Year: 1867

ment PlOt-His Story OF the Transac-


tiOns with Mrs. Hunham.


WASHINGTON, September 10. In these des-
patches recently allusiOn was made to certain
forthcoming disclosures in reference TO the plot
to obtain impeachment evidence against the
President, and it was stated that an affidavit
would be included, showing that Mrs. Durham
had received from General Butler 500 and was
reproached by the latter Tor not having per-
formed the services for which she had been
engaged. In relation to this subject, the fol-
lowing is given as General Buffers explana-
tion: - While Conover was in jail in this
city, q lady who boarded in the house
with Mrs. Durham called on General
Butler, and informed him that Mrs. Durham
had SAID her husband knew Of the whereabouts
of certain very important documents bearing on
the assassination of President Lincoln, and
subsequently a gentleman 6oarder G in the the
Butler and reiterated this information, stating
in addition, that Mrs. Dunham had said If she
could get money sufficient to detray expenses OF
travelling she could obtain the papers in ques-
ton. General Butler then said if Mrs. Dunham
would bring to him statement from her hus-
band setting forth the character of the docu-
ment,s he would enable her to get at them. Mrs.
Dunham afterwards called on the General with
the required statement, and told him that the
documents were in New York, to which place
she would have to go for them, and that
Mr.. Durham had fully instructed her
how to proceed in order to obtain them.
General Butler asked her how much
money she would need for the purpose. She
TepUcQ llaL as sue WOulu De OUllgeu 10 nave
companion she would need fifty dollars. This
amount the General gave her, and was assured
by Mis-. Dunham that she would start that eve
ning. day or two afterwards Mrs. Dunham
again appeared before the General, stating that
as some trouble had occurred at the jail she was
unable to see her husband, but brought note
from him explaining that he could not give her
the directions necessary to get the papers,
"Tben, as you cannot go to New York"
SAID the General, "you will not require
the fifty dollars; so you had better return
the money" Mrs. Dunham answered that she
had not the money to return. General Butler
then told her he knew the money had been
used tor other purposes, and that she could not
repay it. Mrs. Dunham was greatly astonished,
and asked the General how he knew that
she had made such use of the money. General
Butler answered that he would tell her a
story. He then related how, when he was
in command OF the Army of the James, he
had man to go into the Rebel lines and
bring him an account of the Rebel iron clads
that were being built at Richmond; no " the man
returned in three weeks with budget OF inte.
resting information, and how after the SOW
had told him his story, Butler had produced a
detective who disclosed that the spy had gone
from the army to Washington, where he re.
mained during the whole time, instead of going
to Richmond; and finished by saying that he
had him ornamented with ball and chain and
set him to digging in Dutch Gap. The General
then told her that she had her answer; she
might go; and she went.-M Y. Herald.