Thomas F. Harney

[SSlater]

I'm sorry I am late with this information, but my computer went down for better than a week. The Wireless receiver was getting a good signal, but wasn't talking to the computer. The repair man could not tell me why.

Back to April 1, 1865: In late March, all the "important" agents in the Secret Line, were called to Richmond for a conference. We were never told what the subject of the meeting was - however, we can justifiably draw our own conclusion, based on what we now know. Thomas Jones tells us he went there, to collect his back-pay for all the time he worked for the Secret Service. (did all these other people come along to support his claim? - I think not) With him were Benjamin Grymes, and Lt. Charles Cawood,. Already in town were, John Surratt, Sarah Slater, Thomas Harney, and maybe more. Jones clings to his "cover story" by telling us he did not get paid, because the Treasury had left town. Cawood then took some leave to visit his new wife, Lucy Johnson - Macon - Cawood, in Manchester, VA (just across the river from Richmond). They had married on 15 March 1865 and their first son was born 15 December 1865, in Richmond.

So, Jones, Grymes, Harney, Surratt, Slater and Cawood were all there, together, on April 1, 1865. IMO The most likely reason was to alert them to the fact that Mr. Lincoln would not coming south, as previously planned. Richmond had other plans for him. Thus, Harney, Stringfellow, Mosby et. al. got busy with their effort.

Cawood's side trip. to Manchester is the reason that he wasn't at his spy camp when Jones signaled for a boat to carry Booth across the Potomac. In Herold's statement, after capture, he said, "we came out of the Nanjemoy at sundown, passed within 30 yards of a gunboat (Actually it was a "Lightship") and landed on Mathias Point", that would PUT HIM IN CAWOOD'S CAMP. - He wasn't there. "Go to plan B -Mrs Quesnenberry.

I am stretching my story, to say, I think that Sarah's return trip from Canada (March 17th to March 30th)was bringing the "This makes the thing all right" reply from Thompson. He is also quoted as saying "I hope she makes the trip safely." The subject of the reply would be so sensitive, that she would have been hanged on the spot, if discovered. I also believe that Surratt took over Sarah's "safety", when he escorted her to Richmond himself and it put him in Richmond for the "Conference" on April 1. Remember, Surratt was asked to escort her personally, by the March 19th letter from New York, but he tried to get out of it. (Hmmm! Did he know the subject of her documents?) He was so concerned, that they stayed hand in hand for the next month. I don't have proof (yet) of this paragraph, maybe someday, I will.

We already known these events are true and proven. the only mystery is WHY.