Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-28
SINGULAR SCRAP OF HIS
TORY.
Why President Lincoln was Asssls-
sinafcd.


To attract the attention of the North,
and to give a chance for a respite TO the
South, John Yates Beall was sent into
Canada to operate on the frontier, as we
will show in detail next week. His was
a nature much like that of Booth-hot-
blooded, yet cautious. Daring, but not
rash. Booth tried to dissuade him from
the step, but in vain, but promised TO
stand by him if there came time when
the life of Beall should be in jeopardy.
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-admir-
ed the same girls-spent conYivial nights
together, and so ran their social lives into
each that like Damon and Pythias, they
were more than brothers.
When last we saw John Wilkes Booth
in Chicago, at time during the war,
when he, ARENAS Ward, or Charles +.
Browne, and the writer hereof, were in
the refresHment room under McVicker's
Theater, as certain men in Chicago re-
member, he was then, as for years, a firm
lllGuu VI DULL Lis llltLNSLiD DtRdu
long before-it never ended.
With the plan to abdUct Lincoln and
hold him in some isolated retreat in the
South, till, for his release, all Southern
prisoners in Northern hands should be
given up, Beall and others, including poor
Mrs. Surratt, were familiar.
When Beall went as the special agent of
the South on q 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
a 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 admired him, but
not with that eternal-reaching wildness of
love his was for her
For the purpose of our recital we must
draw aside a curtain to reveal a glimpse
Of family picture.
Booth loved her for her worth, virtue,
purity, and goodness. But he was reput-
ed gay man of the world, and she
feared to trust her heart and destinies
into his keeping, though we have reason
to belive she greatly admired him. And
her father, looking to the happiness of
his daughter, as he thought, was not
quite willing the alliance Booth desired
should be formed. But for the gifted
genius he had q liking and an admira-
ton.
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 Washing
ton. They wanted Mclean to 80 with
them to find Col. John 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. And
he was check by jOwl with Forney. Nc
Lean was to vouch for Booth, with Hale
and Forney to join in asking executive
clenency for Beall.
( 1t was past midnight when the carriage
containing Hale, Booth and Mclean left
the hotel where the latter was stopping
and was driven TO FOrney's residence.
Forney was in bed under the influence Oi
liquor.
After some little talk and explanation!
be arose, bathed his head in ice water
made hasty toilet, and took seat in the
carriage.
The party were then driven TO tn
White House, reaching there about two
O'Clock in the morning. They were al
mitted past the guards, and found Presi
dent KincOln in his room, not yet re
tired.
Then came an explanation of the OBJ
iect of the visit.
President Lincoln sat by the side 0
Senator Hale and listened to the particu
lars. Booth then and there told that ono
he was in a scheme to abduCt the Prcsi
dent, not to injure him, but to aid in tn
release of certain friends, who could no
be exchanged. lie told that all that wa
of the past, so far as he was concerned
And then he asked for the reprleYc 0
Beall, promising on his honor as man
ever after be as good friend to Mr. Lin
coin as a man could be to one who ha
rendered such favOr-tO warn the Pres
ident if it come to bis knowledge that HI
life was in danger, and to hold himsel
personally responsible for the good b
havior OF Beall, ever after.
It was a question Of life or dealt
Beall was doomed. No power save IL
Executive could save him. Booth plea'
ed with all the impassioned eloquent
of his nature, and thousands upon tho'
sands know what that was.
Senator Hale asked the pardon OF bea
as a favor to himself and family.
Forney asked for it for reasons the
and there given, as did Mclean, and u
reasons we can give at the proper time.
Booth told the President of their loI
established friendship-of his love 4
the brave adventurous spirit-of his To-
for the young man who was doing Tor D
people in the South just what a patriot
the North would have done for the eau
and the people dear to him.
President Lincoln was greatly move
even to tears, and gave to Booth /
word of honor as a man that he shOu
be pardoned.
Then there was joy and happiness
that room. Booth kissed the hand of {
President, and thanked him with tearf