Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-12-22

from Booth and destroyed it. l had at the
time of its destruction, as a Catholic, told
the Reverend Father Boyle. of Washington,
all about the letter and the circumstances
under which I received it."
"Were Booth and you often together dur
ing the winter preceding the murder ?"
"a great deal. He and we're boys to-
gether, you know, having both been born and
raised in Baltimore. Often during the winter
he had talked to me of the feasibility of kid
mapping the President, but never con6ded
to me any of his plans. He often seemed to
be brooding over the war, and seemed to have
his heart set upon the relief and exchange of
the Confederate prisoners. He once told me
that if he could capture the President, carry
him within the Confederacy and hold him at
ransom, it would compel the exchange of
prisoners man for man. By that he meant
white man for white man, not recognizing the
negroes as soldiers. That was his plan and
aim until within very few hours OF the time
be fred the fatal shot"
"Do you know when his plans for the ab-
duction of the President were formed ?"
A REMARKABLE STORY.
eyes, sir, very well. The elder Wallack,
the late E. L. Davenport and I, walked into
my room one day, and found Booth lying
upon my bed studying the part Of Marc An
tony in Julius Cesar By. the by it was in
the same room and on the same bed upon
which Mr.. Lincoln died. Mr.. Davenport
and Mr.. Wallack began talking of the war.
They had been to visit some of the hospitals
about Washington, and both of them seemed
very much affected by the scenes they had
witnessed. Booth joined them in the talk
about the conflict, and all Of them expressed
more or less feeling against the war. 1t was
feeling not of bitterness but of sorrow, that
brothers should be engaged in killing each
other. The pathos and power with which
both Davenport and Wallack expressed their
desire for peace is beyond description. 1t
made great impression upon my mind as
know it did upon Booths. 1t had been ar,
ranged that MIR. Wallack, Mr.. Davenport,
myself and some others we're to 60 out to the
Soldiers Home to play for the benefit of the
soldiers, and this subject was discussed. Booth
made his arrangements to 60 with US, and
said he would be one of the audience. He
knew Mr.. Lincoln intended to be present,
and at once set to work arranging his plans
for capturing him after the play was over.
We played "Still Waters Run Deep" At
the last moment Mr.. Lincoln was detained
by pressure of business and did not attend
the performance. Booth was very much dis.
appointed, as I afterwards learned. The
minuteness with which every detail Of Mr..
Lincoln's transportation within the Conted'
crate lines had been arranged and the care
and attention which Booth intended to bestow
upon him after his capture can be read from
transaction with which unwittingly had some
thing to do. A few days before we played at
the Soldiers Home was going over to Bal
timore Booth asked me to carry trunk
which he would have at the depot and deliver
it to gentleman living in Baltimore whom l
knew. / took the trunk with me to Balti.
more and delivered it to the gentleman named
by Booth. did not see him in person and
left the following note:
"'MY DEAR Mr.. -:
"Please deliver this trunk to Mr.. -, who
will see that it is delivered to Mr.. -, who
will have it safely shipped so its destination, of
''' "Very truly, JOHN Matthew'S"
do not fill the blanks in the note for the
reason that the gentleman to whom it was ad-
dressed, as we'll as those who we're to handle
the trunk, are still living.
"This trunk was filled with potted meats,
sardines, the finest kind of crackers, some
TASKS of brandy and other comforts, even
down to toilet articles necessary for gentle
mans use. This trunk was to be shipped to
lower Maryland, where Booth went when he
attempted to escape. 1t was intended for
the comfort of President Lincoln on his
Journey to the Confederate lines. 1t was
Booths intention to show the President every
attention after his capture for he had great
respect for him, Notwithstanding he abhorred
the manner in which he was forced to use his
power. He never had thought of taking
the Presidents life until the last moment,
when it seemed to him necessary for the ob-
iect he had nearer his heart than anything
else in life-the release of the Confederate
prisoners"
"When did Booth form his determination
to kill the PRESIDENT"
"Not until late in the day on which the
deed was committed. He had spent the
whole winter in Washington in the endeavor
to kidnap him, and the failure Of his every
effort, followed by the surrender of Lee, de-
cided him at the last moment to resort to ex.
trene measures to accomplish bis object. The
very argument he uses in that letter about
the killing of Caesar by Brutus shows the
state of his mind and the exalted method Of
reasoning which brought him to commit the
act."
RooTu's SWEETHEART.
"Was Booth acting any that winter p
'"No he was devoting himself entirely to his
scheme for the release of the Confederate
prisoners He boarded at the National Ho-
tel and was courted by the best society in
Washington, and, indeed in the country.
After his failure to capture Mr.. Lincoln at
the Soldiers Home, he seemed very much
depressed. He had had some words at the
National Hotel upon the subject of the ex-
change of prisoners with United States Sen
ator, and coming up to my room he spoke on
the subject with great feeling. Finally he
threw himself upon my bed and seemed to
be good deal distressed. He lay for mo-
ment in deep thought and then quickly turn
ing to me, said:
"'John, were you ever in lover
"'No, never could afford it, replied.
".I wish I could say as much. am
captive. You cannot understand how / feel
What are those lines in Romeo and Juliet
describing love? have played them hun
dred times but they have flown from me-"
"Wil you stand bottle if I'll give it to
you p I asked.
al will-two of Them replied Booth.