Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-18
JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
why He Assassinated Abraham Lin.
coin.

COlms
From PomsrOy's Democrat.
Another of the characters of the
war time was a wild, dashing, bee
Drained young man, named John
Wilkes Booth. From his father he
inherited a certain taint of frenzy
under excitement that was cousin
german to insanity. This Booth
was n reckless, handsome fellow,
whose delight was to dress well,
feed upon female hearts, and in
mimicry mouth the utteranceS of
men of creative genius. His blood
was hot, and passions quick to kim
die. In his loves and friendships
he was erratic and peculiar. He
did not try to study himself, and
grew up wild and tumnltuous.
Among the chosen friends of his
boyhood was a dashing, chivalrous
young man named John Y. Beal,
whose home was in the beautiful
Shenandoah Valley, not far from
Winchester, as we know from hav-
ing been there. Damon and Py-
thias were not more attached to
each other than were Booth and
Beal. They rode, walked, dined,
dr2uk and intrigued together. BeaI
was Southern in his sympathies,
and was to certain extent as much
a martyr as was erratic John Brown,
who was taken in a raid, hung in
the jail-ysrd at Charlestown, yir-
ginia, by order of Governor Wise,
and whose seafEold, as we write
this, is now in our office. Beal
planned raids on Northern cities,
and at last was captured at or near
Buffalo, tried for piracy on North
ern lakes, and sentenced to be hung
on Bedloe's Island, in the harbor Of
New York. In prison waiting his
doom, we leave him for a time.
One afternoon, in the city Of
Washington, while Beal was under
sentence of death, there alighted
from a carriage two men, who
walked into the room occupied by
Washington Mclean, of Cincinnati.
who was at that time in Washing
ton in the interest of his business
These men who called were Senator
Hale, from New Hampshire, and
John Wilkes Booth, with whom.
through the Morgans, Of Kentucky.
Mclean had become quite well ac-
quainted.
Their errand was briefly told.
| Booth was ANXIOUS to save the life
of Beal, his chum and confidential
personal friend. He had interested
Mr.. Hale in his behalf, who, from
his former Identification with the
political movement that had grown
| into the elevation of Lincoln to the
Presidency, had come to ask at the
Executive the favor of mercy for q
brave enemy, who had, in defense
of his friends in the South, done
no more than people in the North
applauded their scouts and adyen'
t;lrers for doing or attempting.
They importnned Mclean to &C
with them to the President, as 4
Democrat-as o friend of Booth
as a man who had much influence
with Mr.. Lincoln, and to YOucl
with Mr.. Hale, for any promises
Booth might make in return fol
this great favor to him. After {
protracted interview, Mclean &C
companied Hale and Booth in {
carriage to the residence of Johr
lW. Forney, who was then in bed
the hour being late. Forney was
awakened from his sleep and tolC
the object of the call. His sympa
thies were enlisted, as he was Away
ready to serve his friends.
1t was an hour or more past mid
night when Hale, Forney, McLear
and Booth were driven to the White
llHouse. The guard, at the reques
of Forney, admitted the carriage
to the grounds. Mr.. Lincoln wa
called from his sleep, and there, ii
the dead of night, he sat and lis
tened to the prayers Of Booth anC
the Endorsement Of those who cam
with him to ask favor Of Executiv,
| elaTilAnnV. ri1l.nal sW
| SA.-., ~. .I.r In. . -.