Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-07-27
THE BOOTH LETTER.

The following is the communication of
the actor Mathews, to the National Intelli-
gencer, concerning his connection with the
letter entrusted to him by Booth
-r... WAsnINeToN, July II, 1867
Editors Intelligencer IN. ........ ...
GENTLEMEN: Much has been said in the
public prints in regard to the missing letter
of John Wilkes Booth. AS / am the per
son to whom this letter was entrusted
know its contents and the circumstances at
tending its delivery into my hands better
than any person now living.
| 1t was on the afternoon of Good Friday,
April IA, 1865, at about four O'Clock, that
met John Wilkes Boothe ION hQrseback) on
Pennsylvania avenue, at the triangular en-
closure between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets. We met, shook hands, and passed
the compliments of the day. 1t so happen
ed that the officers of General Lees army
had just passed up in a body. l asked
Booth, "Johnny, have you seen Lees Off
GERS, just brought in 2" He replied, "Yes,
Johnny, have" then, placing his hand
upon his forehead, exclaimed, "Great God {!
! have no longer country" Observing
his paleness, nervousness, and agitation, l
remarked, "John, how nervous you are
what is the matter 2" To which he replied,
20, no, it is nothing;" and continued with,
"Johnny, have little favor to ask ofyou
will you grant 2" "Why, certainly, John
N.Y." replied "what is it9" He then sta
ted: "Perhaps l may leave town tonight,
and have a letter here which l desire to
be published in the National Intelligencer
please attend to it for me, unless see you
before ten o'clock tomorrow; in that case
will see to it myself" t ...Hi
| At that moment observed General Grant
riding by in an open carriage, carrying. also
his baggage Seeing this, / called Mr..
Booths attention to him, and said, "Why,
Johnny, there goes Grant. l though. he
was coming to the theatre this evening with
the President" "Where Z" he exclaimed.
pointed to the carriage; he looked toward
it, grasped my hand tightly, and galloped
| down the avenue after the carriage. That
was the last time met him until saw him
on the stage of Forde Theatre on the memo
rable night of the 14th of April. Time pas
sed on. Many persons who knew Booth, ol
had ever seen him, were arrested and sem
to prison. The secret of the letter was con
fided to a few confidential friends only
when l saw that the editors of the Nationa
Intelligencer were suspected Of having sup
pressed the document, and were interroga
ted in regard to it at the Penitentiary trial
considered it my duty to assume all re
sponsibility in the matter by explaining tn,
whole affair to the proprietors of said paper
Accordingly did so. did call at the of
fee of the paper, and stated all the facts t.
them, as stated above. ""0
To-day, in court, after answering few
, direct questions, l endeavored to make a!
explanation of the matter, which was oh
jected to by the prosecution and refused b,
Judge Fisher. 30 'a' .aa..'at
/ The New York Herald, which first pro
cured the news from the Judiciary Commit
tee of my having been before them, an'
; what testimony had given, has spoken O
secrecy of manner, and an observation ri
) something should occur during tie night,
&C., on the part of Wilkes Booth.
/ desire to state al that did occur at tina
interview, and to say, also, that the lette
; was given with no secrecy of manner, no
was there any remark made about anything
+ that might occur during the night.
= Now for the contents of the letter. /
> was written on sheet of commercial not
> paper, covering three pages. The first tw
pages were written in the spirit and style o
, the Philadelphia letter, and it was only a
. the concluding paragraph that anythin
!: was said bearing upon what had transpired
, which was to this effect, and in these words
"For a long time have devoted my enei
gies, my time and money to the accomplish
ment of certain end. have been disar
u pointed. The moment has now arrive
: when must change my plans Many wi
y blame me for what am about to do, bu
o posterity, am sure, will justify me.
"Men who love their country better tina
gold or life. JOHN w. BooTH.
u "PAYNE, ON. -.....-.
n HAROLD,
l. "ATzERoDT" .I. ....
| Resnectfullv Jaux NJ .rruuuyo