Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-07-09

nlmSell. IL IS aOSOIuJely certain
that the diary is in all respects
as it was when it came into my
hands, and Colonel Congel, who
was prominent in the pursuit and
capture cf Boo h. after having
carefully examined il in my press
ence on yesterday, declared its
condition to be now precisely the
same as when he took it from
Booths body after he had been
shot, the writing in it being the
same and all which it then con-
tanned"
The diary, copy Of which [
read in the indicator, is very
brief. Here it is:
"Liamo," April 18th, 14th.
Friday. the Ides.-Until to-day
nothing was ever thought Of
sacrificing to our country's
wrongs For six months we had
worked to capture, but our cause
being almost lost, something de-
cisive and great must be done
But it's failure was owing to
others who did not strike for
their country with a heart. [
struck bodily, and not as the pa
pers say. [ walked with a firm
step through thousand Of his
friends and was stopped, but
pushed on. A colonel was at his
side. [ shouted Sic Semper"
before I fired. In jumping I
broke my leg. I passed all his
pickets and rode sixty miles that
night. with the bone of my leg
tearing the flesh at every jump.
1 can never repent it, though we
hated to kill Our country owed
all our trouble to him, and God
simply made me the instrument
Of his punishment. The country
is not what it was. This forced
union is not what | have loved. |
care not what becomes Of me.
have 10. desire to ou:liye my
country. This night. "before the
Decd" wrote long article and
left it for one OF the editors OF
the National Iutelligencer, iu
which I fully set forth our rea
sons for our proceedings. He
or the government.
Friday, 21.-After being hunt>
ed like d dog through swamps.
woods. and last night belns
chased by gunboats till l was
forced to return wet, cold anc
starving. with every mans hane
against me, I am here in despair
and why? For doing what Bru-
tus was honored for. what made
Tell hero. and yet I, for strik'
ing down a greater tyraut thai
they ever knew, am looked upor
as common cutthroat. My &C
ton was purer than either o
theils. One hoped to be great
the other had not only his coun
try's, bit his own wrongs t.
avepge. I hoped for no gain.
knew no private wrong. [ struck
for my country, and that alone
a country that groaned beneath
this tyranny and prayed for thi
end-and yet now behold the cole
hand they extend to me. Co.
cannot pardon me if l have done
wrong; yet I cannot see No,
wrong. except in serving
degenerate people. The little. th'
very little [ left behind t.
clear my name the govern
ment will not allow to be printed
So ends all. For my country
have given up all that makes lif'
sweet and holy, brought miser.
on my family, and am sure ther
is no pardon in heaven for III
since man condemns me so.
have only heard of what ha:
been done, except what I di
myself, and it fills me horror
| God try to forgive me and bles
my mother. Tonight [ will
once more try the river, wit
the intent to cross, though
have a greater desire than eve
to return to Washington an,
clear my name, which / feel
can do. I do not repent the bloN
| [ struck. I may before my Goo
4 but not to man I think I hav
done well, though I am abondon
ed with the curse of Cain upo
lme, when if the world knew N
heart, that one blow would hav
made me great, though I did nc
desire greatness. Tonight l tr
to escape these bloodhound
, once more. Who, who ca
read his fate? Gods will b
done. I have too great a sol
Ito die like a criminal, Oh. ma