Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-11-25
From I0mcroy's Democrat.
why Abraham Lincoln was KILLED.
BOOTH, BEALL AND LINCOLN.

10 attract the attention of the North and
to give chance for respite to the South,
John Yates Iseall was sent into Canada to
operate on the frontier, as VIC will show in de-
tail next week. His was a nature much like
that of Booth-hot. booded, yet cautous.-
Daring, but not rash Booth tried to dissuadc
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-slcrt
IN the same bed admired the same girls
spent convival 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 a time during the war, when he,
Artemus Ward, or Chas. f. Browne, and the
writer hereof, were in the rcfrcshmcnt room
under McVickcr's Theatre, as certain men in
Chcngo remember, he was then, as for years,
firm friend Of Bcall. This friendship, be-
Shn UclUlC-lt never CnuCQ.
When the plan to abduct Lincoln. and hold
him in some isolated retreat in the South till
for his release all Southern prisoners in North.
crn lands should be given up, Bcall and
others, including poor Mrs. Surratt, were
familiar.
When Bcall went os the special agent of the
South OH a hazardous mission the friendship
of Booth went with him.
At last Bcall was arrested. lie was tried
and sentenced to death. Then, with him
looking into the Eternal Mirror our chapter
begins it's ending.
John Wilkes Booth resolved to make a
grand attempt to save the life of his friend
Bcai, and conveyed information of his pur-
pose to him, with the whisper of hope part
thereof.
At this time Booth loved with strange and
tender devotion daughter of John p. Hale,
United State Senator from New IIamshire.
lie worshipped her as, in his mind, the best
and purest woman he had ever seen. She
admired him, but not with that eternal reach
ing wildncss Of love his was for her.
For the purpose of our recital wc must
draw aside u curtain to reveal glimpse Of a
family picture.
Booth loved her for her worth, virtue, pu.
rity and goodness. But he was rcputed a
gay man Of the world, and she feared to trust
thought we have reason to believe she greatly
admired him. And her father, looking to the
happiness of his daughter as he thought, was
not willing the alliance Booth desired shoulG
be formed. But for tho gifted genius he had
Il liking and admiration.
One night in Washington, after Bcall wa
doomed, John Wilkes Booth and John p
Hale called on G. w. Mclean of Cincinnati
who was then in Washington. They wanted
Mclean to go with them to find Col. Johl
w. Forncy, and with him in Company, cal
upon Lincoln.
Mclean was usually intimate with Lincoln
and had more influence with him than an,
other Western Democrat, and lie was ohecl
by jowl with Forncy. Mclean was to voucl
for Booth with Hale and Forpcy to join i
asking Executive clcmcncy for Bcal.
1t was past midnight when the earring
containing Hale, Booth and Mclean left tn
hotel where the latter was stopping, and wa
driven to Forncy's residence. Forney wa
in bed under the influence of liquor.
After some little talk and explanations h
arose, bathcd his head in icc water, made
lasty toilet and took scat in the carriage.
The party were then driven to the Whit
House, reaching there about 2 clock in IL,
morning. They we're admitted past the guard
and found President Lincoln in his room n,
yet retired.
Then cano an explanation Of the ohio,
of the visit IY
President Lincoln sat by the sido Of Sem
tor Halo, and listened to the pr tcular
Booth thon and there told that once he VI,
IN scheme to abduct tho President, not
;ninrc lin but to aid in tho roleuso Of certai
friends who could not be exchanged. II