The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-12-11
LINcoLN,s AsAss1NATIoN.

LINCoLN's ASSASSINATION.
The Baltimore American has been
presented with letter by Gen. Angus,
written by physician, who lives near
Baltimore, in which a new reason is
assigned for the murder of President
Lincoln. The author says he is salts
fled the president was shot because he
failed to keep a solemn promise to
Booth. 1t appears from what is |
staGed, that Booth had very dear
friend in the army. who was con-
demned to be shot. Booth waited on
Mr.. Lincoln, and plead Tor his friends
life, and it is told that the president
yielded and promised pardon for the
condemned man. Booth, it is said, fell
on his knees and bathed Lincoln's
hands with his tears and kissed them,
and left with the assurance that his
friends life would be spared. The
next evening word was brought to
Booth that his friend was shot to
death. Booth was mad with rage and
vowed vengeance, and the time
came as he mad planned. Two nights
before the deed Booth slept with An
drew jackson King, at Mrs. Bowers
clearinghouse (Klng is the clerk to
Mayor Latrobe, of BALTIMORE.
booths visits to Mrs. Surratt's" the
writer asserts, "were merely social.
Politics were not touched upon. Brick
Pomery knows much of this, and
more than can tell you. My wife
lived with her mother at the time
that Booth visited at the house, and
she says that King knows more than
he viii tell, also Mr.. Sid Adams. If
you wish you can thy what there is in
this to make people wonder over an
other mystery greater than that of the
'Beadwinners." A reporter called
on Mr.. King, and he said there was a
great deal of truth in these assertion S
He said the soldiers name, for whom
Booth plead, was Beale. A citizen
was found who told he had learn
ed from a relative in the army that
the execution of Beale was the cause
of the killing of Mr.. Lincoln. Ever
since the night that Mr.. Lincoln was
shot a sort of mystery has hung about
the deed. 1t has long been believed
that the whole truth in regard to the
matter has not been known. The trial
of Booth and the other prisoners,
charged with completely in the as
sassination, appeared to develop the
fact that the deed was the result of
fauaticism on the part of the accused,
who were supposed to be ardent
sympathizers with the confederate
cause. Although the court martial
was held at time of great excite
ment and strong efforts were made
to connect leading southern men with
the deed, there was no evidence what
ever to cast CVCn suspicion on them.
There are many who question whether
the evidence of conspiracy was suf-
ticient to legally convict some of the
prisoners who were executed for
completely in the crime. Gen
Angus voucheS for the respec-
ability of the doctor who wrote this
information, and, while the American
is disposed to doubt, corroborative
testimony leads to the belief that
there is good ground for what is told.
Although the south has been the sub
ject of many expressions and indigni-
ties on account of the popular fury
which the assassination of Lincoln
r@Ty naturally caused at the North. no
right-minded person now holds this
section in any manner responsible for
the deed; hence it may be considered
unimportant now, to inquire into
Booths real motives. AS an interest
ing historical question, how
ever, it is 10 be hoped all
the light possible will be
thrown on the subject, and that the
real truth will be established. The
American says: "To make the deed
an act of revenge on account of the
execution of BeaIe would put Booth,
if possible, in worse light than if he
were credited with morbid love of
notoriety and sensationalism, and a
desperate attachment of the rebel
cause" That may possibly be the
correct view of the matter, and yet
there is no desire to defend Booth
, or palliate his crime. Now that the
passions of the people have been
superseded by calmness and general
confidence, the question may be, in
vestlgated fully and impartially by
the press, and witnesses need not
hesitate to give publicity to facts
within their knowledge.