See also: https://balance10.blogspot.com/2019/04/secrets-of-lincoln-assassination.html
The 18 missing Booth diary pages were locked in a box in the attic.
The Stanton family heirs had never opened the box; in fact, they had
no key. Appraiser Lynch analyzed them, apparently with a decrption person, from 1974. In the end Lynch sold to the movie company a transcript of the supposed diary, made
from his tape-recorded descriptions. The
price was somewhere between $5,000 and
$10,000.
The pages give a fascinating account, presumably
written by Booth, of his intrigues with Lincoln intimates shortly before the assassination. Some of the most prominent politicians of the period, including Stanton, are implicated. Booth using a common code wrote:
"At a party given by Eva's parents, I met Senator John
Conness (California Senator). Conness says Eddie (Booth) and
he are friends from days in California in '55 and '56.
In a private conversation he informed me that he could
render some service to the South. He suggests that I call on him tomorrow as we might
have some common interests.
I saw him this morning and he produced documents which
proved that he was not an enemy spy. He gave me the name of a wholesale druggist who could be trusted and said the druggist would supply from 5,000 to 25,000
ounces of quinine. I purchased a six-week list in advance of all the passwords
which changed daily on the post roads for the sum of $3,000.
He said that he would supply the new passwords every six
weeks as they changed for as long as I wished, providing each
time $3,000 would be forthcoming.
He said he was not a patriot for either North or South, but
rather a nan with a small pocket and a large need.”
"In Philadelphia today I met with Jay Cooke [Lincoln's Civil
War financier]. Cooke brought his brother Henry [Washington banker] — greeted
me warmly and said he thought most highly of Judah Benjamin
[Confederate Secretary of State] and acknowledged that anyone
who that wily fox, Benjamin, would send would be the best man
available. We had lunch, then went to a room where the people present were. Number of speculators in both cotton and gold. Present were Thurlow Weed [Lincoln's campaign manager and loyal supporter], a person by the name of [Samuel] Noble [New York cotton
broker] , a man by the name of [Zachariah] Chandler [Michigan
Senator] , a Mr. [Issac] Bell [cotton merchant] — who said he was
a friend of John Conness.
Each and every one asserted that he had had dealings with the
Confederate, states and they would continue, too, wherever possible.
Cooke said that they would continue to have dealings with the
Confederacy, but not out of fear of betrayal, but because in peace
and in war, a businessman must do business whatever the stakes.
Cooke gave me two letters--one to Beverly Tucker [Confederate diplomatic agent]
and the other to Jacob Thompson [Confederate
secret service chief]--both in cipher.”
"At the St. Lawrence Hotel in Montreal—
A half hour went by and Thompson arrived. I presented
KSSVS2 2LST-given by Cooke--The * ^3 SJT2U
ine4.^ And after dinner ' Thompson gave me $50,000 in bank notes with
instructions to take $15,000 to Senator Conness and to leave in
a sealed envelope $20,000 in notes at the home of Senator rBnnLm^i
Wade. Ohio Senator]. The balance of the money ?o be used to SbSin
recruits for our plan. The plan goes forward! * ln
"Washington again at "the National --
{John] Surratt and I are to go south to reconnoiter the ground
which we will cover. We have four routes and at least a hundred
supporters along the way—most patriots, some who need money, but
all loyal to the South.
We are ready at last. We waited all day — six of us in the
freezing rain and he did not come.
Answering a knock on my door this morning, I found Lafayette
Baker [Chief of the National Detective Police, a division of
Stanton's War Department] on my doorstep. I thought the end had
come. But instead, he handed me letters from Jefferson Davis
[President of the Confederate States of America], from Judah
Benjamin, and from Clement Clay [Confederate States diplomat]..
I gave him the money and sent a message to Richmond [Capitol of
the Confederate States of America]. I don't trust him. I wait
for answer. I receive reply, my orders—Trust him! I do not!”
"I went to Conness. He said to trust Baker — that he knew him
in California in '55 and '56 and that Baker could be trusted because
of that fact. I cannot. They believe in him. I cannot!
I purchased a carbine entirely covered in leather. I darken
it with lamp black. I took [Lewis] Paine and [John] Surratt with me and we waited
on the road near the gardens.
In the late hours of the morning' we heard a horse approaching.
It was him. It was dark and I waited until he was 25 or 30 yards
from me. I fired! I saw his hat fall.
m*ki Pll? a fired twice ' He stayed in the saddle and galloped away.
Within minutes they pursued us. Within two miles, we eluded them!
Another failure!
nm JL- ^ et [ ?°-* r E Y e: f ton] Conger [Baker's aide] at the Herndon House.
He was in mufti [plain clothes] and warned no new attempts until
we have a new plan. If I try again without orders they will find me in the Potomac
along with my friends. No new orders come in the last ten days. I go to New York. I
make it plain, I believe we have been betrayed and that I think the
scoundrel responsible is Baker.”
"I believe that Baker and [Maj. Thomas] Eckert [Stanton aide and
chief of the War Department Telegraph Office] and the Secretary
[Stanton] are in control of our activities and this frightens me.”
"There is great excitement tonight. Rumors say that [Robert E.]
Lee has surrendered. If it is true, it means the end.
I believe that these politicians, these vipers and their cronies
will strip the South bare. it seems that all things we have planned and striven for have come to naught. By the almighty God, I swear that I shall lay the body of this
tyrant [Lincoln] dead upon the altar of Mars ["Mars" was Lincoln's
name for Stanton] . And if by this act, I am slain, they too shall
be cast into Hell for I have given information to a friend who
will have the nation know who the traitors are."
………………………………………..
A diary account left by Rep. George Julian was also acquired by Sunn Classic Pictures: "Post-Assassination Monday, April 24, 1865 — I was today summoned to the War Secretary's [Edwin Ml Stanton] office. When I got there Major [Thomas] Eckert [Chief of the War Department Telegraph Office] was at the door with a grim look on his usually pleasant face and I sensed at once that something was amiss.
"He opened the door so I could enter and then I saw Senator
[Zachariah] Chandler [Michigan Senator] , who was reading from a
small book. He too had a sour look on his face. The War
Secretary was pacing up and down while Chandler read with
mumbles. Stanton said that he had sent for [John] Conness
[California Senator] , and that he should be there momentarily.
Conness soon arrived and was ushered in by Major Eckert.
"I asked what was happening and Stanton said, *We have Booth's
diary and he has recorded a lot in it.' Conness grabbed it away
from Chandler and sat down in a chair as he read. He kept
mumbling 'Oh my God, Oh my God, 1 and then said, I am ruined if
this ever gets out. '
"Stanton asked me if I wanted to read the diary and I told
him that since I had not met the man and was not mentioned in his
diary, I was better off not reading it.
"Stanton said, 'It concerns you, for we either stick together
in this thing, or we will all go down the river together.' _ But
I did not read it nor do I know what was in it, but it excited
Chandler and Conness as well as Stanton.
"Chandler said, 'We cannot let it out.' Conness agreed and
so did Stanton. I all this time supposed that Booth had been
captured and I asked what Booth had to say. Stanton replied
that they would have him by the next morning. I did not ask
how he had come to get his diary when they didn't have him.
"Stanton placed the book in an envelope and sealed it. Gave
it to Eckert with the instructions to place it in the safe and
release it to no one without his order. Eckert took it away and
I left. It was disgusting to see those men grovel in fear because of
their immoral activities. I returned to my office and thence to
my rooms. "
https://archive.org/stream/assassinxxxxxxx00linc/assassinxxxxxxx00linc_djvu.txt
.............................................................................
George W. Julian's Journal 335
caucus with Wade, Chandler, Covode, Judge Carter and Wilkin-
son, correspondent of The Tribune, who is determined to put
Greeley on the war-path. In this caucus we agreed upon a new
cabinet, which we are tomorrow to urge upon Johnson, among
other things placing Butler in the State Department, Stebbins, of
New York, in the navy, and Covode Postmaster General. I like
the radicalism of the members of this caucus, but have not in a
long time heard so much profanity. It became intolerably
disgusting. Their hostility towards Lincoln's policy of conciliation
and contempt for his weakness were undisguised; and the
universal feeling among radical men here is that his death is a god-
send. It really seems so, for among the last acts of his official
life was an invitation to some of the chief rebel conspirators to
meet in Richmond and confer with us on the subject of peace.
The dastardly attack upon Lincoln and Seward, the great leaders
in the policy of mercy, puts to flight utterly every vestige of
humanitarian weakness and makes it seem that justice shall be done
and the righteous ends of the war made sure. The government
could not have survived the policy upon which it had entered. 6
https://archive.org/stream/jstor-27785702/27785702_djvu.txt
.....................................................................................................................
see also https://balance1010.wordpress.com/2014/12/21/ray-neff-about-1960-made-some-great-discoveries/
.........................................................................................................................
Jay Cooke--(1821-1905) Banker, Leading financier of the Civil
War. Established valuable ties with financiers and government
officials. But over-inflated security issues in private ventures,
plus inefficient management drove him into unexpected bankruptcy,
precipitating the panic of 1873. Recovered losses by speculating
in mining and real estate out west within seven years. Still died
with a fortune.
Thurlow Weed--Influential newspaperman &
political leader from N.Y. Played behind -
the scenes role in controlling many political
careers, policies Helped make William
Seward N.Y. Governor, Senator, managed his
losing campaign for President in l861 but
helped him become Secretary of State. One
of Lincoln's most valued advisors. Went to
Europe to gain support for the North.
John Conness--Born in Ireland, 1821. Cameto
U.S. in 1833. Served as California Senator
from I863-I869. Died in Massachusetts.
Thomas T. Eckert--Was in charge of military
telegraph at War Department under Stanton.
Serving as acting Assistant Sec. of War when
Lincoln slain. Officially served as such from
1866-1867. Went on to become president of
several telegraph companies. Died in 1910.
Zacharia Chandler--(1813-1679 ) Rep. Senator
from Michigan 1857-1875. Friend and confidant
of Stanton, fought hard to defeat Lincoln's
re nomination in '64. Major supporter of Stan-
ton in Committee on Conduct of War. Lobbied
for Stanton's appointment to Supreme Court.
Rep. George Washington Julian--(1817-1899) Republican Congress-
man from Indiana (1661-1871). A friend and supporter of Stanton.
Sat on Committee on Conduct of the War. Made a speech in February,
1865 that set the scene for a possible impeachment of Lincoln.
Wrote "Political Recollections ,1814.0-1872" in later years.
Lafayette Baker--Chief of Detectives in
War Dept's Nat'l Detective Police. (Early
"Secret "Service") Sent for by Stanton to
find Booth. Dispatched troops to capture
Booth after learning clue to his wherea-
bouts from Major O'Beirne, whose request
for men brought Baker to the assassin.
Stole credit from O'Beirne. Loved the
limelight. A master detective but also
a scoundrel, ruthless, dishonest, etc;
Lost his War Department job after Presi-
dent Johnson caught him spying on him.
Had grudge against Stanton after that.
Died under mysterious circumstances,
possibly poisoned, in i870.
Benjamin Wade—Senator from Ohio. Was major
antagonist of Lincoln's policies, most notably
the 1861+ Wade-Davis Bill, which Lincoln vetoed.
Was chairman of Joint Committee on Conduct of
the War, which was significant Stanton ally. .
Was President Pro tern of Senate during Johnson
Impeachment move. Had Johnson been removed
from office, Wade would have been successor
to the Presidency. Died I878.
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