The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-08

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An Evening with the Assassin Booth.
Correspondence oftbe Hamilton (Canadsl Times I
As any information regarding the &C
tions and conversations of the murderer of
President Lincoln, during the last few
months of his career, must be of special
interest to the public, 1 have thought
proper to furnish you with few reminis-
cences Of an evening 1 spent in his
company some few months sgo. Sincsthe
occurrence Of the tragic event 1 have fore
| borne any allusion to the facts here stated,
| either in public or confidentially, although
the announcement of the murder, associs-
ted with the name of Booth, recalled vivid
ly an interview well nigh passed memory,
and almost every word uttered Upon the
occasion recurred 10 miRd as fresh IS q re-
collection of yesterday; but now that the
misguided and wretched man has met his
doom, statement of the circumstances
can affect nothing nor miFdirect the pur-
suit of justice On an evening during last
fall, believe in the early part of October,
wss introduced TO j. Wilkes Booth at the
st. Lawrence Hall, in Montreal, and in
dulged in 8 friendly contest at billiards
with him, in the saloon of that establish
ment which wss continued TO late hour
in the evening. My opponent seemed to
have been indulging freely in stimulants,
not appearing TO be intoxicsted st all, but
remember that the wandering character
of his conversation, and the wild ideas be
expressed, struck ne at the time as indi-
eating rather immoderate dissipa-
tion and slight mental derAngement or
excitement In the course of the recres-
r.
touching my partiHlity for the "pockets"
and thereuPOn sudden thought seemed 10
fash upon his mind, and raising his cue,
he continued in q manner somewhat ex-
cited: ado you know have got the sharp
est play laid out ever done in America |
l can bag the biggest game this side of
-; just remember my address; you'll |
hear of double csrom one of these DAYS"
l paid little regard to his remarks at the
time, supposing them TO proceed from the
ordinary fsllscy OF 8 person in his condi- |
tion. In the course Of the evening some
sllusion occurred to the Presidential csa-
vass then progressing in the United |
States BooLh seemed to be inspired with |
great feeling on the occasion, and, among
other observations, said, ut made damned |
little difference, head or tsil-Abes con- |
tract was nearly up, and, whether re elect
ed or not, he would get his goose cooked
At one time my opponent, in jocular
turn, clspped me Familiarity upon theshoul- |
der, with this remark: "By =, 1 like your
Canadian style; must post myself In |
Canuck airs for some of us devils may
have to settle there shortly" These re-
marks formed but small portion of the
conversation of The evening; but I recall
them particularly SIS probably indicating
designs then entertained by Booth, and |
the same which in their execution has 60
recently startled the world. My impressions
of Booth were that he was young man of
means, given TO gay, rollicking life and
that his nature was not calculated to dis
tinguish him beyond the sphereofs fashion
able blade in society. The photographs
commonly circulated at present are evil
IDENTIFY very correct rs they serve to re-
place his appearance on that evening very
vividly in my mind. We parted at the
hotel st the conclusion of our recreation,
aud did not meet him afterwards; but l
well remember his address, as he suggested,
and believe that now can comprehend
the character of the "double csron" con-
templsted by my friendly opponent on that
evening, rendered memorable in my expe-
Ience at billiards.