The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-05-04
CONFIRMATION OF THE CAUSE OF
LINCOLN'S DEATH.
Revenge for the Execution of His
Friend After the President Had
Promised Him Respite the Real Mo-
tive for Booths Mad Act.

Promised Him Respite the Real Mo-
tive for Booths Mad Act.
The following article, which should
be read in connection with the one
published on the first page OF the
GOLD LEAF under the heading why
Booth Killed Lincoln, throws further
light on the subject. This writer
has heard something of the kind be-
fore, but from what source we do not
now recall Possibly it was from
DR.. FOote himself, whom we knew
well for twenty wears or more, but
as to that we will not assert posi-
lively. OF one thing we are quite
certain. however, and that is that
this story of Booths real motive for
killing President Lincoln is not
altogether new to us. And it is
given plausibilitv from the fact that
Mr.. Lincoln was regarded at that
time as the best friend the South had
at the North. This being SO it is
not probable that his course in the
war was the cause of Booths rash
and unfortunate act.
But whatever the impelling motive
we all know that the assassination of
the great hearted, heroic souled,
wondrously inspired Abraham Lin
coin was terrible mistake and
the worst calamity that could have
befallen the South. We quote from
the Wilmington Messenger:
The Charleston NeWs and Courier
had an interesting editorial on the
paper by DR.. George A. Foote, of
Warrenton, North Carolina, and not
of Virginia as it supposed. He was
born in Warren county, North Caro-
lima, and was captured at Fort
Fisher a few miles below Wilmington.
Our facts were not from "corres-
pendent" as stated, but from the
Wake Forest College magazine, a
creditable and useful publication,
and representative of the foremost
Baptist college in the South, with its
nearly 250 students and an excellent
faculty. The story as given by DIR.
Foote is credited by our able con-
temporary, but it is not altogether
new to it. 1t states that it was heard
by it, and is so interesting, con-
firming and important we quote a
part. A well known citizen of Rich
mond was the informant many years
ago. Silence was "enjoined.' as
persons concerned were then living
and a young lady among them, but
as $50 much Of the story has been
published, however, we feel at liberty
to add only one or two circumstances
which were told to us as we recall
them
Booth was engaged to be married
to a daughter of New England
senator, hence the activity of Gov.
Andrews, of Massachusetts, and
others in behalf of the prisoner Beall,
and President Lincoln ''finally
promised to respite the unfortunate
prisoner, and, perhaps, issued an
order accordingly. The change in
his purpose, it was added, was
brought about by MIR. Seward, who
made such representations to his
chief as to the effect of his leniency
on the popular mind, as to induce
him to order the execution before
further efforts could be made to pre-
vent it. The effect of the killing of
his friend, under these circumstances,
as is also said by DR.. Foote. was to
drive Booth to desperation, and he
determined upon deadly measure of
revenge, which is worth noting, in
cluded Mr.. Seward with Mr.. Lincoln
as its especial Objects"
In addition this interesting state
ment:
Eve were told furtheriby our informant
that it was known to not few persons
then in high authority that private
papers found on Booths body at the
time of his death contained a full state
ment by him on the line OF DR.. Foote'S
narrative, and assigned the hanging of
his friend, under the circumstances de-
scribed, as his real motive for killing the
President and trying to compass the
death of the Presidents chief adviser in
the office. 1t is an interesting and per
haps a significant fact, when considered
ii connection with DR.. Foote's story,
that the Government suppressed'Booth's
diary and has never allowed a line of
it to come to light. Its action would be
clearly explained by the single assump-
ton of the truth of DR.. Foote's story,
and cannot be satisfactorily explained
on any other ground"
This will be read by many thous-
ands with interest. If the New York
Herald or Tribune had made the
re citation given in the Messenger and
its Charleston contemporary it would
be read all over the land and per-
haps through the English reading
world. That the main facts are true
we credit as fully as we do the best
known historical facts. The true
motive of John Wilkes Booth is re-
vealed and his condition of mind by
great disappointment. sorrow and
anger, with possible tendency to
eccentricity amounting to mental
alteration at times. explains the
desperate course he pursued that
resulted in the death of the amiable
and truly great man who was Presi-
dent-Southern born remember-and
who was possibly the best friend the
South had among all Northern lead
ers-a man infinitely superior in
breadth of mind, in benevolence of
character. in real patriotism, in high
and manly virtues to Seward, Stan
ton and any the others who hated
and sought to wrong and wound the
South.
Brave Men Fall