The Van Buren press., 1870-08-16
Why Did Booth Kill Lincoln 7

Under the caption OF "unveilling the
Statue" Brick Pomeroy, in his New
York Democrat, publishes some impor-
tant historical facts never made public
before, which gives this theory great
plausibility. 1t will be remembered by
those who are familiar with the history
of that period, that j. Y. Beall, captain
of the Confederate States army, was
charged by the Confederate authorities
with the duty of capturing the United
States steamer Michigan, and rcscuing
the prisoners, over $4,000 of them, on
Johnson's Island, in Lake Erie Beall
was captured, after making an unsuccess
full attempt, and not being recognized as
a soldier was tried and sentenced TO he
hung. j. Wilkes Booth for many years
had been the firm, fast friend of John
Yates Beall. "Thcy had drunk from the
same cup---slept in the same bed--spent
convivial nights together, and SO ran
their social lives into each, that like Da
mon and Pythias they were more than
brothers" Booth resolved to save the
life of his friend. and to keep hope alive,
communicated this to him in his cell.
The plan was this i: Booth was the ac
cepted lover, and expected to be the af
6anced husband of the beautiful daughter
of John F. Hale, the distinguished Re-
publican Senator from New Hampshire
This fact put him and Mr. Hale on terms
of intimacy
"One night in Washington" says the
narrative, latter Beall was doomed, j.
Wilkes Booth and John Z. Hale called
on G. W. Mclean, of the Cincinnati En-
quircr, who was then in Washington.
They wanted Mclean to 60 with them to
find Colonel j. w. Forney, and with him
in company call upon Lincoln. Mclean
was unusually intimate with Lincoln, and
had more influence with him than any
other Western Democrat Mclean was to
vouch for Booth, with Hale and Forhey
to join in asking executive clcmency for
Bcall."
The party at O'Clock in the morning
were driven to the White house, admitted
past the guards, and conducted to Mr.
Lincoln's private room. Booth and Hale
explained the object of the visit, to have
the President pardon Beall and save his
life.
"Scnator Hale asked the pardon Of
Bcall as favor to himself and family.
Forney asked for it Oh reasons then and
there given, as did Mclean. Booth toll
the President of their long established
friendship-of his love for the brave ad
vcnturous spirit-of his love for the
young man who was doing for his people
of the South, just what patriot in the
North would have done for the cause and
the people dear to him. President Lin-
coin was greatly moved, and gave to
Booth his word Of honor MS a man that
Beall should be pardoned."
But the President, overawed by Sew
ard and others in the cabinet under the
plea Of military necessity, broke his word
and faith made in presence Of Booth,
Hale, Forney and Wash Mclean, three
of whom are living witnesses and know
wqcther this statement is true or false.
He withheld the promised pardon and
Beall was executed on the gallows.
Thereupon Booth vowed to avengc the
death of his friend, and the sequel is part
and parcel of the history Of the times.
If this theory Of the case is substan-
tiated by the facts--if President Lincoln
agreed to pardon Bcall and then refused
to stretch out the hand Of mcrcy-this
may safely be accepted as the true mo-
tive which inspired the assassination.
And if this be proven, Lincoln was the
victim of his own plighted but broken
faith, and j. Wilkes Booth, instead Of be-
ing a Junius, was the avcngcr of pri.
vate friend and common murderer.