The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-07-24
The Booth Letter.
WAsuINGroN, July II, 1856
EHt5rS intclitycMtcr:

h!it5rs inhNvc@tcr:
Gentlemen. Much has been said in the
public prints IN regard to the missing letter
oil John Wiikc9 H0oth. AS | am the person
to whom this lcttor Was entrusted, ] know
its contents and tho circumstances attend.
ing It's delivery into my hands better than
any person now living.
1t was on the afternoon Of Good Friday
april III, 1868, at about / O'Clock, that J
met John;Wilkcs Booth Ton horseback on
pennsylvania avenue ut the triangular chs
ciosnr: between Thirtccth and Fourteenth
ssrcc's we met, shook hands, nnd passed
the compliments Of the day. 1t so happcn,
Ell that the oilIcers Of GENERAL Lees amy
had just passed up in II body. l asked
Booth: johnny; have you seen Icc's
officers, just brought in?" lie replied,
YES, johnny, have; then, placing his
hand upon his forehead, exclaimed, 'Grcat
God, havcno longer Il country" ObServ,
"T his paloncsS, nervousness, and agila-
Iion, remarked, John how nervous yo,,
are; what is th" mnttcr?" to which ho re-
Piled, ''Oh, no, it is nothins," and cont;n.
urd with, ''Johnny, have u little favor to
ask Of you; will you grant it?' 'Why,
certainly, Johuny," replied "whatis il ~
lie cn.Statcd, 'Pcrhaps | may leave town
tonniSht, and have Il letter here which |
" NNtiDVVf {IifI-
tycHcGr. Please attend to ii for me unless |
see you before 10 o'clock tomorrow; in
that case will see to it myself"
a. tha' momcnt observed General Grant
riding by nan open CARRIAGE, carrying his
baggage. Seeing this, ! called ATr. Booths
attcn'lcn TO him, and said: "'Why, John
ny there goes Grant; | thought he was
coming TO the Theatre this evening with tho
irrsidrnt Whcrc?" he exclaimed |
pointed to tho carriage; he looked towards
II, grasrcd my hand tightly, and eallopcd
down the avcnnc after the carriage. That
was the last tllno met him until | saw Kim
on .hc stage oiFords Theatre or the memo.
rHhlc night Of the lth Of April.
To-day, in court after anSwcrinra few
direct questions. cndcavorcd to make an
explanation of The matter, which was object
cl TO by the prosecution and refused by
Judge Fshcr.
Tha New York W'uld, which first pro.
cured tho news from the judiciary Commits
tee ofm" having; been before them, and
what testimony | had given, has spoken Of
Il secrecy Of manner and an observation,
elf something Should occur durinr thc
night" etc, on the part Of wilkes Nnoth
desire to state all that did cccurn y: shat
interview, and to say also that the letter
was given with 40 secrecy Of ofmanncr, nor
vas thcrc any remark made about any ything
that might cccr during the night.
Now, fey the contcatS or the letter. Il
was Wr.uca cn q sheet o. commercial nctc
paper, coTcr.ng three pages. The first two
pages were written in the spirit and style of
the philadelphia letter, and il WAS only, IT
I'll" concluding paragraph thnt cnylhing
vas said bearing "pon what had iranspircd,
which -'ng . this effect and in these words
"Fo" Il long time have devoted my
energies, my time, and money to The occom-
plShnent OF a certain end, hcvo been dis>
appointed. The moincrt has now arrived
when must charge my plans Many will
bamc,m Tor whatl am about TO do, but
prosperity, | nm sure, will Justify me-
"Mcn who love their country better than
gold or life.
JNO. W. BOOTH,
"pAYNE,
"iIAROLD,
"ATNERQT."
Respectfully,