Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-31
LlncoLN's DEATH.
JOHN WILKES BOOTH KILLED
HIM TO AVENGE BEALL.
(From Wilmington Messenger.)

(From Wilmington Messenger.)
We were much interested in short
article in the April number of Wake
Forest Student. 1t was sent by Geo.
Anderson Footc, son of the late DIR.
George A. Foote, of Warrenton, an
honored and highly reputable physician
lately deceased. He first gives an ex-
tract from Appleton's Cyclopedia of
Biography (wrongly printed "Biology'O.
of the hanging of that very gallant
and meritorious officer, Captain John
Young Beall, /; ma tive of Virginia and
born in 1885 and hanged 4th OF Fcbru-
airy, 1850, as IL SPY, which was most
infamous, most Internal. He was regu-
larry commissioned and was acting I'M
| der orders. 1t was one of the many
| disgraceful acts of the Goths and Van
| dals in their war upon the South and
| literally without any reasonable or just
cause. n sketch was found among DIR.
footes papers. who was u surgeon in
the Confederate army and was mpris-
oned in Fort Columbus, New York har-
| Dor. DR.. Foote's posthumous paper is
both interesting and informing. He
| tells OF the efforts made to save Cap
tain Bealis life,by Governor Andrew, of
Massachusetts and others, but in vain.
DR.. Foote's cell in which he was con-
| fined was adjoining Captain Bealls
Beall and John Wilkes Booth had been
room-mateS at college and were very
dear friends. Booth tried every way to
secure Beall'S release from prison, but
in vain. An effort to secure his es-
cape was made. i'll which DIR. Foote
| was to be party. In fact two plans
| came to naught.
the interesting point. really of his
torlc interest, is to follow. DIR. Foote'S
lprivate memorandum gives state
| ment that will surprise many, as it did
us. The common idea. is that President
Lincoln was murdered by John Wilkes
Booth because he was the head of the
| Northern states and was responsible
| Tor the war upon the South. In other
words. that Booth being in intense SYM
pathy with the South. and being some
| thing daft, had assassinated the Prcsi-
den on account of his course in the war
| Alter the plans failed DR.. Foote saws
Booth hurried TO Washington and on
MS knees imDlored President Lincoln
ana Secretary Seward 10 pardon or at
.east RESPITE Beall. Lincoln promised
To respite but that night ordered his
execution. DIR. Foote says:
| rms order was executed and Bean
was hanged within thirty yards of my
window, inside Fort Columbus. and no;
at Johnson's Island, as has been fire.
| quently reported.
Booth. for what he termed the per-
tidy 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 theatre. but the
contemplated opportunity did not offer
itself elsewhere
But for the fact that Booths spur
caught in the curtain that fatal night
ne would have ESCAPED, at least for
Time The war had nothing to do with
the assassination of tho President; IL
was due simply and solely to revenge
intensified by Booths love and adnira
ton for his friend
Hooth went to New York the morn
ing of Bealrs execution, and being so
grievously disappointed at what had
occurred, he became measurabiy an in
sane man. had not the least idea OF
BOOTHS plan to assassinate the Pres
ident. This plan was known only to
one man. and to him Booth revealed
It only an hour before the assassination
The man to whom he thus conlided his
purpose begged him not to carry j; out
and finding that Booth was not 10 be
turned from his revenge left the city
before the horrid ira gedy occurred"
We were very intimate with DR.
| Footc for many years. lie was our
family physician, ana most attentive
| sympathetic and skillful. we always
thought him truthful, honorable ana
| sincere. We at least believe his state
mcnt with reservation.