Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-02-23

VnJ Llncols Was Killed.

WIZ NncolD Was Killed.
The New York Truth credits John W.
Forney with the following story:
Among the chosen friends Of John
wilkes Booths boyhood was dashinG.
chivalrous young man of the name OF John
Y. BeAl. whose home was in the beautiful
Shenandoah Valley not far from Winches-
TER. When the war broke out. Beal Was
fanatical Secessionist, went to Canada.
and from there joined q party Of Southern
en- engaged in carrying on an irregular
kind of warfare on the northern lakes
against the Union. Their chief object
was TO release confederate prisoners OF
war CHARTERED on Johpson's Island near
Sandusky, Ohio, bur they also get fire to
ships and public buildings. and even TOOK
measures to send infected clothing into
the North for the purpose of spreading q
pestiIeuce. Finally number OF them
were captured, and the rest dispersed
Among the unfortunate who fell into the
hands Of the enraged Northerners was
young Beal. He was brought before q
court martial and convicted Of an attempt
10 wreck q passenger train near Buffalo.
The sentence was death by the rope.
One afternoon, while Beal was under
sentence of death, there alighted from q
carriage two men, who walked into the
room occupied by Washington Mclean
Of the Cincinnati Enquirer. who was at
that time in Washington in the inter-
ests OF his business. The visitors were
Senator John P. Hale Of New Hamp-
shire and John Wilkes Booth. Booth
was anxious to save the life of his friend
Beal. and had interested the Senator in
his behalf. They importnned Mclean to
20 with them to the Presidents a
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 pro-
tracted Interview, Mr.. Mclean decided
that the best plan would be for him to first
write to the President begging for Beal's
pardon. Should letter not have the de-
sired effect Mr.. Mclean promised to inter-
eede personally with Mr.. Lincoln. Before
his visitors left. however, he advised them
70 enlist the sympathies of Col. John W.
Forney on Beal's behalf.
Booth was not slow in following the adj
vice. Not being personally acquainted
with the gallant Colonel, he visited one OF
the latter's friends, Col. Lee. an old
Washington resident. Through Col Lee
and Mr.. Thaddeus Stevens. then the re-
publican leaders of Pennsylvania, Col.
forney was induced to address an earnest
letter to his friend. implorlng him to ex
ercise his clemency for the convicted man.
Several days passed, but neither Col.
Forney's nor Washington Mclean letters
were answered. The date fixed for the exc
cution was rapidly approaching, and Booth
grew alarmed. Once more accompanied
by Hale he knocked at Washington
McLean's door The latter declared him
self ready to fulfil 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 to the
grounds. Mr.. Lincoln was called from
his sleep. and Tiers in the dead Of the
night, he sat and listened to the prayers
Of Booth and the Endorsements of those
who came with him to ask the favor OF
Executive clemency.
This interview lasted until four in the
morning. II was one Of tears, prayer, and
petition. There was not dry eye in the
room as Booth knelt at the feet of Lincoln,
clasping his knees with his hands and begss
cling him to spare the life OF man - a
personal friend. who. in serving the one
he loved, hal come to the door Of death.
Booth told all. He told how, long be-
fore. in fit of passion to do some bold
deed he joined in conspiracy to kidnap
the President and to hold him a hostage
for the release of certain military prison
ers who were Booths friends. and who it
was thought were to be shot. He told of
the meetings they hadhe at the house of
Mrs. Surratt. and that all Of that plan had
fallen to the ground long before. He Of
fered his services at any time. and in 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 Beal should be pardoned.
At last President Lincoln. with tears
streaming down his face. took Booth by
the hands, babe him rise and stand like a
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 morrow and said that the official
document that they asked should be for
warded at once to the United States Mar
shall, Robert Murray in New York. and
through HIM to the officers charged with
the execution of Beal.
After breakfast next morning. Lincoln
informed Seward. Secretary OF State, what
he had done or promised to do. Seward
said II must not be; that public sentiment
in the North demanded that Besl should
be hung He declared that to pardon Beal
would discourage enlistment, lengthen the
war and insult the sentiment that called
for blood. He chided Lincoln for making
such promises without asking the advice
Of his Cabinet. or advising with himself
[Seward] on State policy. As the argu-
ment grew warm. Seward declared that il
the conduct Of the war was to be trihed
with BY appeals of humanity. he should go
out of the Cabinet and use his influence
against the President. and should charge
him with being in sympathy with the
South. Lincoln yielded and Beal was
executed.
The reaction OF Lincoln's nervous sys-
tenn was such that for days he was far
from we'll
The effect on Booth was terrible. He
raved like mailman. and in his frenzy
swore that Lincoln and Seward should
both pay for the grief and agony he had
been put to. From the death Of Beal.
Booth brooded over schemes of vengeance
tor that which he considered . personal