The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-22
why BOOTH killed lincoln
A Strange Narrative Of the Motive Of
the Assassin.
1T MAS A THIRST FOR REVENGE
The Hanging of Captain Beall, a Friend Of
the Actor, Said to Have Been the Cause
of the Shooting-A New Yer.
sion Of the Tragedy.
1T MAS A THIRST FOR REVENGE

y
the st. Louis Globe-Democrat, under
Raleigh, N, c., date: From time to
time there have been hints that there
was a motive for John Wilkes Booths
assassination of President Lincoln, and
that the motive was revenge! A strange
story, now told for the first time,
shows that these surmises were we'll
rounded, and that Booths horrid crime
was not simply the work of madman,
but was committed because of the exc
cution under military law of his friend,
Captain Beall, Of the Confederate
army.
The story is secured from DIR. George
A. Foote, of Warrenton, N. c., a well
known physician who was in the Con-
federate service as surgeon, and who
was for long time prisoner at Fort
Columbus, New York harbor. Here Is
the narrative just as given by DR..
Foote, who was interviewed here: Cap
tain Beall was a noted Confederate Of
ficer, and was so quick and so secret
in his movements that he was a terror
to the Federal commanders in and near
New York. He figured in the famous
st. Adams raids in 1S63-64 and his ex-
ploits at that time gave his name a
sort of romantic sound in the South,
while he caused CONSERVATION among
the enemy by his daring. But he was
caught at last after his bold and ac-
tive work had drawn away from Cen
eral Grants Army of the Potomac 90
900 men to quell the border troubles
which Beall and his followers had
caused.
Beall was tried by court martial in
prison at Fort Columbus, and SEN
fenced to be hanged as a spy, though it
was contended in his defense that he
was no spy, but brave and open foe.
Efforts to save his life were made by
many persons, among them the dis
tinguished Governor Andrew, of Massa-
chusetts, but all were to no purpose.
John Wilkes Booth had been q college
roommate of Beall, and they were in
every way the most devoted of friends.
Booth tried in every possible manner
to secure Beall's escape from prison.
He was in New York almost constantly
in the winter of 1864, and kept in COM
munication with Beall and his friends
in some mysterious way while he tried
to secure his pardon or escape.
Plans for BeaiIs Escape.
DR.. Foote occupied cell adjoining
Bealps and with him Booth and his
friends were in regular communication,
DIR. Foote agreeing to render any as
| sistance in his power. The plan at first
| agreed on was that DR.. Foote should
| endeavor to chloroform the guard at
night, and, it was alleged, that if this
| succeeded the way for escape was open,
a boat or Skiff being in readiness to re-
ceiVe Beall and carry him across the
river. DR.. Foote was carelessly bold
| in approaching Bealls cell too closely
and, this arousing suspicion, the guard
was doubled that very night, which
caused delay. The next plan was that
| a crowd of bold men should pass into
the barracks, or prison, overpower the
guard of five or six and pass Beall
| through. To this plan some of the out
er guard had agreed, having been bribed
with gold.
But in some way news of this rlar
| leaked out In New York city the after.
noon or evening before the night when
the daring attempt was to be made
This prevented any possibility OF es.
cape, and President Lincoln or Genera
Dix had Beall executed without delay
AS soon as Booth discovered through
DR.. Foote, who kept constant ohserva.
tion of all that went on, and who was
himself informed by one of the guards
who had also been bribed, that there
was no chance of escape for Captain
Beall, he went to Washington, and or
his knees implored President Lincolr
and Secretary Seward to pardon or a.
least respite Beall
| Mr.. Lincoln agreed to respite, anC
Booth at once telegraphed the joyfu
news to BealPs mother, who was IL
Brooklyn, N. Y. But that very nigh
the prison commandant received a tele
graphic order to hang Beall the mex
morning at 10 o'clock. This order wa!
executed, and Beall was hanged within
thirty yards of Surgeon Foote's prison
window, and inside Fort Columbus, ant
not at Johnson's Island, as has fire.
quently been reported.
Booth, for what he termed the perfid!
of President Lincoln toward himsel
and friend Beall, at once swore t.
avenge his friends death by killing
both Lincoln and Seward. He did no
intend to shoot Lincoln in the theater
but the contemplated opportunity die
not offer itself elsewhere. But for tn,
fact that Booths spur caught in tn,
curtain that fatal night he would hav,
escaped, at least for a time. The wa
had nothing to do with the assassina
tion of the president. 1t was due sim
ply and solely to revenge intensified b,
Booths love and admiration for hi
friend.
Booth Becomes Insane.
Booth went to New York the mornin,
of Bealls execution, and being so griev
ously disappointed at what occurred h
became measureably an insane man, t
use DR.. Foote's words. DR.. Foote ha
not the least idea of Booths plan t
assassinate the president. The plal
was known to only one man, and to hin
Booth revealed it only an hour befor
the assassination. The man to whor
he thus confided his purpose begge
him not to carry 1t out, and findin
that Booth was not to be turned fror
it left the city before the horrid TRACED
occurred.
Captain Beall was q graduate Of tn
University of Virginia, and was a ma
of most remarkable personal magnet
ism and high soldierly bearing, an
none was more gallant. He had man
sympathizers, who rendered him grea
assistance. He was an ardent lover G
the Southern cause, and Booth wa
absolutely devoted to him. DR.. Foot
repeats the statement that neither tn
war nor its results had anything to d
with the assassination of Presiden
Lincoln, all reports to the contrary not
withstanding. The war was over be
fore the great tragedy occurred, an
Booth knew it could not help matter:
Had Beall been pardoned, or simpl
imprisoned, Mr.. Lincoln would not hav
been killed. That is certain DR.. Foote'
connection with this matter was q
Bealps friend, and he was in no wise
party to the assassination. He is ma
of high standing, and was true so
der. Though not in the line OF promo
ton as field officer, he was yet public
ly complimented in a special order b
his general for acts of heroism inb battl'