The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-10
WHY LINCOLN WAS ASSASSIN
ATED.
How John Wilkes Booth Avenged the
Hanging of His Friend,
Johr Y. Beal.
from Pomerou,s Democrat.

Among the choice friends of John
Wilkes Booths boyhood was a GashinV,
chivalrous young man named John Y.
Beal, whose home was in the beautiful
Shenandoah valley, and not far from Win
chester, Damon and Pythias were not
more attached to cash other than were
Booth and Beal. Beal was southern in
his sympathies, and planned raids on
northern cities, and at last was captured
at or near Buffalo, tried for piracy on
northern lakes. and sentenced to be hang
ed on BedlOe's island.
One afternoon, in the city OF Washing
ton, while Beal was under sentence Of
death, there alighted from carriage two
men, who walked into the room occupied
by Washington Mclean, of Cincinnati,
who was at the time in Washington in
the interest of his business. These men
who called were Senator Hale, of New
Hampshire and John Wilkes Booth
Booth was anxious to save the life of Bea,
his chum and confidential personal
friend, He had interested Mr.. Hale in
his behalf
They importuned Mclean to 20 with
them to the president as Democrat
as friend of Booth-as q maG who had
much influence with Mr.. Lincoln, and to
vouch with Mr.. Hale for any promise
Booth might make in return for this great
favor to him. After a protracted inter.
view Mclean and Hale accompanied
Booth in carriage to the residence OF
John w. Forney, who was then in bed,
the hour being late. Forney was awak-
ened from his sleep and told the object of
his call. His sympathes were enlisted,
as he was always ready to serve his
friends.
1t was an hour or more past midnight
when Hale, Forney, Mclean and Booth
we're driven to the White House. The
guard, at the request Of Forney. admit
ted the carriage to the grounds Mr.
Lincoln was called from his sleep, and
there, in the dead Of 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 elem.
ency.
The interview lasted until 4 in the
morning 1t was one of tears. prayers
and petition. There was not dry eye il
the room as Booth knelt at the feet Of
Lincoln, clasped his knees with his hands
and begged him to spare the life 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 a fit Of passion to do some bolC
deed, he had joined in conspiracy t
abduct the president and to hold him as
hostage for the release of certain military
prisoners who were Booths friends, anC
who, it was thought were to be shot HI
told OF the meetings they had held at tn,
house OF Mrs. Surratt, and that all tina
plan had fallen to the ground long before
lie offered his services at any time and il
any place or capacity, free of cost or fear
less of consequences. The eminent gen
tlemen who were there with him joined
to the request that the prayer of Bootl
be granted, and that Beal should be par
doned.
AT last President Lincoln, with tear
streaming down his face, took Booth By
the hands, babe him rise and stand like
man, and gave him his promise that Bea
should be pardoned. He asked the part,
to depart that he might gain rest for tn,
work OF the morrow, and said that tn,
official document that they asked TO
should be forwarded at once to United
States Marshal Robert Murray, in New
York, and through him to the officer
charged with the execution of Beal.
AFTER breakfast Lincoln informed Sew
ard what he had done, or promised to dc
Seward sald that 1t must not be; that pub
lie sentiment IN the north demanded tina
Deal should be hung, He declared tina
to pardon Beal would discourage enlis,
ments, lengthen the war, and insult tn
sentiment that called for blood. He chide
Llncoln for making such promises withou
asking the advice ofhis cabinet, or advisin
with himself (Seward) on state policy. A
Tue argument grew contentious, Sewar
declared that if the conduct of the war wa
70 we trliied with by appeals for humanit,
nc should go out of the cabinet aud us
MS influence against the president, an
should charge him with being in sympatb
with the south. Lincoln yielded and Be,
q. was executed The reaction to Lincoln