Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-01-07
1ne ASSRSSlN'S DIARY.
The Last Written Words of
John Wilkes Booth.
THE BOOK FOUND ON HIS DODY.

ssA DVVA IVLNN V&N MS DULL
A Very Interesting story which Is Either
Fact or Faise-B Booths Account Of
His Flight with Harold--It Has Very
Theatrical sound.
BALTIMORE, Jan. THE American has
eceived from its Washington correspondent
he following extract from j. Wilkes Booths
barry, found in his clothing after his death
is now in possession Of the department Of
Astices
'szss Our COuntry's wrongs
"ArRIL l4-Friday, the Ides
"Until today nothing was ever thought Of
sacrificing to our country's wrongs. For
six months we have worked to capture, but
ppr cause being almost lost something de.
cisive and great must be done But its fall
nre was owing to others, who did not strike
FOR their country with a heart Istruck
boldly, and not as thepapers say. walked
with a firm step through thousand Of his
friends was stopped, but pushed on. A
colonel wac at his side. / shouted sic semper
before fired. In jumping broke my leg.
passed all his pickets Rode sixty miles that
night with the bone Of my leg tearing the
nesh at every jump l can never repent IL
Though we hated to kill, our country owed
all her troubles to him. and God simply
made me the instrument OF his punishment,
He or the south.
THE country Is not what IL was This
forced union is not what / have aeved.
care not what becomes OF me. hkse no de-
sire 70 ontlive my country. The night be-
fore the deed wrote a long article and left
II for one Of the editors Of The National In
felligeneer, in which fully set out our rea
sons Tor our proceeding. He or the south
Hunted Like Dog.
"FRIDAY. %
''After being hunted like a.dog through
swamps, woods, and last night being chased
till ! was forced TO return, wet, cold and
starving, with every mans hand against
me, am here in despair; and for why's For
doing what Brutus was honored for, what
made Tell hero; and yet l. for striking
down greater tyrant than they ever knew,
am looked upon as a common cutthroat Ny
act was purer than either OF theirs One
hoped to be great himself; the other had not
only his country's, but his own wrongs to
AfEnhct 4 HNB@A LOT no gam. 1 knew no
private wrong. l struck for my country,
and that alone--a country ground beneath
this tyranny-and prayed for this end And
yet, now behold the cold hand they extend
b me-
"God cannot pardon me If have done
wrong Yet l cannot see any wrong, except
b. serving degenerate people The little,
she very little, left behind to clear my
name the government win not allow to be
printed So ends all For my country
have given up all that makes life sweet and
holy, brought misery upon my family, and
am sure there is no pardon In the heavens
for me since man condemns me 20.
His Creators Forgiveness Asked.
II have only heard what has been done
Except what ! did MYSELF, and it Oils me
with horror. God try and forgive me, and
bless my mother Tonight / will once more
try the river with the intention to cross
though have greater desire and almost a
mind 10 return to Washington and IN a
measure clear my name, which / feel can
do. do not repent the blow ] struck, ]
may before my God but not 10 man.
binink have done we'll, though / am aban-
9oned, with the curse OF Cain upon me.
8hen, II the world knew my heart, that one
blow would have made me great, though ]
Bid desire no greatness
Harold often Prayed.
Tonight I try 20 escape these blood
hounds once more. Who can read his fatei
Gods win be done. ] have too great a SOU
to die like a criminal Oh, may He, may
He spare me that, and let me die bravely
bless the entire world ! have never hatet
OF wronged any one. This last was not
wrong, unless God deems it so, and it 4
with Him 70 damn OF bless me- And fol
this brave hoy Harold with me- who Otter
prays YES, before and sincel with a tru,
and sincere heart--wns it crime in him4 /
20, why can he pray the samei do no
wish 20 shed a drop of blood. but mus
fight the course. lis all that's left me-
These are the last words in the diary, an,
probably the last he. ever wrote, as he wa
shot very shortly afterward