The Columbus journal., 1910-10-12

on both shoulders. He served the
South with the knowledge ofthe North
he gave that he might in greater
measure take; he betrayed, with per.
mission, the Federal government in
little things, in order that his oppor-
tunities in the Confederacy might be
for more complete betrayal. He
was al things to all Southern men
an actor ola thousand roles; unerring.
~ he read character almost at a glance
shrewdly chose his role-his bait-as
an angler selects his fly from the many
in his Aybook, and cunningly made
his cast of that personality which bid
fair to entice his quarry into trustfal.
nesp; wherever he would he hooked
his man.
In Alabama they would have made
him colonel of a regiment; in Balti-
more he was . member ofthe knights
of Liberty" Kentucky, Tennessee,
Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, Mary
land-he was known to the foremost
citizens Of the principal cities, and to
the commanding officers Of camps and
Notifications and armies, as an ardent
Confederate who was doing important
work for the cause; until at last, As his
position strengthened and as thOse
persons who vouched for him were
men of greater influence, he became
trusted emissary of the Confederate
War Department in Richmond. There
was no more dangerous Union spy
within the Confederacy.
His connection with the Lincoln as
conspirators was the chief,
almost the sole, means Of accomplish.
ing this result. For the moet part the
members Of the plot were men Of posi-.
ton and Of wide acquaintance through.
out the South; and Webster, who was
believed to have fled to avoid arrest,
As had many Of the others, now went
to those of his fellow conspirators who
had returned to Perrymansville and
Baltimore. He did not ask for their
hel p--instead:
liam going to attempt to get South,
said he; perhaps l can do you some
favor there-at least carry letters to
where they may be safely posted; per-
haps bring others hack to you"
And they gladly gave him letters to
be posted, or to be delivered in person
in those cities to which he was going
letters that in effect said, "Open Sc
same this. our friend, is already prov
ed" And the Conf.,lerates If Men,
phis and Bowling Green and Louisville,
Mobile and Nashville, and later Of
Richmond itself, welcomed him, and
he charmed them until he was intro
duced among their friends, and loaded
down with letters to be delivered when
he should 60 north again. He was
working within a circle, operating an
endless chain; it seems very simple
credentials for any time or place!
But all these letters, whether going
South or coming North, stopped in
transit at the headquarters of Allan
Pinkerton, and were read, and their
contents copied, before being resealed
and allowed to continue on their
Journey. There was no limit to his
for gaining information for
The Union. Yet each trip that he
made was like a cumulative poison
only aquestion of repetition to result
10 certain death.
Timothy Webster served the Union
for just twelve months; and the re-
cord of each month would in itself |
furnish ample material for an entire
story.
In a Pennsylvania city-Pittsburg |
he was mistaken for q Confederate |
'py and nearly Iynched by a hot-head-
n mob, from which he was saved only |
~ the opportune arrival Of Allan
Pinkerton. Together, backed against
he wall, with drawn reviewers. they
,eld of the mob, until the chief Of
nlice rescued and identified them.
In Tennessee, on his very first trip
nto the c ,nfederacy, he incurred the
uspicion Of a member If a committee
f safety--"f which each community
Eas we'll supplied tn investigate and
question strangers. He was shadow
d" from city to city; and ut last took
train for Chattanooga. though he
id not wish to e" there; he dared not
tart North Until the man had been
isp0sed Of II almost seemed as
hough his mind had been read; the
had entered the same car