State of Minnesota, }
Sterns County, City
of St. Cloud.
Horace B. Bennett, being sworn, deposes and says that he is aged sixty-four
years; that he is a resident of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and has resided in
this county since 1856; that he is acquainted with the Rev. F. A. Conwell,
who was chaplain of the First Minnesota Regiment in the war of the rebellion;
that on the 14th of April, 1865, he was in St. Joseph, Minnesota, in
company with Mr. Francis A. Conwell; that they reached St. Joseph about
sundown of said April 14th; that there was no railroad or telegraph communication
with St. Joseph at that time, nor nearer than Avoka, about 40 miles
distant. That affiant, on reaching the hotel kept by Mr. Linneman, went
to the barn, while Rev. F. Conwell entered the hotel; and shortly afterward,
affiant had returned to the hotel, Mr. Conwell told him that Mr. Linneman
had reported to him the assassination of President Lincoln; that Linneman
was present and substantiated the statement.
That on Saturday morning, April 15th, affiant and Rev. Conwell came
to St. Cloud, and reported that they had been told at St. Joseph, about the
assassination of President Lincoln, that no one at St. Cloud had heard of
the event at this time, that the first news of the event which reached St.
Cloud was on Sunday morning, April 16th, when the news was brought by
Leander Gorton, who had just come up from Avoka, Minnesota; that they
spoke to several persons of St. Cloud concerning the matter, when they
reached there, on Sunday morning, but affiant does not now remember who
those different persons were, and further affiant says not.
HORACE P. BENNETT.
Sworn before me, and subscribed in my presence, this 18th of October
A. D., 1883.
Andrew C. Robertson, Notary Public.
