3. That following Lee's surrender and the downfall of the Confederacy,
Booth originated the plan to murder the President, under the influence
of the motives and reasons that are set forth in his diary and in the
letter to Mr. Coyle.
4. His influence over the persons who were involved in the conspiracy
to abduct Mr. Lincoln, was so great that he was able to command their
aid in the commission of the final crime.
When the investigations were concluded there remained in the possession
of the Committee on the Judiciary a quantity of papers, affidavits,
letters and memoranda of no value as evidence. These were placed
within a sealed package. The package was deposited with the clerk of
the House of Representatives. The preservation of the papers may have
been an error. They should have been destroyed by the committee. Some
doubts were expressed however as to the authority of the committee.
Further investigations were suggested as not impossible. I am the only
person living who has knowledge of the papers. They are now in the
possession of the House of Representatives. It is not in the public
interest that the papers should become the possession of the public.