Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-31
WHY BOOTH KILLED LINCOLN.
,.Brick" Pomeroy says IL Yves because
the Hanging of n Man Named bean'
New York star.

inc Hanging of n Man Named beaii'
New York star
At private dinner given not long ago
at M uptown club "Brick" Pomeroy'
who was one of the guests, startled the
little company by observing
nGentlemen, am positively sure tnat
am one of the three men in the world
who know why Wilkes Booth killed Pres-
ident Lincoln"
Amid some expressions of surprise ana
mild incredulity, Mr.. Pomeroy told the
following story, pretacing II by the
statement that it had never been puo-
llshed: It'll.
al don't know but that it is only right
that | should correct q popular I'M
preston ON the subject" he said. " am
In possession of proof that Booth did not
XIII Lincoln through any hatred OF the
cause the president represented or
through any devotion to the cause OF tne
South. 1t was clear case OF revenge
his is how II came about: In 1900,
ust about the close OF the
war. A man named Beall, a Confederate,
who had been prisoner on Johnson's
| island, made his escape. This man was
Wilkes Booths bosom friend, and they
were devoted to each other to dgeree
seldom found in the friendship OF men.
Booth was a very impassioned man, as 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 ne
ALWAYS said the man was. After Beall es-
captd he seems to have entertained VS.
ionary ideas OF rescuing his fellow-pris-
oners 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
capture the United ates man-of-waI
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
ringleader, convicted of treason, and sen
fenced to death. When Wilkes Boot
heard that his beloved friend, his Eidus
Achgtes, was to be hanged, he became
, wild with excitement. He implored mt
and Senator Hale, to whose daughter ht
: was engaged, to back him up In plea t.
4 Lincoln for pardon. Well, Senate
q Hale and myself agreed that we would
e go to Washington with Booth and
h friend and see the president. When tn
d four of us arrived at the White House W
t saw Mr.. Lincoln, and Booth made an i'm
q passioned appeal for his friends life
e His oratory seemed to be inspired. II
o spoke with a fuency that was almos
= startling, and advanced fact after fac
n until the president seemed impresee
Z with his logic.
y "When we had concluded the presider
% said that he would pardon Beall, an
e then Booths somber face lighted up wit
If q gratitude that was eloquent. He shoe
h the president by the hand and told hi
/; that Beall and his family would come
l. thank him for his clemency, and we d
It parted. l believe that this was the la
re time that Booth ever addressed the pres
&c dent until that fateful night In App
IN when he burst into the proscenlum box
st Ford's opera-house in Washington al
es shot him.
I'd "The reason l drew a connection b
e, tween the two Incidents is this: Aft
er our little delegation withdrew from NJ
It, Lincoln's office with Beall's safety q
er sured, Booth went at once to the Pen
ty sylyania depot and took the first train
ur New York, He carried the news 10 Bea
IL who was confined at Governors islam
81 anu tnt LWO ueu udu u JOllluChllOu, Del
re accepted the presidents promise Of pa
n don as final, and watched the approach
e. the day appointed for his execution wi
rt easy indifference. Booth was freque
he visitor to mis- imprisoned friend, and
,rt though they soon commenced to thil
&c that there was unnecessary delay in t
lie transmission OF the pardon they did n
he take the alarm until before the appoint
IA day, when the preparations being ma
he for the execution aroused them fro
ii. their false security.
tn "Booth was frantic with terror Al
de rage, and Beall's condition was ev
to more pitiable. The respite did not CON
and the next day Beall was hanged Boo
les never would forgive Lincoln for his ia
Id. ure to keep his promise. He became
II. most wild for revenge, and, in my OPP
cit ION tina. is why he went tb Washingt
)r, and entered into the historic conspira
in OF Assassination
3D.
to Aurora.
/