The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-10-11
HIS MOTIVE.
Why John Wilkes Booth Killed
President Lincoln.

Revenge Was the Real Cause Neither = |
Madman's Work Nor for Military Reason
But Because Capt. Besll,' Booths
Bosom Friend, Was Hanged.
RALEIGH, N. G., Oct s.-From time
to time there have been hints that
there was motive for John Wilkes
Booths assassination of President
Lincoln, and that the motive was re-
venge A strange story, now told for
the first time, shows that these sur
misses were well founded, and that
Booths horrid crime was not simply
the work of madman, but was COM
mitted because of the execution under
military law of his friend, Capt. Beall,
of the confederate army.
The story is secured from DIR. George
A. Foote, of Warrenton, N. c., we'll
known physician who was in the con-
federate service as surgeon, and who
was for long time prisoner at Ft.
| Columbus, New York harbor. Here is
the narrative just as given by DIR.
Foote, who was interviewed here:
Capt. Beall was noted confederate
| officer, and was so quick and so secret
III Ills movements ULhb uc was Il tCAiOh
to the federal commanders in and near
New York. He figured in the famous
St. Albans raids in 1s63-64, and his ex-
| ploits at that time gave his name 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 act.
i've work had drawn away from Gen.
Grants Army of the Potomac 10000
men to quell the border troubles which
Beall and his followers had caused.
Beall was tried by court-martial at
Ft. Columbus. and sentenced to be
hanged as spy, though it was con.
tended in his defense that he was no
spy, but brave and open foe. Efforts
to save his life were made by many per.
sons, among them the distinguished
Gov. Andrews, of Massachusetts,, but
all to no purpose.
John Wilkes Booth had been a col.
lege 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,
anu hcpU III WIFI
Beall and his friends in some
mysterious way while he tried
to secure his pardon or escape.
DIR. Foote occupied a cell adjoining
Beall's, 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 DIR. Foote
should endeavor to chloroform the
guard at night, and, it was alleged,
that if this succeeded the way for es-
cape was open boat or skiH being in
readiness to receive Beall and carry
him across the river.
DIR. Foote was carelessly bold in ap.
preaching Beall's 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 bar
racks, or prison, overpower the guard
of fve or six and pass Beall through.
To this plan some of the outer guard
had agreed, having been bribed with
gold.
But, in some way, news of this plan
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 Gen.
Dix had Beall executed without delay.
As soon as Booth discovered, through
DR.. Foote, who kept constant observa-
ton 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 Capt.
Beall, he went to Washington, and on
his knees implored President Lincoln
and Secretary Seward to pardon, or, at
least, respite Beall. Lincoln agreed to
respite, and Booth at once tele.
graphed the joyful news to Beall's
mother, who was in Brooklyn, N. Y,
But that very night the prison com.
mandant received telegraphic order
to hang Beall the nextimorning at 10
o'clock. This order was executed, and
Beall was hanged within thirty yards
of Surgeon Foote'S prison window, and
inside Ft. Columbus, and not at john
sons island, as has frequently been re-
ported. sssFs=ss5ssa
Booth, for what he termed the per-
fdy Of President Lincoln toward him.
self and friend Beall, at once swore to
avenge his friends death by killing
both Lincoln and Seward. He did not
intend to shoot Lincoln in the theater,
but the contemplated opportunity did
not offer itself elsewhere.
Farmers Wife Takes Opium.
LAFAYETTE, Ind, Oct. s.-Mrs. VIM,
Huston, wife of west side farmer
one of the most prominent women in
the county, committed suicide Satur
day morning, swallowing the contents
of an ounce bottle of elixir of opium
She had been in poor health for yeal
and tried to kill herself several dayi
ago. Mrs. Huston was GA and the