The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-17
NEW EXCUSE FOR WILKES BOOTH.

''Briclk" P0merOy Says the Assassination was
Owing to the Hanging of Beall.
New York Star.
At private dinner given not long ago at an
uptown club "Brick" Pomeroy, who was one of
the guests, startled the little company by OBJ
serving:
Gentlemen. I am positively sure that am
one of the three men in the world who know
why Wilkes Booth killed President Lincoln"
Amid some expressions of surprise and mild
incre6ulity Mr.. Pomeroy told the followi ng
story, prefacing it by the statement that it had
never been published
II don't know but that 1t is only right that |
should correct popular impression on the sub
ject,' he said. Il am il 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.
It was clear case of revenge, and this is how it
came about: In 1865, just about the close of the
war, man named Beall, Confederate, who
had been a prisoner on Johnsons island. made
his escape This man was Wilkes Booths bosom
friend, and they were devoted to each other to a
degree seldom found in the friendships of men.
Booth was very imprisoned man, we all
know, and he never did anything by half:
therefore it Is safe to assume that Beall was
really as dear to him as he always said
the man was. After Beail escaped he seems
to have entertained visionary ideas of res
cuing his fellow prisoners at Johnson's
Island At least this was the construction put
upon his plot by the authorities when they found
that Beall had organized gang of men to cap
ture 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 prs-
oners. fly to Canada.
"Beall was tried in New York as the ring
eade,, convicted of treason and sentenced to
death. When Wilkes Booth heard that his be-
loved friend, his Fidus Achates, was to be hanged,
he became wild with excitement. He implored
me and Senator Hale, TO whose daughter he
engaged. to back him up In plea to Lincoln for
pardon Well, both Senator Hale and myself
agreed that we would go to Washington with
Booth and a friend and see the President. When
the four of as arrived at the White House we
saw Mr.. Lincoln. and Booth made an impassioned
appeal for his friends life. His oratory seemed
to be inspired. He spoke with fuency that
was almost startling. and advanced fact after
fact until the President seemed impressed with
his logic
"When We had concluded, the President said
that ne would pardon Beall, and then Booths
somber face lighted up with gratitude that
was eloquent He shook the President by the
hand, told him that Beall and his family would
come to thank him for his clemency and we de-
parted. 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 Fords Opera-house, in Wash
ington, and shot him.
1.-The reason draw connection between the
two incidents is this After our little delegation
withdrew from Mr.. Lincoln's Office with Bealls
safety assured, Booth went at once to the Penn
sylvania depot and took the first train for New
York He carried the news TO Beall, who was
confined at Governors Island. and the two men
had jolli6cation. Beall accepted the Presidents
promise of pardon as final, and watched the ap-
proach of the day appointed for his execution
with easy indifference Booth was q frequent
visitor to his imprisoned friend, and although
they soon commenced to think that there was
unnecessary delay in the trarsmission of the
pardon, they did not take the alarm until before
the appointed day when the preparations being
false security
Booth was frantic with terror and rage, and
Bealls condition was even more pitiable. The
respite did not come and the next day Beall was
his failure to keep his promise. He became