Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-02-15
WHY Lincoln was Killed.
A HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED CHAPTER
IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

Among the chosen friends CT John
Wilkes Booths boyhood was dashing.
chivalrous young man by the name OF
john Y. Beal. whose home was in The
beautiful Shenandoah Valley, not far
from Winchester. When the war
broke out Beal, who was fanatlcal
secesslouist, went TO Canada. and from
there joined party of Southerners en-
gagged in carrying on an irregular kind
of warfare on the northern lakes against
the Union. Finally a num-
ber of them were captured. and the rost
of them disappeared Among the us-
fortunate who fell INTO the hands OF the
enraged Northerners was young Beal.
He was brought before Court Martial
and con victed of an attempt TO wreck a
passenger train near Buffalo. The
sentence was death by the rope.
One afternoon, while Beal was IN
der sentence Of death. there alghted
from carriage two men, who walked
into the room occupied by Washing
ton McI.ain, editor of the Cincinnati
ENQUIRER, Who was at The time in Wash
inrton in the interest Of his business.
The visitors were Senator Hale, OF
New Hampshire, and John Wilkes
Booth, Booth was anxious TO save the
life of his friend Beal, and had interest.
ed the senator IN his behalf. They
importuned McLain TO 20 with them
10 the President as a democrat, a
friend Of Booth, as a man who eXercis-
ed influence over Mr.. Lincoln and to
vouch with Mr.. Hale for any promises
Booth might make in return tor this
great favor to him. After prOtracIed
interview, Mr.. McLain decided that the
best plan would be for him first to
write TO the President, begging for
Beal's pardon. Should letter not
have the desired effect, Mr.. McLain
promised TO intercede personally with
Mr.. Lincoln. Before bis visitors left,
however, he advised them TO enlist the
sympathy of Colonel Forney on BeaPs
behalf.
Booth was not slow in following
the advice. Not being personally ac-
ouainted with the gallant Colonel, he
visited the latter's friend, Colonel
Lee, an old Washington resident.
Through Colonel Lee and Thaddeus
Stevens. then the republican leader oi
PENNSYLVANIA, Colonel Forney was
induced to address an earnest letter TO
his friend, the President, imploring him
TO exercise his clemency for the convic'
ted man.
Several days passed, neither Colonel
Forney's nor Washington McLan's
letters were answered. The date liked
for the execution was rapidly approach
Ing. and Booth grew alarmed. Once
more accompanied by Hale, he knocked
at Washington McLain's door. The
latter declared himself ready to fulfil
his promise. 1t was an hour or mol(
past midnight when Hale, McLain an(
Booth were driven TO the White House
The guard, at McLain's request, ad
mitted the carriage 10 the grounds. MIR
Lincoln was called from his sleep, ant
there IN the dead Of night, he sat au'
listened TO the prayers Of Booth and tn
endorsements of those who came Wit
him. to ask the favor Of executlv
clemency.
This interview lasted until four Il
the morning. 1t was one OF teals
PRAYER and petition. There was no
n dry eve in the room as Booth knel
; at the feet of Liacoln, clasping hi
knees with his hands and begging hlr
to spare the life of mana persona
friend. who, 10 serving the ones h
loved, had come to the door OF DEATH !
Booth told all. He told how, Ion
before in a lit of passion TO do som
bold deed be joined in a conspiracy
kldnap the President and TO hold him
hostage for the release of certain mil
tary prisoners who were Booth
frie nd's, and who i. was thought wei
to be shot. He told of the meeting
thew had held ut the house OF Mr.
Surratt, and that that plan had ialle
to the ground long before. lie oiier(
his services at any time, aud IN al
C place or capacity, free OF cost al
e fearless of consequences. The emlnel
e gentleman who were there joined WI
" him in the request that the PRAYERS
! Booth be granted, and that Beal shou
r' be pardoned.
AT last President Lincoln, with tea
I1 streaming down bis face, took Booth
., the hands, bade him arse and staI
u like man, and give him his proml
;. that Beal should be pardoned. /
n then asked the party to depart that
'' might again rest for the work OF Il
&c morrow, and said that the official doc
is uent that they asked should be 70
II warded at ouce 10 the United Stat
! Marshall, Robert Murray, in New Yor
~ and through him to the officers charg
o. with the execution Of Beal.
y, After breakfast next morning, Ii
~ coin informed Seward, Secretary
- - State, what he had done or promised
=, :. do. Seward said it must not be; th
=, public sentiment in the North deman
- ed that Beal should be hung, He Q
~ ~ clared that 10 pardon BeAl would d
" courage enlistment, lengthen the W
and insult the sentiment That call
=. for blood. He chided Lincoln
'' making such promises without asklI
Il L = =