Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-06-22
EIincOln's Assassin.

| 1auCOlH tASShSSlhs
The Portsmouth (Va.) Occasional has pub.
Iished 40 article from Alexander Hunter
narcating the chief incidents in the social life
Of John Wilkes Booth just prior to the assas'
siuation Of President Lincon. Tho story is
supposed to be told by ono Mrs. Temple, who
asserts that Booth and Lincoln were mutually
acquainted and that the latter often spoke OF
the forncr Bessie Hale, daughter of Senator
Hale She says:
| Among all of Bessie Hale 8 admirers Booth
was the most ardent and devoted, dlstanclDg
| all compositions, except one, and that was the
Presidents eldest SOD, Robert Lincoln. who
was mady in love with Bessie. lie courted
her again and again and wouldn't take no tor
his answer. He had heavy backing, tor both
the Senator and his wife, aware ct the splendid
! advantages of the match, urged their daughter
White House, which in those days was like tho
| palace of royalty itself. She would have given
| in, | am confident, but for Booth, who, with
his charm of person, manper and intellect, car
ricd the day and won her heart, but not her
hand for her parents trowned down and most
| cmphatieally vetoed the intimacy between their
daughter aud the actor. Indeed, both father
and mother considered it great pleca OF pre-.
sumption for tho player to mako love OH the
scenic stage. John Wilkes Booth they consid
cred divine in the princely role Of Hamlet or
wea1ipg the slashcd doublet and habiiments OF
the half priGcc, half peasant Melnctte, but as
| q son in lew to the first Senator in the land
| there the charm ceased, ard they commanded
| the daughter never to think of him.
How much Bessie Hale really cared for
Booth none of US knew; probably not even ne
himself could tell. No one was aware OF the
| absorbing. true, devoted affection that Bessie
| had for him---a love great in its purity aud
singlcncss, firm in its attachment, as true as
death ITSELF and stronger than life and death
combined. Only in the fearful trial and the
awful times OF menace and Of peril did this love
| shine out 10 all its brightness, lighting the
| lurid darkness with its beams, even as the rays
of the lighthouse glcam out across the waste or
| angry waters.
"Besaic Hale was passionatcy fond of seeing
Booth assume the character OF Hamlet the
Dane, a1d often would make him repeat the
| famous sooquy in the parlor. Booths was
| the most Jealous temperament ever knew; ne
was insane sometimes, it seemed to me, and,
| when Bessie accepted any attention from my
other man, Booth would act like patient just
|
Get it--thero was large hop at our hotel,
and the saloons were crowded with the wealth,
| the beauty, tho bravery and the talent OF the
| land. The Bench, the Bar, trade and the SOL
| dcr were all represented, and the scene IN the
| ball room was one calculated to excite the mag
iuaton and dazzle the eye.
The band had just commenced to play one OF
Strauss waltZcs, and while was standing by
| the door, locker on in Vienna | turned and
| saw John Wilkes Booth lie had but lew
] moments before returned from Eord's theatre,
| where he had been acting. lie came over 10
clc. ao,ced that he looked very angry and
very much excited and asked him the cause.
| He pointed to couple crcliDg 10 the rhythmic
| measure of i waltz They seemed to be OBJ
hvious Of everything in the world Their
| movements we're perfect, the malden's head
almost rested on tho youths shoulder, and
with her eyes half closed she listened to the
carOcst, tender words that her companion was
| pouring into her ear. 1t was Bessie Hale and
| Robert Lincoln. As he witnessed this scene
| Booths white teeth clcnched over the mus
| tachc and his face grew very white, While his
eyes b!azed like fire. Hc caught mo by the
arm with 4 grasp that made me vince and
caused NE to utter an Involuntary cry, and
| Missed into my car
| "'Mrs. Temple, ser that damned villain ?
| On, | could kill him, and bis father, too
aud, by the Lord Of Hosts the sands OF his lite
| arc fast lunDng out.
"'Wh hat do you mean :? / asked him, thor
ouplly startled by his manncr and words.
! "Oh, nothiog. he said, recovering himself.
! 'Only the mau bad better never been born
| than 10 come between Ine and my love. Bessie
loves uie, III swear hut what between her
people and his, they will dispose of her as
lamb led to tho slaughter.
81 ain scrry for you, hlr. Booth said my
husband who standing beside me, has listened
To his words.
Booth tllrncd lcrcely and disdainfully
around to him-for he never liked my bus.
baud-and said: Sir, | would rather be Acte-
On, chased and dcV0ured by his own beagea,
than to be like Lazarus and have his wounds
licked by dogs GU! Of pity.
"lIe left Us abruptly ard went out OF the
room AID We saw him no more that night
| 81 told Bessie Hale of this scene, and she
was at first distressed about it and then got
mad. az . woman always does when she don t
know what to Do, aud hirted openly With Robt.
Lincoln, much to that young mans delight.
"Thc next morning We all waited Booth 8
coming anxiously, and Bessie sat in my parlor
until dinner expecting him, but not then nor
that whole day did he make bis appearance.
Another day passed, and still another came
aud went, but 70 signs of Booth. Instead,
Robert Linc1lu camc regularly, and by break
fas: time most exquisite bouquet OF flowers
from the White House conservatory would al
ways be sen. to Bessie, and Robert Lincoln
pressed his suit boldly aud srdently. think
Sue was p:qncd at Booth silence, for she gave
Robert much encouragement and his visits be.
came longer and more frequent.
"One day, about week after the ball. as
thu TWO were sitting alone together 10 my par.
lor, John Wilkes walked abruptly in, and, sit
ting down with only slight nod of recognition
to both, took book and commenced to read.
Au hour passed on, and his rival, seeing that
Booth was determined to sit him out, got up,
made his adieu, and left the field open. Bessie
told me atlerward that she was much incensed
at his behavior, and gavo him a piece Of bel