Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-07
toilet articles necessary Tor q gentlemau,s use

This trunk was to be shipped to lower Mary
land, where Booth went when he attempted Il
escape. 1t was intended for the comfort OF
President Lincoln on his journey to the con
federate lines. 1t was Booths intention t.
show the President every attention after hi,
capture, for he had great respect for him, not
withdrawing 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 object he had nearer his heart than any
thing else in life-the release OF the confederate
prisoners"
"When did Booth form his determination t.
kill the PRESIDENT"
mot until late i'm the day on which the deed,
was committed. He had spent the whole win
ter In Washington in the endeavor to kidnap
him. and the failure Of his every effort, fol-
lowed by the surrender of Lee. decided him at
the last moment to resort to extreme measures
to accomplish his 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"
BOOTHS SWEETHEART.
"Was Booth acting any that winter?' 'sNo; he
was devoting himself entirely to his scheme for
the release of the confederate prisoners. He
boarded at the National hotel and was courted
by the best society in Washington, and. indeed
in the country. After his failure to capture
LiuColH at the SoiQIeFS Home. he seemed
very much depressed He had had some words
at the National hotel upon the subject of the
exchange OF prisoners with a United States
Senator, and coming up to my room he spoke
OF the subject with great feeling. Finally he
threw himself upon my bed and seemed to be a
good deal distressed. He lay for a moment in
deep thought and then quickly turning to me
said:
'''John, were you ever in love:'
mo. never could afford it, replied.
''l wish could say as much. am a captive.
You cannot understand how feel. What are
those lines in Romeo and Juliet describing love?
l have played them hundred times but they
have flown from me-
'.Will you stand bottle if I'll give them to
you?' 1 asked.
81 will-two of Them replied Booth.
''Here are the lines answered.
o! anything, of nothing first create!
o! heavy lghtneSS Serious vanity!
his-shapen chaos OF well-seeming forms!
'"That's it, replied Booth. IF it were not
for this girl could feel easy. Think of it, John
that at my time of life-just starting as it We're
i should be in lOver"
''Did he mention the lady's name 2"
"Oh, yes; but that shall be sacred with me.
She is married now, and it would serve no good
purpose either to his memory or to the truth of
history to revive it. He loved her as few men
love. he had great mind and generous
heart. and both were centered upon this girl
whom he intended to make his wife Her pic
ture was taken from his person after he was
killed.
.Were you upon the witness stand in the trial
of the cOnspiratOrs?'
mo. sir; was simply held for time. as were
all the other actors and persons connected with
the theater. Poor John T. Ford was kept in
prison more than month when there was not
the faintest suspicion Of his completely. but ST.
Michael himself could not have escaped arrest in
those days"
Mr.. Matthews is now an actor in the Union
Square Theater in New York, where met him
and listened to the story above retold. His re-
collection of Booth is naturally very vivid. He
has retained as relics, the wardrobe he wore on
the night of the assassination. as also some
trlnkets which were the property of Booth.
DO justice to poor John, said he, speaking
OF his friend ''He thought he was doing right.
and brooded so much over the terrors of war
that he had reached a point where he looked
upon his act as patriotic. He was a brave man.
There was something exalted in his courage
Think OF his begging for simply the chance to
fight for his life when the soldiers had sur
rounded him in the barn. do not believe that
the cranky soldier who is credited with killing
Booth ever shot him. That he shot at him there
Is no doubt, but my theory is that when John
found he could not get chance for his lfe and
either had to die by fire or be killed by his enc
mics. he himself fired the shot which ended
What had been so promising life" F. A. b.