Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 9.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

“ [319] of Military Justice.” Conover said that he had been paid $3,000 on account for his testimony. Times were, however, changing. They turned on him, and so this “Acteon” of perjurers was devoured by his own dogs.

Richard Montgomery. This man was examined before the Military Commission by the Judge Advocate General, Judge Holt. The principal object of his testimony, so far as relates to the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, seems to be to fix guilt upon Mr. Jacob Thompson and myself. Let me give a few extracts from the testimony:

Q.--“State any conversation you may had with Jacob Thompson in Canada, in the summer of 1864, in regard to putting the President of the United States out of the way, or assassinating him.” A.--“During the conversation in 1864, Jacob Thompson said he had friends, Confederates, all over the Southern States, who were ready and willing to go any length for the good of the cause of the South, and he could, at any time, have the tyrant Lincoln and any others of his advisers that he chose put out of the way; that he would only have to point out the man he considered in the way, and his friends, as he termed them, would put them out of it, and that they would not consider it a crime when done for the cause of the Confederacy.”

Q.--“Did you, or not, see Thompson some time in the month of January, 1865, and where?” A.--“That was in Canada, in Montreal.”

Q.--“Will you state what he then said to you, if anything, in regard to a proposition which had been made him to rid the world of the tyrant, Lincoln?” A.--“He said a proposition had been made him to rid the world of the tyrant, Lincoln, Stanton, Grant, and some others; that he knew the men who had made the proposition were bold, daring men, and able to execute anything that they would undertake, without regard to the cost; that he, himself, was in favor of the proposition, but had determined to defer his answer until he had consulted his government at Richmond, and that he was then only awaiting their approval. He said that he thought it would be a blessing to the people, both North and South, to have those men killed.”

Q.--“This was in January?” A.--“That was in January last.”

Q.--“Did you meet Booth there?” A.--“No, Sir, I never saw Mr. Booth in Canada.”

Q.--“Did any of these men of whom you have spoken say that Booth was one of the men referred to by Jacob Thomson, who was willing to assassinate the President?” A.--“No, sir; W. W. Cleary told me. I related to him the conversation I had had, or a portion of ”