The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-01-25
WHY LINCOLN WAS KILLED.
A Hitherto unpublished Chapter In
American History.
New York Truth.

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 a f~anatical Sc
cessionist, went to Canada, and from there
Joined a party of Southerners engaged in
carrying on an irregular kind of warfare on
the northern lakes against the Union. Their
chief object was to release Confederate pris-
oners of war quartered on Johnson's Island,
near Sandusky, O., but they also set fire to
ships and public buildings, and even took
measures to send infected clothing into the
North far the purpose Of spreading the pesti-
lence. Finally a number of them were cap
tured. and the rest disappeared. Among the
unfortunate who fell into the hands of the
enraged Northerners was young Beal. He
was brought before a 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 under SEN
tence of death, there alighted from a carriage
two men, who walked into the room occupied
by Washington Mclean, editor of the Gin
cinnati Enquirer, who was at the time in
Washington in the interests 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 interested the Senator in his
behalf.
They importuned Mclean to go with them
to the President-as q Democrat, as a friend
of Booth, as a man who exercised influence
over Mr.. Lincoln-and to vouch with Mr..
Hale for any promises Booth might make in
return for this great favor to him. After a
protracted interview, MIR. Mclean decided
hat the best plan would be for him to write
to the President, begging for Bears pardon.
Should a letter not have the desired effect,
Mr.. Mclean promised to intercede person.
ally with Mr.. Lincoln. Before his visitors
left, however, he advised them to enlist the
sympathies of Colonel Forney on Beal's be-
half.
Booth was not slow in following the ad-
vice. Not being personally acquainted with
the gallant Colonel, he visited one of the
%latter's friends, Colonel Lee, an old Wash
ington resident. Through Colonel Lee and
Thaddeus Stevens, then the Republican lead
er of Pennsylvania, Colonel Forney was in
duced to address an earnest letter to his
friend the President, imploring him to exer-
else his clemency for the convicted man.
Several days passed, but neither Forney's
nor McLean's letters were answered. The
date fixed for the execution was rapidly ap-
preaching, and Booth became alarmed. Once
more, accompanied by Hale, he knocked at
MI. McLean's door. The latter declared
himself ready to fulfill his promise. 1t was
an hour or more past midnight when Hale,
Mclean and Booth were driven to the White
House. The guard, at McLean's request,
admitted the carriage 10 the grounds. MT.
Lincoln was called from his sleep, and there,
in the dead of night, he sat and listened to
the prayers of Booth and the Endorsement Of
these who came with him to ask the favor of
executive clemency.
This interview lasted until four in the
morning. 1t was one of tears, prayers and
petitions. There was not a dry eye in the
room as Booth knelt at the feet of the Presi.
dent, claspiDg his knees with his hands and
begging him to spare the life of a mana
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 a fit Of pas
sion to do some bold deed, he joined a con-
spiracy to kidnap the President and hold
him a hostage for the release of certain mill
tary prisoners who were Booths friends,
and who it was thought were to be shot. He
told of the meeting they held at the house OF
Mrs. Surratt, and that all of that plan had
fallen to the ground long before.
He offered his services at any time, and in
any place or capacity, free Of cost and fear
less of consequences. The eminent gentle
men VINO were there with him Joined in the
request that the prayer of Booth be granted,
and that Beal should be pardoned.
At last President Lincoln, with tears
streaming down his face, took Booth by the
hands, babe him arise and stand like a man,
aud gave him his promise that Beal should
be pardoned. He then asked the party to de-
part that he might gain rest for the work OF
the morrow, and said the official document
that they asked should be forwarded at once
~ ~. T1,;toa Ctotnn Morohal Rnhar Murray