The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-01-30
FOUND IN HIS DIARY.
John WILKES BOOTHS REASONS FOR
KILLINR LINCOLN. uig
A Document that Abounds with Tragedy
. and Pathos-Ths Thosghts Of Patriot
,aAd . 1admans ID 10 iuo o4.,sa

A Document that Abounds with Tragedy
h and Pathos-Ths Thdsshts Of 9 Patriot
,aAd . 4admans ID 10 iuo oI.sa
n3otEse~ ta< Bs'si";soss 4~erosn.3 -
The Amer.can received Eom rom It's
Washing .on correspondent the follow
ing extracts from j. Wilkes, Booths
diary, found in his clothing after His
death. II i now in the Possession Of
the Department Of Justice
elo .APR1L IA. Friday the Idea q
Until to-day nothing was ever
thought Of sacrificing to our jcountrys
wrongs. For six months we have
worked to capture, but our cause be-
ing almost lost. something decisive
and great must be done. But its fail
ure was owing TO others, who did not
strike tyr their country with heart.
struck boldly and not as the papers
say. Il walked with 6rm step
through Thousand Of his friends, who
stopped me, but pushed on. A coti
onel wac at his side. / shouted sic
semper' before Il fred. In jumping
broke my log. I passed allhis pickets.
Rode sixty miles that night with the
b.,ne of my leg tearing the flesh at
every painful Jumps L can never
repent it. Though we hated to kill,
our country owed all her trouble to
him, and God simply made me the
instrument of mis- punishment. >
"The country 10 not what it was.
This forced union is not whatiI have
loved. care not what becomes of
me. I have no desire to outlive
my country. The night before the
deed I wrote q long article and left it
with one of the editors of the Nati0nal
Intellsgencer, in which I fully set out
the reasons for our rcceeding. He
or the South. 9sn13f8G sttI "a :
ura aa,ra9H1uaRM FRIDAY, 81.
AFTER being hunted like a dog
through swamps, woods, and last night
being chased until / was forced to re-
turn, weary, cold and starving, with
every mans hand against me, am
here in despair; and for why ? For
doing what Brutus was honored for,
what made Tell hero; and yet I, for
striking down greater tyrant than
they ever knew, am looked upon as a
common cut-throat My act was
purer than either of theirs. One hop
ed to be great himself; the other had
not only his country's but his own
wrongs to ayenge. i hoped for, nc
gaia. I knew no private wrong, ]
struck for my country, and that alone
"a country ground beneath this ty
ranny-and prayed for this end. And
yet, now behind the cold hand they ex.
tend to me. .s,{e aa.i,.,e ragt
"God cannot pardon me if have
done wrong. Yet cannot see any
wrong, except 10 serving q degenerate
people. The little the very. little, ]
left behind to clear my name, The
Government will not. allow to bt
printed. So ends all. For my coun
| try l have 2iyen. up all that make'
life sweet and holy. brought misery
/ upon my family. and an, sure there i
no pardon 10 heaven for me, sipe'
man condemns me so. a,s ,e ID %
. II have only heard what has beer
done (except what ]. did myself, ant
it fills me with horror. Gou try ant
forgive me, and bless my. mother, TO
night | will once more try the rive
with the intention to cross. though !.
have . greater desire and almost /,
mind T.. return to Washington and il
| : measute clear my name, which fee
/ ! can do. do not repent the blos
i struck. I may before my God, bd
not ,tle man. I think / have don
i well, though / am abandoned, wit
the curse Of Cain, upon me. when,
the world knew, my heart, that on
blow would have made me great
though i did desire no greatness
i s@1o night Twill Try to escape thea
4 bloodhounds once more. Who cai
rod ihs fhtes Gods will be DONE
have too great 4 soul 10 die like
criminal. Oh, may He, may II,
i spare me thAt, and let pe die bravely
III bfeo the entire world. ] hav
/ never hated or wronged any on,
j This was not . wrong unless Go
deemed il 90, aud it is with Him
4 damn or bless me. ,.iressrI na a8t
n "And for Ihis brave boy, Harolt
With me, who often prays (yes' fbefor
andsince) with q true, sincere heart
was itsla crime in him? Ifso, vi
can ho pray the saine? IT do not wis
70 shed drop of blood, bot I mu'
fight the course. lis all that's le
nnAsS GI59h 9E7i3ey hei3Ssti45E 9ii' 1bN'
These are the last words in the diar-,
and probably the last he ever wrot
Ioe a6e fWeSl shot lsesyc1hoftay alta
- Z the Bee in Gilmer.s Bennett 50