The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-08

Few Gays ana Ineu went TO AlIcneIi
Hotel, near Growers Theater. and re-
manned a few days. We went from
there and rented a room from Mrs. Van
Tyne, 420 D street. and obtained our
meals at the Franklin Hotel, al the
corner of D and Eighth streets. We
remained there, off and on, until March
90 1865, during which time frequently
, went to BaltimOre-nearly every Sat
urday. O'Laughlin, as a general thing,
went and returned with me on these
visits.
When in Baltimore 1 remained at
my fathers home. When in Washing
ton 1 spent most of my time at Rull-
mans Hotel Ckept by Lichau), on
Pennsylvania avenue, at which place
O'Laughlin and myself had acQuaint-
/ ances.
The president having ceased visiting
the Soldiers Home, Booth proposed a
plan to abduct him from the theater,
by carrying him back off the stage by
the back entrance place him in bug
gy which he was to have in attendance.
and during the confusion which would
be produced by the turning off of the
gas, make good our escape. 1 objected
to any such arrangement, and plainly
pointed out it's utter impracticability
and told Booth it could not be accom-
plished. He would listen to no argu-
ment 1 could bring forth, and seemed
resolved in carrying out his mad
scheme. He endeavored to obtain a
man from New York to turn off the
! gas. In this he failed-so he informed
me.
This was in the latter part of Jan
uary, or the early part of February,
| 1865, Booth at this time was stopping
at the National Hotel. About this time
called at his room, accompanied by
lO'Laughlin, and upon entering, was in
troduced to Surratt under the name, l
think, of Cole. This was about 10 or IL
o'clock in the morning, and Booth was
still in bed. This was the first time l
ever met Surratt. Surratt left few
moments after we came In, and Booth
informed Us that he was one of the
parties engaged in the abduction, and
that his name was Surratt.
A MOTHERS DREAMS.
About this time Booth told me he
had received a letter from his mother,
in which she stated that she had fear
full dreams about him. She sent his
brother, Junius Brutus, to Washington
to pursuade him to come home, so
Booth told me. Booth told me that he
did not wish his brother to know how
many horses he had, as he knew that
his brother would ask for an explana-
ton as to why he kept so many. He
asked me then to go down to Cleaver's
stable, and did So He told Mr.. Cleav-
err that had purchased the horse, and
he was turned over to me.
About a 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 O'Laughlin or Booth, / never
saw the horse afterwards. Booth af-
forwards repaid me for the board of
the horse.
Booth was absent from the City Of
Washington for the best part of the
month of February. On his return he
stated that he had been to New York.
On the night of March Is, 1865, about Il
or 1890 O'clock O'Laughlin and myself
We're about leaving Rullman's Hotel,
on our way to our room, When Booth
sent messenger (Herold), who at that
time was unknown to me, requesting
us to accompany Herold to Gotier's
eating saloon. (Herold, / 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
We're then formally introduced. Oys-
tiers, liquors and cigars were obtained
Booth then remarked that those gath
cred were the parties engaged to as
sist in the abduction of the President
The plan of abducting him from the
theater was then introduced and dis
Ycoursed upon, Booth saying that if it
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, We're to seize the president in
out the gas; l was to jump upon the
stage and assist them as he was low
cred 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
i. which had been purchased by Booth
Booth said everything was in readi-
ness,
The gist of the conversation during
the meeting was as to whether it could
or could not be accomplished in the
manner proposed. After listening tc
Booth and the others, I firmly protest
ed and objected to the whole scheme
and told them of it's utter impractic'
ability. / stated that prisoners were
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 l wanted a
shadow of a chance for my life and that
intended having it.
Then an angry discussion arose be-
tween Booth and myself, in which he
threatened to shoot me. l told hin
that two could play at that game, ant
before them all expressed my firm de-
termination to have nothing more tc
do with it after that week. About
o'clock in the morning the meeting
broke up and O'Laughlin and myself