The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-25
What Mr.. John Matthews Knows Of
the Man and His Crime.
SOME PAINFUL "REMINISCENCES.
Nature Of the Letter Gwen Him BY
Booth for Publication.
HE RECEIVED, READ AND BURNED 1T.


dian, and HERALD reporter chatied earnestly con-
corning the formers knowledge oil Booth aud the
terrible tragedy with which his name Is linked
In tho dispatches OF yesterdays HERALD appeared
an extract from tho Washington Post giving portion
OF An interview with Mr. John Coye, tor
merly proprietor OF tho old National Iateiiigencer
which Colonel Forney his rival journal
frequently alluded to as sfhe organ OF John Wilkes
Booth" In tins interview Mr.. Coyie denied the truth
OF the statement that he possessed the docu-
ment written by Booth, secuted as an imaginary
banquet the now much talked OF dinner party, and
stated That "Mr. John Matthews, the gentleman to
whom tho statement had been givon to be delivered
TO me- told me he had received II, and on the night
OF the ASSASSINATION had opened 1t, read IL and de-
stroyed it,
i. was quito evident 10 the reporter, before the
object Of his visit had boon made known to Mr..
Matthews, that that gentleman had OWNED It and
reluctant 10 speak oil the event which plunged the
country into gulf OF grief.
poorn's CONFESSION
When his attention called to tho Coyle ner.
view Mr. Matthews said -
81 suppose you talk OF that paper which
is now called document statement and
Well, sir, would rather It. The resurrection
OF ihs sad affar-the ghoulishness OF some
papers--has FRUSTRATED nearly every member OF the
Booth family. asd, as the friend OF It's members,
should not speak Of itif did not think what may
say will end for u time TINS sudden revival OF the
topic
'Do you say this revival OF the matter has caused
the Booths SO much annoyance to PROSTATE them S'
81 do, sir. They arc really indlsposed How could
they be in any other condition? Can you imagine =
more trying situation for gentlemen who brought
into contact with tho public ircqaentlyr SO lar
Mr. coyle's interview is concerned can say it is cor
rect SO far as know. will speak Of this matter
mn of w and ply hec
may set It at rest John gave INC The statement Mr.
Coye SPEAKS OF and under just such circumstances
he mentions"
..Coyle says tho thoroughbred mare on which Booth
escaped has never been heard or That's trivial
| matter, but do you know anything ofitg
YES; ho shot her IN tho swamps OF Virginia"
''why did he shoot her wncn, disabled as no was
the marc was everything to him IN h's attempt 10
.ao shot her to keep himself alive. That's what
became OF the mare. You must remember he could
swamps to hide ,Sors. There. with broken ankle,
after long journey IN chilly April mornins after
John killed the mare that he could lie her
| warm body and keep himself alive
30. da ry% Il. i1. sa III. bow
| Harrcld's counsel Harold told him the story. II
looks genuine because !. looks lko something John,
II suppose you've read the story about Booths
making love TO senator hae,s aassh.er with young
ball nj the National Hotel the night OF tho assassina
ton audi
"on. YES sir. /, unfortunately Tor me, see every
| thing relating to that affair Every friend l have
thinks IL Kindness TO point those things on, to
But II isn't. That tragedy" saia the actor, quite
seriously, mas made ms ten years odor."
lis there any truth, do you think that story ~
.rrutnl not a particle. IL Is tho essence OF
sense. IL pretended TO como IRON woman who
knew all tho par,ies-knew everybody and every
thing and tnen Il was limited that r. ~ +. Hunter,
| OF Virginia. wrote It. tako II that Mr.. Hunter has
something better to do than to reel of such balder
dash as that Besides. young Lincoln denies having
| ever mot Mss Hale. And as Tor Booth attending u
bail, why he hated that-hs despsed a dress coat
say something about Mr.. Robert Lincoln. Ito is re-
| ported as sayng no mover knew 18th 9 dissoiuto
who says john Wilkes Booth was drunkard or u dis
solute man liar. would ike you TO use jus, that
convivial temper. very temperate man. never saw
him drunk or anywnero near 4, and think knew
s.You saw Speaker Randalps denial OF tho dinner
storys"
"Yes But words were ascribed 10 him there which,
had the affair ever occurred he might well have used
s n,o Any maa spon wnom oa,S Soa
bang And so he would have hanged. get u touch
| OF tho throat disease whenever think OF Il toll
you sir, the Angel Gabriel msclf-with all respect
say it-woudn't DO sale at that timo with that docu-
menL"
"0f course you remember ps contents Mr..
perfectly weil" no added, slowly. "whcn say
perfectly mean can call TO mind good deal OF H.
II not very lengthy-say three pages OF letter
paper one Is not apt to forget paper vi that knd,
| particularly when It cost him so much trouble a ii
did me. nay footsteps were logged by aetectivcs,
tho houses In tho ncighbornood who're lived wcrc
Searched and but Tor Colonel BIN Wood, who knew
IRON childhood, and who IN charge OF tue old
Capitol, might have had pcasan'cr timc within It's
| walls f"
Have you any objections to sketch the contonts OF
| that letter now. ~
| rnc actor became thoughtful for n moment and
| said, '.why thcro was only scntenc, that gavo
tho slightest mixing Of his INTENTION and that In
..what did tho rest relate io-any private bust.
ness ~
lnta I'm 4 MI IN loAs pnnpr
| article on the country aud Us Affairs"
UNWILLING WITNESS.
| "Can't rene mber some OF iii Repeat some Of
| II, even II u VAS unilnportant. IN this matter
4 al couldn't II would, aud ! wouId-well,' no
| broke OF suddenly 'if you'll stay hero a TOW
enss IN 70 up TO my rooms and get you ma extract
| iron IT,"
envelope full OF newspapor clippings. Having looked
several OF them over, TIC hnaiy produced one. saying:
You soc MS letter from mo 10 the National fafe,.
| gencey | was then witness IN tue Sur
| you know. | was not allowed to give ITS conlsnts.
Carrlngton and Edwards Pierrepont objertcd, but I
name was not Attached to the document Judge
FISHER objected and then published this letter. y
Tho extract In It's entirety reads ioicw.. II was
printed IN tue IatsAigencer OF July Is, iSGi:-
Boorn LErrxR
! wAsnisctos. July IL. 1867
,srLsars Mach h.. been said IN the public print. ~
The whom I'll. letter iB,rns,sd. know
Y. qua ns as.cnans rs delivery
IL vas on The afternoon o. nooi FRIDAY; April ~ 1855.
at about o'clock that John WIkas Bsoth-om
horeb ackun Pennsylvania avenue at the
closure between Thirteenth aud Fourteenth We
mes, the compliments OF the day
IL happened Ale Officers % Lees army had
just passed up Ia body asked Booth Johnny have
/ you seen Lees officers Just brought int 10
nasa upon Ii. isnss as das have ~,
country ~ Ouss ryng his paleness nervous.
ness aud agitation, remarked John, how nervous y "a
are; what l. the natter To which he replied Oh, no,
u ~ nothing aud continued with. JOHNNY have
tie favor 20 ask Of will you grant u - why
tain :" replied "wbat Is ~ lie then stated per.
hsps leave town tonight. aud have letter here
which desire 10 be published ~ the Naftyat faf,gear.
please attend to ~ Tor me, uuess -. beore
o'clock tonofrow " that case will see 20 u myseLn
Al that moment observed General Grant riding Ia
an carriage. carrying also lis Seein1 This
called Mr.. Booths attention him, aud said Wny
Jobt there goes Grant thought he was coming 10
the theatre this evening with thu Prcsdentn Where ~
| he exclaimed ! pointed 10 the carriage; he looked
toward IT, gtssped nay hand tightly. and .alogsd down
the after the carriage That last tins
him until him % Ford's Theatre ON
| the memorable night OF the ittn OF April.