The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-10-08
NUMBER 81.
why Booth Killed LINCOLN.

New York Star
At private dinner given not
long ago at an uptown club "Brick"
POmeroy, who was owe of the
guests, startled the little company
by observing:
"GentIemen, am positively sure
that am one of the three men in
world who knows why Wilkes
Booth killed Lincoln
Amid some expressions of sur
prise and mild imcredulity MIR.
Pomeroy told the following story,
prefacing it by the statement thai
it had never been published
II don't know but that it is only
right that | should correct popu-
lar impression Oh the subject he
said. 81 am in possession of proof
that Booth did not kill Lincoln
through any hatred of the cause
the President represented or
through any devotion to the cause
of the South. 1t was clear case
OF revenge, and this is how it came
about: In 1865, just about the
close of the war, IL man named
Beal, a Confederate, who had been
prisoner on Johnson's Island,
made bis escape. This man was
Wilkes Booths bosom friend, aud
they were devoted to each other to
a degree seldom found in the friend
ships of men. Booth was a very
impassiOned man, as We all know,
and be never did anything by half;
therefore, it is safe to assume that
Beall was really as dear to bin as
be always said the man was. After
Beall escaped he seems to have en-
tertained visionary ideas of rescu-
ing his fellow prisoners at JOhnson's
Island. At least this was the cou-
struction put upon his plot by the
authorities when they found that
Beall had organized gang of meu
TO capture the United States man
of war Michigan. The evidence
tended to show that Beall and his
followers intended to capture the
vessel, run her to Johnson's Island,
and after rescuing the prisoners,
fly to Canada.
"Beall was tried in New York as
the ring leader, convicted of treason
and sentenced to death. When
Wilkes Booth heard that his below
ed friend, his Gidus Achates, was to
be hanged, he became wild with
excitement. He implored me and
Senator Hale, to whose daughter
he was engaged, to back him up in
a plea to Lincoln for pardon.
Well, both Senator Hale and my
self agreed that we would go to
Washington with Booth aud a
friend and see the President. When
the four of us arrived at the White
House we saw Mr.. Lincoln, and Mr..
Booth made an impassioned appeal
for his friends life. His oratory
seemed to be inspired. He spoke
with huency that was almost
startling, and advanced fact after
fact until the President seemed
Impressed with his logic.
"When we hal concluded the
President said he would pardon
Beall, and then Booths sombre
face lighted up with gratitude
THAI was eloquent. He shook the
President by the haud, told him
that Beall and his family would
come to thank him for his cleneDcy,
and we departed. believe that
this was the last time Booth ever
addressed the President until that
fateful night in April when he burst
into the prOscenium box at FOrd's
Opera House in Washington aud
shot him.
sThe reason | draw a connection
between the two incidents Is this:
After our little delegation with
drew from Mr.. Lincoln's Office with
Beall's safety assured, Booth went
at once to the Pennsylvania depot
and took the first train for New
York. He carried the news TO
Beall, who was confined at Govern.
OTs Island, aud the two men had a
jollificatiOn. Beall accepted the
Presidents promise of pardon as
final, aud watched the approach of
the day appointed for his execution
with easy Indifference. Booth was
a frequent visitor to bis imprisoned
friend, and although they soon
commenced to think that there was
unnecessary delay in the transmits
sion OF the pardon they did not take
tue alarm until before the appoint
ed day, when the preparations be-
ing made for the execution aroused
them from their false security.
"BOth were frantic with terror and
rage and Beall's condition was even
more pitiable. TIE respite did moi
come and the next day Beall was
banged. Booth never would for
give Lincoln for his failure TO keeT
his promise. He became almOs
wild for revenge, aud, in my opinion
that is the reason be went to Wash
ipgtOD aud entered into the historic
conspiracy OF assassination.