The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-20
lRHOLD's STORY Of
THE LINCOLN PLOT
The Only Survivor of the
ConSplratOrs 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.

Connection with Confederate Au-
Observation-Disclosures Booth Was Mad
When He Committed the Decidedly
Four Men COncerned-Roiribntt ton
Compared to Dreyfus-DeciinIng Years
There never was any connection be-
tween Booth and the Confederate au-
thorities. was in Booths confidence,
and had anything existed as such he
would have made known the fact to
me. Besides, such a quixotic scheme
would have been laughed at by them
had it been possible for Booth to OBJ
tain audience with them, and he
would have been dismissed from their
presence, and in all probability been
overlooked as an insane man. The
scheme originated in Booths own Wis
ionary mind; he became a monomaniac
on the success of the Confederate arms,
a condition which generally follows
when a mans thoughts are constantly
centered upon one subject alone.
His last act was the act of a mad
in moment of temporary insanity,
caused by the defeat of the Confeder-
ate armies, and the cause so dear to
his heart lost. This is my opinion,
which cannot be controverted in this
world; it's truth or falsity will only be
known in the world to come.
The men by whom he had been sur
rounded and who had associated them
selves with him were, to great extent,
ignorant men. They chung to him for
the bounty they We're receiving at
Booths hand. No labor to perform to
earn living. Booth provided it, and
they were willing to let it so continue,
hugging within themselves the thought
the fast-annroaching end of the war
MOULD soon dissolve companionship
and terminate the conspiracy in which
they were engaged, without any bodily
harm falling to their lot.
When, in his fernzy, he made known
his design to them they We're so en-
tangled that retreat was impossible
and even had they attempted to do so,
without surrendering themselves to the
authorities, their knowledge alone
would have made them just as guilty
before the law as if the blow had been
struck by their hand.
HEROLD WAS BUT A BOY.
Herold, mere boy, acting in the
role Of pilot, steering Booth through
the country, taking no part in the muir
der ITSELF thought, in his ignorance of
the law, that he would not be reached.
Atzerodt, of same mold, thought the
same when he fled, failing to execute
the part assigned him to be performed
by Booth, ignorant of the fact that be-
fore the law he was just as guilty as
Booth, who committed the deed.
Payne was differently situated. He
was far from his native state in a
strange city-penniless. Booth had for
months provided for him-food, lodging
and raiment, and limited means to
meet his daily incidental expenses. For
all these things he could not be I'M
grateful; besides, he was subordinate
to Booths stronger mind, who control
ed him in his every movement, and
when the crime to be committed was
sprung upon him he was as bold and as
fearless as Booth himself, and tried his
best to carry on the part allotted to him
by Booth to perform.
ONLY FOUR CONCERNED
These four men comprised the entire
conspirators in that crime No knowl-
edge of it extended beyond them; &C.
cording to confessions made by Herold
and Atzerodt, it was first made known
at 8 o'clock and executed at 10. o'clock
the same evening.
No officials of the Confederate govern
ment had any knowledge in regard to
it, although it was attempted to be |
shown by the military commission that |
they had, through many witnesses. |
Everything went upon our trial. 1t |
was fixed in it's entirety, and all were |
condemned before being heard. No |
cross examination of witnesses, their |
evidence being so deep laid that no |
opening was left, besides counsel de- |
clined to do so, having no groundwork |
left to stand<upon, and so that long |
drawn-out trial, lasting months, daily |
adding to the public excitement, grew
from a mere molehill to a. stupendous
structure, reared and built through |
perjury.
There was witness to establish the |
from Baltimore, by name
William Spandauer, who finally died in
the Maryland Penitentiary. When
counsel desired that he be produced for
cross examination he was nowhere to I
be found; he had been spirited away
by the prosecution. not, however, be-
fore leaving his imprint before the
court.
THOSE CIPHER LETTERS.
Cipher letters were found floating in
the water at Morehead City, N c., I'M
blurred by contact with the water, in
tended no doubt to encircle me at For
tress Monroe with participation in the
crime; in fact, the conspiracy through
the government witnesses grew to i'm
mense proportions, extending from the |
Lakes to the Gulf, even penetrating in
to Canada, whereas, it was but the act |.
Of four deluded men, dwelling in the
City Of Washington.