The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-11
sPELLBOUND BY BOOTH.

/
He then says: 1 stood not alone, yet
none seemed to consider it in its prop
er light, they being completely spell
bound by the utterances of Booth, not
! looking at the consequences WHICH
would follow. After arguing to great
length, in fact until the subject became
exhausted and before any Reasonable
/ decision could be arrived at or render
ed, it eliminated IN a very exciting and
/ violent controversy between Booth and
myself, the others silently looking on
when Booth, in his rashness and mad
ness, finding that he could not sWerve
me from my purpose and firm. stand
! taken in the manner of it's accomplish
ment, threatened to shoot me, or words
to that effect.
At this time it looked very much as
if the meeting would be dissolved with
serious consequences attending it, as
two stubborn natures had met, and one
of us decided a character as the other
when deeming the position assumed as
right. However, it was finally settled
and compromised without resorting to
shooting, after which, in the presence
of the entire company, l stated my de-
termination and firm resolve to sever
my connection with the affair in case
it was not carried out during the week,
| stating, also, Gentlemen, you have
naught to fear from me in the matter,
as L never would betray you"
The resolve to attempt to carry Off
the president from the hospital or en-
campment on Seventh street, where the
chief executive failed to appear after
the conspirators had arrived on the
scene on horseback, is dealt with again
by Arnold at this point. The plan was
to take the carriage of the president
and all seated within it, drive it around
by way of Bladensburg, thence through
the lower counties in the direction of
Port Tobacco, across the river at or
near that point, and thence onward to
Richmond.
A QUIXOTIC UNDERTAKING.
Commenting on this plan, Mr. Arnold
says: The most quiXotic and visionary
undertaking that ever entered sane
mans brain. looked upon him as de-
mented, but made no objection, stating
that we would be ready at the appoint
ed time. Of all the ideas existing in a
mans brain, this was the most fool
hardy ever advanced, and we concluded
that it was done to try the nerve of his
associates We looked upon him as a
mailman, yet could offer no objection
from the fact that we had given oul
word to assist him in it during the
week.
OLaughlin, Payne and Arnold rode
part of the way to the city in company
! n1oH In
road What became of AtZerodt / an
unable to state, and Herold was not
present, he having been sent to T. B
or Surrattsville with Booths horse
and buggy, conveying the box con
tanning two carbines and other ninol
articles. About o'clock that same eve
ming O'Laughlin and myself met Bootf
and Surfatt back Of the National Hotel
at the stable where our horses hat
been placed at livery, and from tina
day I never saw John Fl. Surratt unit
met him a clerk at the Norfolk Line
;, of steamers in Baltimore, some 10 year:
ago.
The interval allotted for carrying ou
, the scheme expired, and O'Laughlil
I and myself severed all connection will
Booth and his confederates, and, il
fact, the general idea of the entire par
ty was that the project was entirel.
abandoned, and we returned to our re
I spective homes in Baltimore on Marcl
! 20 1865.
, STILL ANOTHER APPEAL.
, But few days had elapsed befor
| Booth was again soliciting my assist
ance, to which l paid not the slightes
attention. On March %, 1865, as he re
turned from New York to the City c
Washington he stopped in Baltimore
called at my fathers to see me, but
was in the country. So he left lette
> for me, and found that he desired
try it once more, and, if unsuccessful
Il to forever abandon it. AS requested,
called at Barnum's hotel, but found h
> had departed. !, therefore, conclude
II that he had gone to Washington, Whic
n caused the penning of the communica
J. ton of March OF, which proved 50 fats
e in it's bearing in my respective case.
The motive of the letter was to pre-
= vent, if possible, his undertaken!
= Whether he left this letter in his trun
d to betray me, in my innocence, into tn
o hands of the government through ma
t ice or forgetfulness. I cannot fathon
n nevertheless, it accomplished it's en-
e and from this fact was forced to bt
s come witness against myself.
g The trip with O'Laughlin to Wasf
- ington to get money from Booth OWN
e O'Laughlin, is dealt with at length. F
says: We had an interview with Boot