University of Virginia Library

Rev. F. A. Conwell, being sworn, deposes and says that he is seventy-one
years old, that he is a resident of North Evanston, in Cook County,
State of Illinois, that he has been in the ministry for fifty-six years, and is
now one of the chaplains of the "Seamen's Bethel Home," in Chicago; that
he was chaplain of the First Minnesota Regiment, in the war of the rebellion.
That, on the 14th day of April, A. D., 1865, he was in St. Joseph,
Minnesota, and reached there as early as six o'clock in the evening in company
with Mr. Bennett, who, then and now, is a resident of St. Cloud, Minnesota.
That on that date, there was no telegraph nearer than Minneapolis,

about 80 miles from St. Joseph; and there was no railroad communication
nearer than Avoka, Minnesota, about 40 miles distant. That when he reached
St. Joseph, on the 14th day of April, 1865, one Mr. Linneman, who, then,
kept the hotel of St. Joseph, told affiant that President Lincoln and Secretary
Seward were assassinated, that it was not later than half-past six o'clock,
on Friday, April 14th, 1865, when Mr. Linneman told me this. Shortly
thereafter, Mr. Bennett came in the hotel, and I told him that Mr. Linneman
said the President Lincoln and Secretary Seward were assassinated; and then
the same Mr. Linneman reported the same conversation to Mr. Bennett in
my presence. That during that time, Mr. Linneman told me that he had
the charge of the friary or college for young men, uuder the priests, who
were studying for the priesthood at St. Joseph. That there was a large multitude
of this kind at St. Joseph, at this time. Affiant says that, on Saturday
morning, April 15th, 1865, he went to St. Cloud, a distance of about 10
miles, and reached there about eight o'clock in the morning. That there
was no railroad nor telegraph communication to St. Cloud. When he arrived
at St. Cloud he told Mr. Haworth, the hotel-keeper, that he had been
told that President Lincoln and Secretary Seward had been assassinated, and
asked if it was true. He further told Henry Clay, Wait, Charles Gilman,
who was afterwards Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, and Rev. Mr. Tice,
the same thing, and inquired of them if they had any such views; and they
replied that they had not heard anything of the kind.

Affiant says that, on Sunday morning, April 16th, 1865, he preached in
St. Cloud, and on the way to the church, a copy of a telegram was handed
him, stating that the President and Secretary were assassinated Friday evening,
at about 9 o'clock. This telegram had been brought to St. Cloud by
Mr. Gorton, who had reached St. Cloud by stage; and this was the first intelligence
that had reached St. Cloud of the event.

Affiant says further that, on Monday morning, April 17th, 1865, he furnished
the "Press," a paper of St. Paul, a statement that three hours before
the event took place, he had been informed at St. Joseph, Minnesota, that
the President had been assassinated, and this was published in the "Press."

FRANCIS ASBURY CONWELL.

Subscribed and sworn to by Francis A. Conwell, before me, a Notary
Public of Kankakee County, Illinois, at Chicago, Cook County, the 6th day
of September, 1883.