Show I THE LINCOLN CONSPIRACY Samuel B Arnold Continues His Narrative What I He Avers is True Story of Plot on Life of Martyred President ICopyrlrhtcd 3002 by tc Dnlllmorc American I rpiihUHltinl 1 Exclusively J In Utah bv Sj > c dill rranKcment by Tho Salt Luko Tribune J Continued From Yesterday The life story of Samuel B Arnold rcnmlned unrecorded for many years niter his pardon by President Johnson SHVC for that portion set down In his statement Immediately Lifer arrest In the office of Marshal McPlmil In Baltimore Bal-timore In that made before W H Glcason notary public At Dry Tortu gns In 1SG7 and In wrltlncs compiled from testimony adduced at his trial In the early nineties Mr Arnold began what he avers la i the true story of his entire connection with the Lincoln conspiracy con-spiracy and Its Hubsequent events With some very slight and minor changes the manuscript la I ns follows TwentyJive years have rolled around since my return to my native Staten free tnuii During that period I have pslently borne both my sorrows and the jimny wrongs thrust upon me by overzealous over-zealous writers I declined to be interviewed inter-viewed by correspondents t of the press abiding my own time to tjlve to the public any and all facts which 1 pos nessed knowing that when I did so It would come under my own hand and everything would be truthfully transcribed I tran-scribed 1 fuel it my duty not only to jnysclf but to my country at large to come before the public and to give as Jar as my knowledge extends an authentic au-thentic Account of every part takc > nand n-and every part known during my connection con-nection wIth John Wilkes Booth The standard from which the history bf the country Is at present made up is compiled from that military Inquisition l Inquisi-tion termed u military commission held at Washington D C In the year nSGo of which I will deal as I pursue Suy subject I was born in the District of Columbia Colum-bia of respectable parentage At birth there were four traits of character trhlch grew stronger as age progressed They were honor honesty truthfulness truthful-ness and will power It required neither law nor tutelage to engraft them In my nature as they were part and parcel of my being at birth Through life even to my old age they have been just as strong and firm as In my youth I yield to no one in this vast > country preeminence In these qualifications My parents were Christians Chris-tians who Impressed these virtues on jny mind beside my preceptors were onen of high standing within my native State who both looked after my spiritual spir-itual welfare and to the observance and obedience to the governing laws of the country As a youth I was wild only to enjoy the pleasures of life which I munt say were bountiful from youth to middle age No wish of the heart but was gratified and life during that period was one vast sea of pleasure There Was nothing vicious In my nature but I ivu firm and decided In all the walks of life ncr allowing anyone to Impose I Im-pose upon me From my birth which occurred in JS15 I had ncer violated a law of the land nor had I violated any when arrested In 1S5 although it Is HO recorded lha I did Let the public disprove dis-prove my assertion WAR CHANGED FRIENDSHIP Fate accompanied me In all my wanderings wan-derings Through 111 health and a bro kendown constitution I returned from the South In the early part of 1884 I 1 came ostensibly to see my mother who was very ill To restore hoiyxo health I promised to remain and I found that ehc gradually began to Improye My sojourn at home wan not a bed of roses It wa beyond my minds conception to believe much less I to feel that the nature na-ture of man or the feelings of the hu hon heart could undergo so varied a change through civil war as I became < < the witness of until brought Into direct di-rect contact with the wide estrangement estrange-ment It was productive of among thore With whom from earliest yoarn the ilrment friendship and association had existed unmoved unchanged and unbroken un-broken It was a sorrowing Fight to behold the hand so frequently pressed In friendships warm grasp hang cold and lletless by the side of those whom the i heart had ever cherished na ones warmest friends Where In former years all had been friendliness behold I changed to hatred and bitter animosity ready and willing to act In concert with those whose Inward dispositions de Jlghtcd In reviling and persecuting their fellowman That all these marked and woeful changes have been seen and bltterlj and sadly felt mi marred life and racked frame bear witness of Buperlnduced and In Its greatest measure meas-ure brought to Its present stage through acts of basest meanness by my fellowman Unable to cone against Hhc swelling = tide of persecution that set In upon me from every olde possessing a spirit that cbuld nor would not brook taunt ing Insult nor tamely submit to every Indignity the passion of the hour felt disposed to Impose and to exact r de termined to sever myself from those In whose midst J could not dwell In peace and happiness owing to the difference of political sentiment and views and endeavor if possible to find In n land among fltraa ers that Just Inheritance denied me In my own native State LEFT BUT TO RETURN v Ever gift of nature at my command was brought Into requisition to stay and soften the evil passions engendered by the war Faultless and unavailing were all my efforts and the only course left me to adopt and pursue was to seek a 1 more congenial clime This resolve was carried Into execution during tho Bummer of JSG4 under the most trylnr circumstances but wsia shortllvcd necessity ne-cessity of a private nature very much against my Inclination compelling me through force of surroundings to re turn to my home again In the month of JulThis This destiny over which I had no controlling agency nor the power to avert forced misfortune and suffering upon me After my return I was very guarded In both actions and apcceh studiously avoiding entering into political politi-cal discussions although at periods they were forced upon me I left the city going to my fathers country home In Baltimore county near Hooks town and there remained In retire ment and happy contentment Imagi Jiatlon could conjure up no sweeter life than this quIet country solitude and for over I a month I was truly happy The pleasures of the pust resumed their former status In my nature I lived over again thu halcyon days passed there when pwjce reigned throughout the land eer the rude toc 0in of war marshaled foes to deluge this fair land In blood and ruin and I was allured under the false hope into the belief that It was happiness But soon I found It was not so The incartH yearnings could not be stilled again restlessness took possession of n > y being and the heart bounded to me again In the element of cxcllcment In which for three long years it had run riot riotA A FATEFUL JOURNEY It was during my sojourn there upon j bright and beautiful morning dur j Ing either the month of August 01 September ISfiJ the monotony of Il country life becoming very tedious Clnd IniilpM ihut I concluded ihiit I t a short visit I to the city of Baltimore woulc be beneficial In Its effects which thought was forthwith acceded to am carried immediately Into execution thcr being no plans or any object governing gov-erning my actions other than to relieve re-lieve I the dull monotony miluraJly investing In-vesting a country life Thc morning of my arrival 1 In the city was principally occupied In the pursuit pur-suit df pleasure accompanied by a few selected acquaintances and friends Toward noon T returned to the residence l resi-dence of my father who was residing at that period inthe city hen from a younger brother who had also been a schoolmate of John W Booth I learned that Dooth desired mo lo cal upon him at the Barnum hotel at which I place he uas stopping At this period I knew nothing of John Wilhcs Booths political I sentiment t 1 r senti-ment nor had I the remotest idea of I I the result which ould follow the visit I I merely culled upon him as a companion com-panion and friend of my boyhood which was most natural I had not seen Booth since 151 when we parted with one another at school Sepuraltd from one another our vocations called us to different pursuits and he as an Individual In-dividual like the many that clustered Around 1 schoolboy days vanished from the everyday scenes of my life As r I he became eminent In his profession I mpinnry brought him back but we I never met from JSdl until that inter part of 1SC4 MEETING WITH BOOTH The visit was made according to his request and for the llrst time In thirteen thir-teen years we looked upon each other Fatal that meeting to me for through It the Iron was entered deep Into my oul and caused me to loe confidence In the human race I found Booth possessed of wonderful 1 power In conversation con-versation and became perfectly Infatuated Infat-uated with his social manners and bearing Instead of gazing upon the countenance of the mlld and timid schoolmate of formed years I beheld a deepthinking man of the world before be-fore me with highly distinguishing marks of beauty Intelligence and gentlemanly gen-tlemanly refinement different from the common order of man and one possessing pos-sessing an uninterrupted flow of conversational con-versational power In which all the characteristics of different natures were combined Booth Invited me to his room where the current Items of the times were freely talked over Intermingled with escapades of schoolboy days It was not until Michael OLaughlln one of his earliest friends and associates In youth had arrived and was Introduced that the subject which no doubt was uppermost in his coursing thoughts was disclosed and from all that I could then glean and subsequently It la my firm conviction find belief that It was Inn I-nn enterprise created or at least I hod its Its origin In Booths own visionary vision-ary mind and totally disconnected with any person or persons In the service of the Confederate State Government Booths object was to undertake the abduction of Abraham Lincoln convey him to Richmond turn him over to the I Confederate States Government to beheld be-held as a hostage for the exchange of prisoners as the United States Government Gov-ernment had refused to exchange them By eo doing It wiuld strengthen the force of the Confederate army and be the means of tilling up to some extent their depleted ranks lIe pictured inmost in-most glowing terms how easy It could be acrompllsu v THE PLANS OlTLIXED Oftn Abraham Lincoln attended by no one except his carriage driver visited vis-ited the hospital over the Aancostla bridge He proposed io intcrro non n-on one of these visits take him coachman coach-man and all drive through the lower counties of Marjlnnd place him In a boat l cross the Potomac to Virginia and thence convey him to Richmond Everything wan prepared for this end boat purchased and moored to be moved at a moments notice and > a boatman In waiting constantly at his bidding I When the brain was to a great ex that clouded by drink and reason In a measure had lost UB power of concentrating con-centrating thought OLaughlln and myself entered Into the t enterprise with Booth after taking an oath to secrecy and good faith The undertaking was for the Pole purpose of bringing about an exchange of prisoners The contemplated con-templated design within Itself Wit purely humane and patriotic In Its principles void of all ambitions aspirations as-pirations or aggrandizement and legitimate legiti-mate as an act of war There was no violence contemplated In the execution of the design other than the seizure of the body or person of Abraham Lincoln and his conveyance convey-ance to Richmond Va as has already been Jet forth as violence would have been In flat contradiction to bin avowed purpose and the object to be attained When T entered Into the combination with him my condition prevented me from giving It Us proper consideration considera-tion otherwise I never I would have been mlx > d 1 up In the affair NO MERCENARY MOTIVE Men often do things upon the spur of the moment which they never would have done had they carefully looked Into and weighed the subject under discussion Of course had the attempt at-tempt been made and we ohould have proved miorcssful or ve had been taken or captured during Its undertaking the consequences attending It would have been of a very serious nature There vm no propelling force brought to bear neither was assent lo his proposition propo-sition obtained under promise of pay or reward No It was the free outpour ng of each heart stripped of nil mercenary merce-nary motives or thought which Impelled Im-pelled tho action of each The enterprise being deemed feasible and productive of good we Jointly cn torcd Into the plan as an act of honorable honor-able purpose humanity and patriotism being the binding links to nerve us in the accomplishment of the design That was my first acquaintance wfth Michael OLaughlln and we three Booth OLaughlln and myself rom prlROd at that period the only persons engaged In the affair The entire afternoon af-ternoon was spent In company with Booth discussing measures to be adopted adopt-ed for the furtherance of his newtorn enterprise H was calculated to accomplish accom-plish the undertaking before the coming election In the month of November Everything having been arranged sat Infactorlly duties were apportioned for each to perform without delay and we purled company with one another to meet again at a certain appointed time THE CANADIAN VISIT J Whites Booth a few days later sUuted for hln home In the North for thtl purpOKi of nettlinG and arranging ill His claims etc and to dispose of his property and possessions oullsfar torliy to himself thence Intending via Iting Canada ostensibly for the purpose of shipping his wardrobe by tho way of Nnspuu to tIe Confederate States purposing pur-posing on his ivturn from Canada the purchase of all required articles needed lo parry out the enterprise At this point Mr Arnold deals I with the movements of Booth of various conversations and with the purchase of Hit anms etc Us detailed In the sworn statement taken before W H Glenson I dt the notary puhlk riif December1 1 107 Alter detailing the change of plan to nbduct Lincoln from the l theater because be-cause of hs having ceased lo visit the Soldiers home Mr Arnold writes Every pteparntlon I as far as known At this t period had been completed and pioh watched m i far aft pragllcable the movements of Lincoln being cautious cau-tious not to draw the attention nor arouse the suspicions I of tho t numerous hordes of detectives nnd spies who at 1 t that I I lime thronged i ivcry I I lioioiigli fame of the city of WiKhingion Mr l Lincoln 1 Lin-coln during the month I of January paid several I vlnlt ta to ihe I then I let and had tl I I been flout liii Intention I lo have OK M Imucd him at I t thin llmi he rouM liavo accomplished It with the sa inc ease then that ho did at a I later peil dIn d-In I fact many Instances presented themselvt I afar 1 I from the liucrroiirsc I of a crowded city 01 a theater when IIP ouliJ I hiv c done PO nnd perhaps none vjoulrl l have bfen nbk to hal dismv noil I whose hand It was that struck the t blow r US A MONOMANIAC After l detailing Ills first mrcting with Jrihn H I 1 Surratt Mr l u Arnold says J Wllkts Boolli If I I may be allowed lo pass an opinion nllght have hl11 justly termed n monomaniac on tho subject Each nay ho was becoming I Impressed more with the Idea of attempting at-tempting the nbdurtlnn from lie mentor men-tor and nothing thnt could be ad vaiicd 1 upon our part tending to rs tablHh Its I utlT Impracticability had the slightest weight or Influence toward icmovlng his erroneous Impressions It accmed to be his only thought by day and from his conversation his frequent fre-quent dream by night Ambition the curse of the world was fast becoming the leading star In his destiny destroying In Its onward march the better feelings of bin nature Nervous Ner-vous Irritability displayed lUscIf on numerous nu-merous occunlonp In quick and short responses when Information was asked more especially so when combatting against his mode of procedure From this time on his determination to carryout carry-out his plan of abduction at the theater grew stronger upon him dally unlll It absorbed every other thought of his mind and naught could be brought to bear to move or change hlni from this newly contemplated manner of carryIng carry-Ing it out l To me It seemed like the height of madness and would but lead to the sacrifice of us all without obtaining the object for which we combined together The bravest heart surrounded by foes looks eagerly around for eomo opening of escape before he commences action Thus It was with me conscious of the fact that failure would be followed by arrest by the Government of the United States trial before a military tribunal oil the I specific charge of being spies which would more ban probably consign con-sign each to an Ignominious death All of this was brought to bear upon him and conversed over without producing the slightest effect In changing his resolve I solve OPPORTUNITIES WASTED On two occasions most favorable opportunities op-portunities presented themselves which If Booth had energetically moved In the premises or had had a desire other than attempting It at the theater I am perfectly confident that it would have proven successful beyond be-yond a doubt These were occasions before I became acquainted with the fact that others than Sumitt and ourselves our-selves already spoken of were connected con-nected with the iiterprlse Jhe President Pres-ident passed ovei the EORtcIn Branch bridge accompanied only by his coachman coach-man and a single guest within the carriage car-riage To what point he went beyond was not known hip movements having been overlooked only so far as to ascertain as-certain the tact that ho had passed over the river Information was immediately conveyed con-veyed to Booth of these occurrences He paid buC slight attention to the mailer on account as he said of UK pressure of butUneeR at the time and hus the only and the most favorable opportunities were permitted to pass by without It may be truly spoken the llghtesl notice being alcoa of them by l I ihrt II became impossible under these cIrcumstances to feel like continuing in the affair when Inaction and Inattention Inatten-tion were becoming the ruling elements delay tending to cause our positions ally to become more Insecure The month of January had passed and as yet nothing had been accorn llfihed February I ushered ItsiTI In only to be a repetition of the former month as Booth through riotous living liv-ing and dissipation was compelled to visit the city of New York for the pur pore of replenishing his pquanderru ncans His absence continued nearly ho entire month caused by the great dIfficulty experienced In borrowing Inane His visit did not extend be youth the city of New York neither did he go for any other purpose than hat above staled which fact was made known to me on his return to Wnsh ngton on or about the 2Sth day of February 1S65 GAS MAN REFUSED During my whole connection with Booth there wan but one visit mado to Canada by him this occurring at or aboul the time of the St AlhnnH aid In which he was not concerned ils visit there being as before staled for the purpose of shipping his wart robe by way of Nassau to the Confed crate States In Ills visit In New York In the month 0 f February he tried to Induce a many h man-y the name of Samuel Chester to engage en-gage in the enterprise he being as Booth said under obligations to him Th part allotted for him to perform waS the turning off of the gas on tho Ight In question FO that In the dark nclts enveloping the t house and con fusion created therefrom the abduc lon could be made a success Many lilngs combining cause him to all In his Chester would take no part in It and Booth determined to attempt it without the assltmincn of any othnrh her than those already connected with the affair To BQ iV > MtInii < vl Tomorrow |