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

place him in buggy which he was to have
in Attendance. and. during the confusion
which would be produced by the turning
of Of the gas. make good our escape.
] objected to any such arran cement, and
plainly pointed out its utter impractical
bility ard told Booth It could not be ac-
complished. Ie would listen to no argu-
melt l could bring forth. and seemed re-
, solved in carrying out this mad scheme.
He cudeavore to obtain man from New
York to turn of the gas, In this he failed
30 he Informed me.
This was in the latter part Of January
or the early part Of February. 1895 Booth
, at that time was stopping at the National
Hotel. About this time ! called at his
room, accompanied by O'Laughln. ard
| uron entering was introduced to Surratt
! under the name. ! think. of Cole. This was
about 10 or II o'clock in the morning, ard
Booth was still III bed
This was the first time ever met Surratt.
| Surra,t left few moments after We came
| in. and Booth informed us that he was ole
| Of the parties engaged in the abduction
| and that his name was Surratt.
| BooTH's MOTHERS DREAM.
About this time Booth told me he had
received letter from his mother In which
she stated that she had fearful dreams
about him. She sent his brother, Junius
| Brutus. To Washington to persuade him to
come home. so Booth told me.
| Booth told mo that he did not wish his
| brother to know how many horses he had,
as he knew that his brother would ask
for an explanation as to why he kept 40
| many. He asked me then TO go down TO
Clcavers stable, and did so. He told
Mr.. Cleaver that had purchased the horse.
and he was turned overto me.
| About week afterward ! went to the
stable, paid the livery on the horse and
rode him up to the corner Of d and Eighth
streets and turned him over either to
| 0Laughlin or Booth. never saw the
horse afterward Booth afterward repaid
me for the board Of the horse.
MEETING OF THE PLoTTERs.
| Booth was absent from the city Of Wash
ington for the best part Of the month OF
February. On his return he stated that no
| had been TO New York.
On the night OF March is. 1885, about IL
or ~ 30 o'clock. OLaughlin and myself
were about leaving RIllman's Hotel, on
| messenger Uieroldl. who at that time
was unknown 10 me, requesting us to ac-
company Herold TO Gotier's eating saloon.
lHerold, learned from O'Laughlin. had
been introduced to him that day by Booth
during their buggy ride)
We accordingly went up and were ushered
into the room, where. seated around a
table. were Booth, Surratt, Atzerodt. alias
Port Tobacco, and Payne. alias Mosby
all Of whom, with the exception Of Booth
and Surratt. had never seen nor heard Of
! before. We were then formally introduced.
oysters, liquors and cigars were OBJ
tanned. Booth then remarked that those
| gathered were the parties engaged to assist
| in the abduction of the President. The
plan Of abducting him from the theatre
Booth saying that If il could not be done
from the lower box it could from the upper
one
THE PARTS Allotted.
He set forth the part he wished each one
to perform. He and Payne, alias Mosby,
were TO seize the President in the box,
OLaughlin and Herold to put out the
gas, | was TO jump upon the stage and
assist them as he was lowered down from
the box, and Surratt and Atzerodt, alias
Port Tobacco. were to be on the other
side of the Eastern Branch bridge to act
as pilots and to assist in conveying him
TO the boats which had been purchased by
Booth Booth said everything was In
readiness.
The gist Of the CONVEX saton during the
| meeting was as 10 whether II could or could
not be accomplished in the manner pro-
posed.
After listening to Booth and the others
| / firmly protested and objected TO the
whole scheme. and told them of its utter
impract liability. | stated that prisoners
We're being exchanged and that the object
of the abduction had been accomplished
that patriotism was the motive that
prompted me in joining the scheme, not
ambition, and that | wanted shadow oil
a chance for my life and that ! intended
having il.
| BOOTH THREATENED BAcKsLfDERs.
Then an angry discussion arose between
Booth and myself, in which he threatened
TO shoot me. ] told him that two coulC
play at that game and before them all ex
pressed my firm determination to have
nothing more TO do with il ter that week
About o'clock in the morning the meet
ing broke up and OLaug! lin and myself
went to our room al Mrs. Van Tyne's.
| The next day, as was standing in front
OF Rullman's Hotel. Pennsylvania avenue
in company with O'Laughlin, Booth came
riding by on horse back and stopped ano
| called O'LauRhlin. He conversed with hin
a short time and then Olaughlin returned
saving that Booth wanted to See me
| ! went to the curb and met him. Bootf
apologi2ed TO me for the words he hac
used at the meeting, remarking that h.,
thought that | must have been drunk ir
making the objections that ! did in ref
erence to his proposed plan Of carrying
out the abduction.
| l told him no-drunkenness was on hi,
and his party's part; that was never more
| sober in my life and that what | said the
night before | meant, and that the weel
would end my connection with the affair
ANOTHER PLAN MATCHED
On March II, 1865, about 2 o'clock Bootf
and Herold met OLaughlin and myself
| Booth stated that he was told that the
President was going to attend theatrica
performance out on Seventh street at 6
soldiers encampment or hospital at the
outer edge Of the city.
Booth had previously sent a small, blocl
box, containing two carbnes. a monke,
wrench ammunition and four pieces Of
rope. by tie porter Of the National Hote
to our room at Mrs Van Tynes. Not
wishing il TO remain in our room
OLaughlin sent the box TO an acquaint
ance Of his in Washington, This box wa,
sent to our room in the early part Of March
1885, l think. and was removed in abou
week or ten days,
After Booth and Herold met OLaughlir
and myself and made arrangements TO 90
out to the performance on Seventh street
Booth, Herold and O'Laughlin went fol
the box containing the two Carhines &c.
| The understanding was that Herold was e
take the box with Booths horse and bupg,
to either Surrattsvile or T B., and ther,
meet MS In case the abduction was sue
| ccssful This was the last time | saw