The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-08-18
From the Boston Courier.
Extraordinary observation-disclosures and
Booth.

has Just been made in the New York Democrat.
Such is the force of party prejudice that doubt
less very many persons would refuse credence
to the narrative, and even to give it any heed
whatever, simply because of the vehicle through
which it is communicated to the public. 1t
will, nevertheless make its due impressions,
since the facts stated do not rest upon the mere
authority of Democratic newspaper, but, if
sustained in the end, will owe their support to
the testimony of persons referred to in the ar
ticle, and whose statements will carry ample
weight. 1t is not unlikely that they, or some
of them, may decline to say anything upon the
subject, from either personal or political rea-
sons; but after such minute relation, in which
their names are freely made use of, has been
given to the public, their silence would be
equally con6rmatory with their open assent.
AS Mr.. Webster said in the Knapp trial: "And
suicide is confession :" SO reticence on the part
of those conspicuous gentlemen, in regard to
facts of such consequence, in which they are
publicly alleged to have been concerned, could
only be construed as full admission of their
truth.
The world has always imputed the murder of
Lincoln to political causes; though it must
have appeared little unintelligible, why a
person in the position of Booth should have
taken upon himself the preparation of such a
crime for the reason assigned. We suppose
that few ever really believed that the Confed-
crate authorities, or any one of their number,
either had any knowledge of the purpose, or
would have looked upon scheme so impolitic,
as well as so criminal, with any sort of COM
placency and every such idea has long been
dismissed, wherever entertained bypersons ofor-
dinary judgment and candor. Still the theory,
however vaguely imagined, impaired sort OF
dignity to the unhappy event and elevated the
assassination into kind of martyrdom, in the
common apprehension of which,, as we well ",
know, plentiful use has been made. All this
prestige is completely stripped away by the
narrative of the Democrat, and the high-han-
ded murder of the President is reduced to the
level of an atrocious act of private vengeance.
The Democrat devotes some eight columns to
the details of this transaction, of which we can
only give the portion below. 1t seems that
Booth was and had long been an intimate and
devoted friend of John Yates Beall, of Virginia,
an officer in the Confederate service, who had
conceived the idea of recapturing the Confed-
crate prisoners, amounting to some twelve
thousand, confined on Johnson's Island, in Lake
Erie, for attempting which feat he was duly
commissioned. Having been taken prisoner
himself, however, he was put on trial before a
military commission, according to the practice
of those days. was treated as a spy and sem
fenced to summary execution. We now copy
the important part of the narrative in question,
as published in the Democrat, of July Goth, to
which we fear that Republican papers will rem
der very little aid in giving currency:
When Bcall went as the special agent of the
South on hazardous mission, the friendship of
Booth went with him.
At last Beall was arrested. He was tried and
sentenced to death. Then, with him looking
into the Eternal Mirror, our chapter begins its
ending.
John Wilkes Booth resolved to make grand
attempt to save the life of his friend Beall
and conveyed information of his purpose to
him, with the whisper of hope part thereof
At this time Booth loved with strange and
tender devotion a daughter of John P. Hale
United States Senator from New Hampshire
He worshipped her as, in his mind, the best
and purest woman he had ever seen. She ad-
mired him, but not with that eternal-reaching
wildness of love his was for her.
For the purpose of our recital we must draw
aside curtain to reveal a glimpse OF family
picture.
: Booth loved her for her worth, virtue, purity,
and goodness. But he was reputed gay man
of the good world, and she feared to trust her
have reason to believe she greatly admired him.
daughter as he thought, was not quite willing
the alliance Booth desired should be formed
But for the gifted genius he had liking and
an admiration.
One night in Washington, after Beall was
doomed, John Wilkes Booth and John P. Hale
called on G. w. Mclean, of Cincinnati, who
was then in Washington. They wanted Mclean
to 90 with them to find Colonel John w. For
ney, and, with him in company, call upon
Lincoln.
Mclean was unusually intimate with Lin
coin, and had more influence with him than
any other Western Democrat. And as he was
cheek by jowl with Forney, Mclean was to
vouch for Booth, with Hale and Forney ojoin
in asking the Executive clemency for Beall.
1t was after midnight when the carriage con-
tanning Hale, Booth and Mclean left the hotel
where the latter was stopping, and was driven
to Forney's residence. Forney was in bed un-
der the influence of liquor.
After some little talk and explanations he
arose, and bathed his head in ice water, made
q hasty toilet, and took seat in the carriage
The party were then driven to the White
House, reaching there about two o'clock in the
morning. They were admitted past the guards,
and f0und FreSldenG Lincoln III lis rooHl, uoI
yet retired.
Then came an explanation of the object Of
the visit.
President Lincoln sat by the side of Senator
Hale, and listened to the particulars. Booth
then and there told that once he was in
scheme to abduct the President, not to injurc
him, but to aid in the release of certain friends
who could not be exchanged. He told that all
that was of the past, so far as he was concern
ed.
And then he asked for the reprieve of Beall,
promising on his honor as man, to ever be as
good friend to Mr.. Lincoln as man could be
to one who had rendered such favor-to warn
the President, if it came to his knowledge that
his life was in danger, and to hold himself per-
sonally responsible for the good behavior Of
It was a question of life Or death. Beall was
doomed. No power save the Executive could