Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12

pair of horses. and to have one of our
men mount the box and drive direct for
southern Maryland via Benning bridge.
We felt confident that all the cavalry in
the city could never overhaul We
were dill mounted on swift horses besides
having thorough knowledge of the coun
try. il being determined to abandon the
carriage after passing the city limits.
Upon the suddenneSs of the blow and the
CELEBRITY Of our movements we depended
for success. By the time the alarm could
have been given and horses saddied. we
would have. been on our way through
southern Maryland toward the Potomac
river. To our great disappointment, how
ever, the President was not there. but
one of the government officialS-Mr.
Chase. II l mistake not. We did not dis
turh him. as we wanted a bigger chase
laughter than he could have afforded US.
1t was certainly a bitter disappointment.
but yet. | think. most fortunate one for
us. 1t was our last attempt.
We soon after this became convinced
that we could not remain much longer un
discovered and that we must abandon our
enterprise. Accordingly separation
finally took place. and ! never after saw
any of the party except one. and that was
when l was on my way from Richmond
TO Canada on business of quite differ
ent nature-aboEt which. presently. Such
Is the story of our abduction plot.
Rash. perhaps foolish. but honorable. ]
maintain in its means and ends; actuated
circumstances be n sufficient inducement
to thousands of southern young men to
have embarked in similar enterprise
Shortly after our abandonment of the
abduction scheme some dispatches came
to me which / was compelled to see
through to Richmond. They were foreign
ones and had no reference whatever to
this affair l accordingly left home for
Richmond. and arrived lnere safely the
Friday evening before the evacuation of
that city. On my arrival I went to Spots
wood Hotel. where ] was told that Mr..
Benjamin. the then secretary of war of
the Confederate states, wanted to see me.
| accordingly sought his presence. He
asked me if | would carry some dispatches
to Canada for him. | replied Yes. That
evening he gave me the dispatches and
5000 in gold with which to pay my way
to Canada. That was the only money l
ever received from the Confederate gov
eminent or any of it's agents. 1t may
be we'll to remark here that this scheme
of abduction was connected without the
knowledge or the assistance of the Con-
federate government in any shape or
form.
Confederate Government Ignorant.
Booth and l often consulted together
as to whether it would not be we'll to
acquaint the authorities in Richmond with
our plan as we were sadly in want of
money. our expenses being very heavy.
In fact. the question arose among us as
to whether. after getting Mr.. Lincoln. if
we succeeded in our plan, the Confed-
crate authorities would not surrender us
to the United States again. because of
doing this thing without their knowledge
or consent. But we never acquainted
them with the plan. and they never had
anything in the wide world to do with it.
In fact. we were jealous of our under
taking. and wanted no outside help /
have not made this statement to defend
ment. They are perfectly able to defend
themselves. What I have done myself I
am not ashamed to let the world know