Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-01
JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
INSIDE HISTORY or THE PLOT TO
MURDER PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
PAYNE Relates tho Story 60 DIR. Keeling,
His Spiritual Adviser-Mrs. surrafs
Had No Connection with It
N.x orlsnna TImns.pamocrs.

his nome. IL ubNluk occh noe"i NHiH~N -
Captain James McCucheon Baker, OF the
steamship Hutchinson, with whom Mr..
Stafford made the voyage to and from Ha-
yana. that the latter gentleman was pos
ses,ed of interesting facts regarding the
assassination OF President Lincoln. which
had never been gwen to the public,
Times Democrat reporter yesterday sought
and obtained from MIR. Stafford an inter-
view.
the story az related to him by Rev. DR..
Keeling. who at the time OF the assassina;
ton and during the incarceration and trial
OF the persons charged with the crime, was
the rector of Trinity church, Washington.
and also the spiritual advisor OF Payne, the
person charged with the attack on Secre-
tary Seward.
About the year 1867 the Rev. George ID:
Cumrnins. then rector Of Trinity church 81
Chicago, was elected Assistant Bishop or
Kentucky. A call was extended TO Dr.
Keeling to visit Chicago, and II agreeable
to accept the position made vacant by the
necessary removal of DIR. Cummins.. Dr.
KEELING az once visited Chicago, and MIR:
Stafford being at that time member OF
the vestry and treasurer of Trinity church,
invited DIR. Keeling to remain as his guest
while In the city, or until such time as ne
could select O suitable residence location.
The Doctor accepted and remained at
the home of Mr.. Stafford for a. few, weeks.
The day following his arrival ana whlIe
ENGAGED in conversation with Mr.. Stafford
| in his library. he observed two large pno;;
tographic pictures hanging on the wall
and inquired who they represented. de
was informed that the one on the lett was
a portrait of Edwin Booth, presented to
| him (Mr. Stafford) by MIR. Booth few
months previous.
"Dr. Keeling at once arose." said Mr..
Stafford, land. after critically examining
| the picture and observing that MIR. Booth
had written his name and the date, &c, of
| presentation at the bottom of the picture,
remarked that you must have been very
we'll acquainted with the gentleman to
| have obtained such complimentary git.
| I replied that was. He then inquired II
| / had known any of the other members OF
the Booth family. replied; Yes. that l
also had the pleasure OF knowing ms
father and some other members OK the
| family
"Then followed:
"'DID YOU KNOW JOHN WILKES BOOTH
and President Lincoln? What effect did
| the killing Of Mr.. Lincoln have on you,
knowing both of the men as you did, l
| replied: From what / knew OF DIR. LIN
| coin, l had long learned to love him as q
| man, and, IN his capacity as President OF
the United States, had the most profound
| respect for his wisdom and statesmanllke
conduct, and could not conceive the mo-
tive that prompted my young friend
BOOTH to perpetrate the terrible crime
that has shaken the country TO Its
centre Mr.. Lincoln was man
who was brimful of the milk OF hu-
man kindness-had no prejudices against
1 ~ nd
spared would have brought the coun,,
try out of chaos and cemented the bond OF
| good fellowship between the people OF the
North and the South by a tie so strong
that nothing again could ever sever; that
being President-the war at an end he
knew mo North, no South, no East, no
| West" nothing short of the entire country
to which his life was devoted anu wnlcn
he desired once more to see prosperous
and happy, and had he lived 1T would have
been the aim of his existence during his
presidential career
"As for Mr.. Booth, could not conceive
the motive that prompted him to commit
the deed. As o man he was noble, gen;
erous-hearted fellow, full of honor and
good purposes. and possessed OF genius IN
his profession as an actor that IL rarely
given to persons in that profession. In
form and features he was perfect Adonls,
and as q reader had few equals on the
stage. As his friend was so shocked by
his crime that rarely afterwards spoke his
| name, and, with the exception of men
tioninc the true inwardness of the matter
as given by me by Rev. DR.. Keeling. am
not aware of mentioning the matter TO
over half dozen persons since the death
OF the President, certainly not to any one
| connected with the public press.
Had Booth lived he would have. doubt
less. outranked any man in the profession
as a tragedian. He had PLAYED several en-;
| gagements at Chicago, during which | had
an opportunity TO study him. and when
not acting had chance to learn his quail
ties as man. With the exception OF the
faults of all young men, which he would
have outgrown in time, he was N al
respects good citizen and splendid &C
tor. and one who would have adorned both
} profession and humanity. Hence, l was
not prepared TO hear that he could XIII Mi.
Lincoln or any other man.
DIR. Keeling having noticed that | was
} profoundly interested in both men, and
. having thorough knowledge of both men,
then asked me if would like to know the
TRUE INwARDNEss OF THE CONSPIRACY.
lIof course replied that l would and the
Doctor then said to me: 'pll give you in
formation on the subject that has never
been given to anybody since the assasslna-
: ton. In my spiritual capacity as rector
of Trinity church at Washington l was so
! licited to give spiritual advice and conso-
, lation 10 the man who made the murder
Gus attack upon Mr. w. ii. Seward, Score
tary of State. That mans name wa:
/ Payne.n DIR. Keeling went on and tolc
! me that during the time in which he wa:
, giving consolation to Payne. which occu
pied several weeks. he had frequently
asked the condemned man what reasons
| L l. ID ha aft
, the cause of the attack upon the President
/ and upon Dir. Seward. Payne evaded an
swering the question, although frequently
3 put. and it was not until the day OF his ex
3 ecution that he told the story.
ION the day of his execution contln
= ued Dr. Keeling, Payne said to me. Dr
, | Keeling, am very grateful TO you for al
, the kindness that you have extended U
. me during this, my earthly trial. know
| of no way by which can compensate you
have nothing to give you, and the onll
thing can do is to crafty you with tn
| information you have so frequently sollc
tied concerning the killing of Mr.. Lincoln.
i He then went on and told me the who'll
D story. He said that for months past b
8 and the others involved in the matter, TO
9 gether with Mr.. John Wilkes Booth, ha'
D held meetings at the house of Mrs. Surratt
in Washington, for the purpose of adopting
| some plan Oh OpclutiOA bhoe hAoNS paw
successful in the
ABDUCTION OF MR.. LINCOLN.
That for weeks, knowing Mr.. Lincoln
habits, they had followed him in ever.
! direction, trying to get an opportunity o
abducting and carrying him over into tn
: Confederacy. and then treating with tn
, North for the cessation Of hostilities and
dissolution of the Union. Mr.. Llncoh
was closely watched and followed, bu
whenever an opportunity presented itsel
to make the effort either soldiers or friend
surrounded him. and they could not by an.
= means get hold of his body.
9 PAYNE went on to say that Booth knew
4 Lincoln very well, and Lincoln also knew
Booth very we'll. and liked him as an acto
9 and a man, but yet the opportunity neve
offered itself by which the conspirato
. could effect his purpose. After seyera
months of diligent watching Booth be
came desperate and dashed INTO the room
where the other conspirators were seated
He was moro than half.drunk. Throwin
up his right arm he dramatically exclaim
ed: Boys, it's all up; we can't catch tn