New-York tribune., 1878-06-25
,,rN,bsyI.vANIA GREETING TO RANDALL.
EhI'N rom me PhtladeJDhla Inquiry =,
.roHy WILRBS BOOTHS CRIME.
,-nnY InHN MATTHEWS.

A STATEMENT BY JOHN MAIlhE
-. nrv,,srs no DISCLOSE THE REASONS WHY HE
puRNFp TIE DOCUMENTS NTRUsrED 10 hIA
oTgpR VERSIONS OF THE MATTER.
Iobn Matthews, the actor, who was IN the
-, >, the play at Ford's Theatre, Washington on
- mont that President Liucoln was assass-
mated. and who received statement from John
wiItes Booth was called upon yesterday, and
,,outrv was made concerning the matter.
Tie rfused at first to ave thing whatever to say in
regard to the assassination. Finally however ne SAID
sad that since the interview with John Ford had been
made public, Edwin Booth and Mrs. Junius Brutus
Rooh his mother had been prOstrated with sickness
q This story.1 he continued, "win probably be the
esuse Of Mrs Booths death. II has opened an old
U0pd-one that the friends of the Booth family had
thought had been healed forever"
mas not John p. COye, formerly publisher of The
National Iatsigeneer declared that YOU received from
Jobp wilkes Booth few minutes previous TO the as
sassnaOn statement setting forth his reasons for kill
belieye Mr. COye did say something to that effect,
H. have such horror OF newspaper OtOrety tnat am
afraid to take up a daily newspaper for fear shall
was first connected with the LineOln-Booth affair,
my not answering Mr: Coyie is my, respect
for Edwin BC9h' who Enow kesny teeS SeHevd% Sne
that 1 did receive such statement Ny reasons
ioE nov ~ ah'n nah 40 M 1S which made Of the doca
ments All sorts Of stories have been published ABOUT
these documents Dut not ono OF the was osiu ca Ny
me-"
John T. Fords account OF the destruction OF
John Wilkes Booths statement is cOrOborated by John
T. Coyle who gives the Of the actor TO whom it was
intrusted Booth he says, met John Matthews opposite
the National Theatre short time before the assassination
of President Lincoln, and handed BIN an envelope al
dressed 10 SIR. COyle requesting hm II II were not re-
called by 10 O'Clock the next morning 20 give u 70 that
gentleman for publication. Mr.. Matthew's was IN the
cast Of the play thar night and after the ASSASSINATION
he package dropped out OF the pocket. He picked IT
M went ueighbOrhoOd OF the thealfe
opened read il and burned IT, The statement was q
defence OF the assassination. These facts MI Coyle
learned MI Matthews months attef the execution
OF Mrs Surratt and the eOnsprators. .,
known m the theatrical profession yesterday confirmed
COyles account His story was based on Ins
narrative which he claims 10 have heard
from Mr. Matthews a few years after the
tragedy He said that Matthews had left the theatre
early in the evening which the murder took place for
s1pper John Wilkes Booth riding out on
thaf dav and the two net on the avenue, opposite
tie National Theatre. After cOnyersng q few mo-
mepts, Booth handed Mr.. Matthews a sealed en-
YelOPe, with directions not to open II until
the following morning. Be was then 20 be at
liberty to read it, and submit it 70 Mr..
COye for publication IN The AG1o1tat IHteH'gencer.
After the assassination, Matthews recalled the fact lhat
he was IN possession Of the murderers letters, ana the
thought suddenly struck him that those papers tod he
secret of the assassination. lie immediately went to hs
rOO in the neghbOrhOOd Of the theatre, opened be en-
yelOpe and read tue cOuents Becoming alarmed az the
nature etters and thinking as he afterward ex-
pressed it. il dangerous for man 20 be CON
nected ia any way with John Wilkes Booth about that
time, he burned them at once