The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-05-09
Ariek fsmeroy's story OF the As
sassinAtlon OF LIncoIn.

From the Phnsdelphla PresA
A statement originally Published in
Mr.. Pomeroy's Democrat, Q we'll known
and highly-enterprising Western news
paper, in regard to my participation in
a very curious transaction with the lste
J. Wilkes Booth, shortly before the as
sassinstion OF Mr.. Lincoln. has excited
so much comment In other journals,
and induced 80 many people to write
to Inc on the subject. that have coh-
cluded at last TO speak Of it. One Of
these letters is the following. addressed
by a leading Indiana Republican TO q
prominent friend OF mine in Washing
ton, which the latter kindly forwarded
TO me:
WAsHNGToS. ID. c., April %, 1870.
M DEAR SIR:-lt is now, perhaps,
two weeks since / read well.written
article in the Cincinnati Commercial
particularly setting forth the reasons
upon which Booth sssassina.ed Presi-
dent Lincoln. IL involved facts not
hitherto published, so far as / am
aware, and placed the assassination on
new and private ground, wholly differ
ent from any heretofore known or be-
lieved TO have existed, and well calcu-
lated to create false and injurious i'm
preston in regard TO the murdered
President, and awaken o false sympa-
thy with the assassin. believed the
story to he false when read il, and
resolved TO investigate il, and il /
should lie right In my belief, to correct
it.
The story stated that Booth and tho
rebel Capt. Beall, who was tried and
hanged at one Of the forts in New
York barber, were fast friends--a new
Damon and Pythias, in fact-sworn to
each other; that Booth being at Wash
ington when Beall was condemned to
death, aud hearing OF the sentence the
night before il was 10 be executed, went
TO the rooms Of the Hon. John p. Hale
then Of the Senate, at late hour, and
having reused him from his sleep.
stated his purpose TO see the President
and save his friend that very night;
that upon consultation they resolved
to 60 to the house OF the Hon. John
w. Forney and get him TO 60 with
them to the President. This resolu-
tion they carried into execution. going
to the White House long after mid
night: that Mr.. Lincoln received them,
and heard Booths appeal for mercy
for his dear friend; that in making
this appeal he confessed the eonspira-
cy between himself aud others at Mrs.
Surrstt's house TO abduct the President
stc., and on his bended knees. and
prostrated before the President. weep
ing like q child, be sought pardon for
Beall; that at last, about o'clock in
the morning "pity won" the President
! bidding him get mp like a man, and,
while weeping himself, solemnly prom
ised the desired pardon. after which
Booth, Hale and Forney left the Prssi.
dent still in tears.
NsIt morning the story goes, when
Mr.. Lincoln stated his promise to par
don Beall 10 Secretary Seward, that
gentleman rsmonstrated against il and
satisfied him that he ought not 10 keep
his promise TO Booth, and that he did
not.
For this, ssys the story, Booth kill.
ed the President. ! believe IL is false.
There is but one living witness, name
+, ly, the Hon. John W. Forney. Il II
not due to history that the truth should
be fully established at once and an in
! jurious falsehood put down forsverf
Your position makes IL proper for you
TO ask Mr.. Forney TO speak on the sub
iect. Iwrite TO get you to ask him 10
speak Please do, and obligs.
Yours. truly.
| All that is necessary l should say
can be said in very few words. The
whole story. 80 far as l am concerned,
ia an utter fabrication. To my knowl.
edge i never saw j. Wilkes Booth In
life. The only time ever visited Mr..
Lincoln 10 secure a pardon was in com.
pany with my old friend. Washington
Mclean, Of the Cincinnati Enquirer,
some time, think, in February oi
! 1865, lo ask the release OF another
friend, Gen. Roger A. Pryor, who was
prisoner in Fort Lafayette. New
York harLor. Mr.. Lincoln heard oui
statement and set Gen. Pryor free on
the quaint condition that he should re
port al nv residence on Capitol Hill
where he remained my welcome guest
for several weeks. until | was authoriz.
eel 81 return him 10 his friends and
falaily in Virginia. IL is altogethel
probable that signed le ter 70 Mr.
Lincoln asking the pardon Of The cele
brated Capt Beall. ] recommended
every Southers mau 20 mercy. charged
with vhatever crime, al the close o.
the war. u Is one of my sweetest re
collections that I never turned ava,
such q petitioner from my door, and
never refused 10 90 10 the prisons II
which Southern men we're confined "
solicit their deliversnoe. AZ 10 Pome'
roy's statement itself, so far as 10 re
lstes 10 the other parties and 10 on
martyred President, wish % add ths
il Mr.. Lincoln had made such q prom
Use he would have fulfilled II at al haz
ards. and that Mr. Seward, with hi
gentle aud generous bearing to tb,
South, would have been the last TO asl
him % bronx hia word J. w T.