Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-10

uox1 Jobn wilkes Booth Avenged the
Hanging OF His Friend, john l. bca1'
I,r,,,, po,oaroyS Democrat.

Among the chosen friends of John
Wilkes Booths boyhood was dashing,
chivalrous young man named Jonn 7.
Real whose home was in the beautiful
Shenandoah Valley, not far from Win
chester. Damon and Pythias were not
more attached to each other than were
Booth and Beal Beal was southern in
his sympathies, and planned raids on
northern cities, ard at last was cap
tured at or near Buffalo, tried for pira-
CIV on Northern lakes, and sentenced to
be hanged on Bedloe's Island.
One afternoon, in the city of Wash
ington, while Beal was under sentence
of death, there alighted from a car
riage two men, who walked into the
room occupied by Washington Mclean,
of CINCINNATI, who was at the time III
washington in the interest OF his bus
mess. These men who called were SEN
ator Hale. OF New Hampshire, and John
Wilkes Booth. Booth was anxious to
save the life of Beal, his chum and
confidential personal friend. He had
interested Mr.. Hale in his behalf.
They importuned Mclean to go with
them to the President, as a Democrat
as q friend of Booth-as a man who
had much influence with Mr.. Lincoln,
and TO vouch with Mr.. Hale for any
promises Booth might make in return
for this great favor to him. After
protracted interview Mclean accom-
panied Hale and Booth in carriage to
the residence of John w. Forney, who
was then in bed, the hour being late.
Forney was awakened from his sleep
and told the object of his call. His
sympathies were enlisted, as he was al
ways ready to serve his friends.
It was an hour or more past mid
night when Hale, Forney, Mclean, and
Booth were driven to the White House.
The guard, at the request of Forney,
admitted the carriage to the grounds.
Mr.. Lincoln was called from his sleep,
ahd there in the dead night, he sat and
listened to the prayers of Booth and
the endorsements of those who came
with him to ask the favor Of Executive
clemency.
This interview lasted until 4 in the
morning. 1t was one of tears, prayers
and petition. There was not a dry eye
In the room as Booth knelt at the feet
of Lincoln clasped his knees with his
of one mana personal friend who, IN
serving the ones he loved, had come to
the door of death.
Booth told all. He told how, long be-
fore, in fit of passion to do some bold
deed, he had joined in a conspiracy to
abduct the President and to hold him
as hostage for the release of certain
military prisoners who were Booths
friends. and who, it was thought, were
to be shot. He told of the meetings
they had held at the house of Mrs.
Surratt, and that all of that plan had
Zen to the ground long before. He
offered his services at any time and in
any place or capacity, free of cost or
fearless of consequences. The emil
nent gentlemen who were there with
him joined in the request that the
prayer of Booth be granted, and that
Beal should be pardoned
At last President Lincoln, with tears
streaming down his face, took Booth by
the hands. babe him rise and stand like
man, and gave him his promise that
Beal should be pardoned. He asked
the party to depart that he might gain
rest for the work of the morrow, and
said that the official document they
asked for should be forwarded at once
to United States Marshal Robert
Murray, in New York, and through him
% the officers charged with the execu-
ton of Beal.
After breakfast Lincoln informed
seward, Secretary Of State, what he had
lone or promised to do. Seward said
aat it must not be; that public Esenti-
tent in the north demanded that Beal
.<ould be hung. He declared thai to
ardon Beal would discourage enlist
lents, lengthen the war, and insult the
eminent that called for blood. He
hided Lincoln for making such
romises without asking the advice of
IS Cabinet, Or advising with himself,
eWard, on State policy. AS the argu-
rent grew contentious, Seward declar
/ that if the conduct of the war was
be trifed with by appeals of human
Y he should go out of the Cabinet and
je his influence against the President,
I'd should charge him with being in
mpathy with the south. Lincoln
elded and Beal was executed. The
action to Lincoln's nervous system
IS such that for days he was far from
IL.
The effect on Booth was terrible. He
we'd like mailman, and In his frenzy
ore that Lincoln and Seward should
h pay for the grief and agony he had
IN put to. From the death of Beal,
9th brooded vengeance for that
ich he considered personal afront.
rage took In Seward, and he engag-
Harold, Atserodt, and others to
enge BeaPs death by killing Seward,
lie he, Booth, wreaked human ven
snce on the President.
1t last came the hour. Booth killed
coin; his friends and the relatives or
ngers of Beal tried their best to kill
ard, and when they left him stab
bleeding and limp as cloth, as he
I'd over behind the bed Wheron they
Id him, they supposed their work
completely done.
ur story is told. We have given the
q of history, and told exactly why
aham Lincoln, the humane Presi-
t of the United States, was killed.