Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-12-03
UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH.

UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH.
One afternoon. while Beal was
under sentence of death, there
alighted from u carriage two men,
who walked into the room occu
pied by Washington Mclean, Of
the Cincinnati Enquirer, who was
at the time in Washington in the
interest OF his business. The Wis
itors were Senator Eugene Hale,
of New Hampshire, and John
Wilkes Booth. Booth was anxious
| to save the life of his friend Bsal,
and had Interested the Senator in
his behalf. They importuned Nc.
Lean to go with them to tae Presi-
dent-as a Democrat, as friend OF
Booth, as man who exercised I'M
| huence over Mr.. Lincoln--and 10
vouch with Mr. Hslefor any prom
ises Booth might mako in return
for this gfeat favor TO him. After
u protracted interview, Mr.. Nc
Lean decided that the best plan
would be for him to first write TO
the President, begging for BeaPs
pardon. Should letter not have
the desired effect, Mclean prom
Used to intercede personally with
Lincoln. Before his visitors
left, however, be advised them to
enlist tho sympathy of Colonel
John w. Forney on Beaps behalf.
Booth was not slow in following
the advice. Not being personally
acquainted with the gallant
Colonel, he visited one of tho lat
ters friends, Colonel Lee, an old
Washington resident. Through
Colonel Lee and Thaddeus stevens,
then the Republican leader OF
Pennsylvania. Colonel ForDey was
induced to address an earnest let
ter TO his friend, the President, i'm
ploring him to exercise his Glenn
ency for tbs convicted man.
A MIDNIGHT INTERVIEW.
Several days passed, but neither
Forney's nor MeLelIsn's letters
were answered. The date fixed for
the execution was rapidly ap.
preaching, and Booth grew alarm.
ed. Once more in company with
Senator Hale he knocked at Mo-
/ lltiioh . dOOis Lilt thLlCf
himself ready to fulfill his prom
Use. 1t was an hour or more past
midnight when Hale, Mcclellan
and Booth ware driven to the
White Houee. lhe guard, at Nc
LeIlan's request, admitted the car
riage to the grounds. Mr.. Lincoln
was called from bis sleep, and
there in the dead of night he sat
and listened to the prayers of
Booth and the Inducements of
those who came with him to ask
the favor of Executive clemency'
This interview lasted until four in
the morning. 1t was one OF tears,
prayer ami petition. There was
not DRIP eye in the room as Booth
knelt at the feet Of Lincoln, clasp
ing his knees with his hands and
begged him to spare. the life of o
| man--a personal friend, who, in
serving the ones he loved, had
come TO the door of death. Booth
told all. He told how, long before,
In ii of passion to do some bold
deed he joined in IA conspiracy to
kidnap the President, and to hold
him as hostage for the release of
certain military prisoners, who
were Booths friends, and who it
was thought were to be shot. He
told of the meetings they had held
at the house of Mrs. Suratt, and
that all of that plan had fallen to
the ground long before. He offered
his services at any time, and 10
any place or capacity, free of cost
and fearless OF consequences. The
eminent gentlemen who were
there Joined with him in the re.
quest that the prayer Of Booth be
granted, and that Baal should be
pardoDed.
PARDON PROMISED.
At last President Lincoln, with
tears streaming down his face, took
Booth by the hsuds, babe him
rise and stand like man, and
gave him his promise that Beal
should be pardoned. He then asked
the party to depart that he might
gain rest for the work of the NOR
row, and said that the official doc.
ument that they asked should be
forwarded at once to the United
States Marshal, Robert Murray, in
New York, and through him to
the officers charged with tho exc
cution of Beal. After breakfast the
next morning. Lincoln informed
Seward, Secretary of State, what
he had done or promised to do.
Seward said that it must not be;
that public spirit in the North de-
manded that Beal should be hung.
He declared that to pardon Beal
would discourage enlistment,
leDgthen the war, and insult the
sentiment that called for blood.
He .chided Lincoln for making
such promises without asking the
advice of the Cabinet, or advising
with himself (Seward) on state
policy. AS the argument grew
warm, Seward declared that If the
conduct Of the war was to be tri.
fled with by appeals for humanity
he should 60 out of the Cabinet,
and use his influence against the
President, and charge him with
being in sympathy with the South.
Lincoln yielded, and Beal was ex-
ecuted. The reaction to Lincoln's
nervous system was such that for
days be was far from well.
REVENGE!
| The effect on Bootb was terrihle-