Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-30
Way Abraham Laneoln was
Killed.

Democrat lie = lengthy account Of
the events which caused the death
Of Mr.. Lincoln. Nj. Pomroy ar
CUES that Mr.. Lincoln was not q
martyr to a love Of his country as
his admirers love TO declare, but
that he lost his life because he
had broken his plighted word to
John Wilkes Booth.
The statements given by the
Democrat are as follows: John
Yeates Beall a Captain in the
Confederate States Navy, was sent
to capture the steamer Michigan
of Johnson's Island, Sandusky
Bay, and through this capture
effect the liberation Of about twelve
thousand Confederate soldiers con.
fined on Johnson's Island.
For years previous to the arrest
of Beall and his trial, between
John Wilkes Booth and himself
had existed the closest intimacy.
They had drank from the same
cup-slept in the same bed-ad-
mired the same girls-spent con.
vivial nights together, and so ran
their social lives into each other
that like Damon and Pythias, they
were more than brothers.
Booth tried to dissuade Beall
from his attempt, in vain, and
promised to stand by him if there
came a time when his life should
be in jeopardy.
Beall was captured, tried and
sentenced to death. Booth then
resolved TO make an attempt to
save the life of his friend.
At one time Booth had been in.
terested in a half conceived plan
for the abduction of Mr.. Lincoln.
The only hope for Beall was with
the President. To him he decided
to apply.
At 2 o'clock on a certain morn
ing, accompanied by John P. Hale,
G. W. Mclean, and Col. John w.
Forney, Booth visited the Presi-
dent to ask that the life of his
friend Beall might not be taken
The President gave them an inter,
view.
"Booth then and therel told that
once he was in a scheme to abduct
the President, not to injure him,
but to aid in the release of certain
friends, who could not be ex-
changed. He told that all that
was Of the past, so far as he was
concerned.
And then he asked for the re.
prieve Of Beall, promising on
has honor as a man. to ever after
be as gooda friend 70 Mr.. Lincoln
as a man could be to one who had
rendered such Q favor-tO warn
the President, il it came to his
knowledge that his life was in
danger, and to hold himself per-
sonally responsible for the good
behavior of Beall, ever after.
1t was a question of life or
death. Beall was doomed. No
power save the Executive could
save him. Booth pleaded with all
the impassioned eloquence of his
nature, and thousands upon thou.
sands knew what that was.
Senator Hale asked the pardon
of Beall as a favor to himself and
his family.
Forney asked for it for reasons
then and there given, as did Nc
Lean, and the reasons We can give
at the proper time.
Booth told the President of their
long established friendship-of
his love for the brave, adventurous
spirit-of his love for the young
man who was doing for his people
In the South, just what q patriot
in the North would have done for
the cause and the people dear to
him.
President Lincoln was greatly
moved, even to tears, and gave to
Booth his ,oord Of honor as a man
that BeaH should be pardOned."
But alas for the human prom
iseS! BeAll was hung. The Presi.
dent did not keep his word-did
not pardon him. Seward, the in
famous tyrant and Secretary of