsville. 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
table. smoking cigar, of past hours Of
youth and the present war He said he
had heard that had been South, &c. when
tap on the door was given and O'Laughlin
was ushered into the ROOM O'Laughin
was a former acquaintance OF Booth from
boyhood up. so he informed me. l was
introduced to him. and this was my first
acquaintance with O'Laughlin.
In 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 nom
exchange Of prisoners.
Booth then spoke of the abduction or
kidnapping Of the President saying if
such could be accomplished, and the Presi-
dent taken to Richmond and held as hos
tage. he thought it would bring about
an exchange Of prisoners. He said the
President frequently went to the Soldiers
Home, alone and unguarded, that he could
easily be captured on one OF these visits
and carried to the Potomac, boated across
BOOTH THE MOVING SPIRIT
These were the ideas advanced by Booth
and he alone was the moving spirit. After
a debate Of some time, ard his point in z
out it's feasibility, and being under the ef-
fects 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 ex-
tends
We separated that afternoon and I re-
turned to my brothers home, near Hooks
town. Baltimore county. Md. Booth stated
that he would leave for New York the next
day to wind up his affairs and make over
his property to different members OF his
family reserving enough TO carry out his
projected scheme, and would soon return.
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. ard l Judge from what / have
heard his income thereirom to have been
from $4,000 to $4,000 He also informed
me that he owned property in the oil re-
giors 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 mo. inclo il & 500 for expenses, re.
questing me to look around and pick out a
horse for him.
ARMS PURCHASED.
This is 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
do arJr hn To In aff ord in
formed me.
Booth returned to Baltimore some time
in November or December. 1884. He had
purchased. while North. some arms 70
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 attrac,
attention he asked me to take part Of them
which l did and sent them TO him by ex'
press to Washington.
A short time after his return from Canada
to Baltimore. he went to the lower countie,
of Maryland. bordering on the Potomac, a,
lie said. for the purpose Of purchasing
horses and boats i met him in Baltimore
In January, | think. at which time he pur
chased the horse that ] had selected fol
him. He also purchased buggy and har
meas and said that all was completed anc
ready to work.
informed my parents that l was in the
oil business with Booth. to prevent then
from knowing the true cause Of my asso
citation with Booth OLaughn and
drove the buggy to Washington. Thi
was some time in the latter part of Deccm
Der, 1894, or the early part Of January. 1905,
The EARLY PREPARATIONS.
We left the horse at Majors livery stable
on the avenue. near Thirteenth street
end we went to Rullman's Hotel (kept
by Lchau), on Pennsylvania avenue WI
remained there few days and then wen
to Mitchell's Hotel. near Growers Theatre
and remained few days. We went from
there and rented a room from Mrs Var
Tyne, 40 ID street, and obtained our mea
at the Franklin Hotel. at the corner of /
and Eighth streets,
We remained there. Of and on, unit
March 20, 1880, during which time ] fire.
quentiy vert t. Baltimore nearly ever,
saturday. OLaughlin, as a general thin z
went and returned with me on these visits
When in Baltimore | remained at IN,
in MT