Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-27

~oasu VI kouike ana carly out plot Oh tuco WI
rible magnitude without the aid and support
OF a large number of others, and they perhaps
minghnS among the people and living in some
OF the houses that had upon them the outward
agns OF mourning. The scenes associated
with this tragedy have been described 30 often
and in such graphic terms that il il not neess-
sary for me to add anything more to them.
Ihis recollection Of Mr. Lincoln requires no
renewal or elaboration from me, but will
stand az one OF the most prominent and. at
tory and will be remembered as one OF the
great epochs in tho history Of human liberty.
PERSONAL REcoILKcrIoSs OF WILKES BOOTH.
by the way" Mr.. Forney, ''as your position
as a journalist brough. you in pretty close init
macies with the dramatic profession, did you
have any personal acquaintance with Wilkes
Boom, and II 80, what were your impressions
when You heard that he was the assassin
Yes; ! knew Booth quite intimately. and 10
was the last man who over believed could be
capable OF such an act. For some time before
ths assassination he spent sort of leisurely
me mere IN Washington telling many of his
friends that he had retired from the stage tenn
porarily, and made up his mind to try and
make money outside OF his profession. As was
known at the time. he had gone into the oil
business. and think, was then part owner Of
an OH well IN Franklin county, Pa, and il was
named after him. He boarded for Q little while
At hotel corner OF 3th and T, on the came sita
Va tAe naehinccht new puldlng now being
erected for the Washington Loan and Trust
Company. Tho Chroaicie Office was located a
rev doors south on 9Th bclowF. IL was his habit
when in the city to call at the Office to see me
almost every night generally at hours ranging
from 9tolZ. These visits became 50 regular that
not only looked for them, but enjoyed them "a
sources of great relief from my exciting duties
as publisher Of the Daily and Sstndey CkVaicie.
he was an exceedingly interesting nian-fuil Of
intelligence, and as a conversationaiist had few
equals. Ho wasa thorough master OF all the
graees and courtesios of high-bred life, which
he naturally inherited, as well as acquired in
his profession. Az we were wide apart on
politics as well as on the issues of the war, his
sympathies being with tho south, We. by q
sort OF mutual understanding, agreed never 30
make either OF our differences the subject Of
conversation. 1t was our usual habit in our
evening strolls to call in at the different places
OF amusement, never remaining long in either OF
THEM Unless the attraction was something be-
longing TO the legitimate drama. There were
many things connected with this man which at
the Time was unable to understand, but that
TO certain extent were explained after the as
sassination. For instance, he would oc-
caslonaily fall INTO strange moods Of perturn a-
tlon particularly noticeable when in the COM
pany OF four or Eve others, and especially SO
when the subject of the war was the principal
one OF conversation. 1 never knew him to
take any part whatever. aud as was his habit
ne either left the company rather abruptly
or suggested that he and take walk. Then
IL was tina. he did lin one or two instances that
remember) give vent to pretty strong lam
guage. claiming that the war might have been
avoided had the south been better understood.
however, he was too much of an actor to lose
MS sef-control, and generally rema.k cd:
'forney, let's you and / talk about something
else or course this made very clear
aftorward, and convinced me that during such
moods ne was passing through terrible mental
struggles. Not that believe he felt any re-
grets Tor the crime lie was then concocting,
but fearful that might in some way detect il.
As rule his humors were of happy, con-
viflai Character, and nothing pleased him 30
much as to be with others who shared them
with him. l merely mention these Incl
dents to show the man as | knew
him and to show the singular life he led here in
Washington during tho war. Why he never
went with the confederate army never could
understand, unless it was that he felt his I'M
pulslve, reckless character would admit of no
sort OF discipline. was thoroughly convinced
after the assassination that he contemplated
some bold act under his own direction-scme-
thing that would startle both the north and the
south as outside of the usual mode of warfare
II you remember, it was partly brought out at
the trial OF the assassins that the first plan Of
the conspirators was to quietly abduct Mr..
Lincoln and in this way bring the north to
some humiliatiaS terms OF surrender. don't
believe, however, that he had the slightest en-
couraSement from the confederate govern
ment to do what he finally did, nor that any
one outside of those who were associated with
him had the slightest idea that he intended to
do it. This was not only not brought out at
the trial OF his associates, but nothing has been
discovered In any way to show that the south
had any knowledge of his intentions. 1t was
wholly his own conception and work, and,
judging by the character of those who aided in
it, they were led by a sort Of blind impulse in
spired by the dramatic makeup Of the maa
HIMSELF