Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-06-25

the purpose or spreading peStsence.
Finally, number of them were captured,
and so the rest dispersed. Among the
unfortunates who fell into the hands of
the enraged Northerners was young Beaa.
He was brought before a courtmartiaI
and convicted of an attempt to wreck
passenger train near Buffalo. The SEN
tence was death by the rope.
One afternoon, while Beall was under
sentence of death. there alighted from a
carriage two men, who walked to the
room occupied by Washington Mclean. of
the Cincinnati Enquirer. who was at that
time in Washington IN the interests OF
his business.
The visitors were Senator Eugene
Haze. of New Hampshire, and John Wilkes
Booth. Booth was anxious 20 save the
life of his friend. BealI, and had inter
ested the Senator in his behalf. They
importuned Mclean to go with them to
the President-as a Democrat. as a friend
of Booth, as a man who exercised infiu-
ence over Mr.. Ltncoln-and TO vouch with
Mr.. Hale for any promises that Booth
| might make in return for this great IA
vor TO him. After a protracted interview,
| Mr. Mclean decided that the best plan
would be for him 10 first write TO the
/ President, begging for Bealfs pardon.
Should letter not have the desired ef-
feet, Mr.. Mclean promised to intercede
personally with Mr.. Lincoln. Before his
visitors left however, he advised them
to enlist the sympathies of Colonel John
! W. Forney on BealFs behalf.
Booth was not slow in following the
advice. Not being personally acquainted
with the gallant Colonel. he visited one
| of the latter's friends Colonel Lee, an
| old Washington resident Through Col
onel Lee and ThadGeus Stevens, then the
| Republican leader of Pennsylvania, Col
| orel Forney was induced to address an
earnest letter 10 his friend. the Pres-
| dent, iinploring him to exercise his Glenn
| ency for the convicted man. Several days
! passed, but neither Colonel Forney's nor
| Washington McLean's letters were an
| swered. The date fixed for the execution
/ was rapidly approaching, and Booth grew
| alarmed. Once more, In company with
| Senator Hale, he Knocked at Washing
! TONS door. The latter declared himself
ready TO fulfill his promise. 1t was an
| hour or more past midnight when Hale,
| Mclean and Booth were driven 10 the
| White House. The guard, AT McLean's
request, admitted the carriage TO the
grounds. Mr.. Lincoln was called from
/ his sleep, and there, in the dead of night,
/ he sat and listened to the prayers OF
| Booth and the Endorsements OF those who
| came with him to ask the favor Of ex-
| ecutive clemency. This interview lasted
/ until four in the morning. 1t was one OF
| tears, prayer and petition. There was
net dry eye in the room as Booth kneit
at the feet of Lincoln. clasped his knees
| with his hands and begged him TO spare
! the life of d man, a personal friend. who.
| in serving the ones he loved. had come
| to the door OF death. Booth told all. He
told how. long before, in At OF passion
| to do some bold deed, he Joined In a
/ conspiracy to kidnap the President and
| to hold him as hostage for the re.ease Of
| certain military prisoners who were
| Booths friends. and who. Il was thought.
we're to be shot He told OF the meetings
| they had held at the house of Mrs. Sur
raft and that all Of that plan had fallen
| to the ground long before. lie offered
his services at any time. and in any place
or capacity free of cost and fearless Of
| consequences The eminent gentleman
who were there joined with him IN the
/ request that the prayer OF Booth be
granted and that Bealr should be par
| doned.
at last President Lincoln. with tears
| streaming down MS face. took Booth hy
| the hands. babe him RTE and stand Lke
a man, and gave him his promise that
| BealI should be pardoned. He then
asked the party to depart that he might
gain re-. for the morrow, and said that
| the official document that they asked
should be forwarded at once to the United
States marshal, Robert Murray, n New
officers charged with the ex-
ecutson OF Beall After break
| fast next morning Lincoln informed sew
ard. Secretary Of state. what he had done
or promised 10 do. Seward said thar i
must not be; that pubic sentiment IN the
| north demanded that Beail should be
| hung. He declared that TO pardon Beall
would discourage enlistment. Isngthen the
| war ard insult the sentiment that called
| for blood. He chided Lincoln for making
such promises without asking the advice
| Of MS cabinet. or advising with himself
| Seward On state policy. As the argu-
ment grew warm. Seward declared that II
! the conduct or the war was to be trlled
/ with by appeals for humanity be should
go out Of the cabinet and use his inau-
I ezce against the President, and SHOULD
| charge him with being IN sympathy with
the South Lincoln yielded and Besll was
executed. The reaction to Lsncoin'S ner-
vous system was such that for days he
was far from we'll
| The effect on Booth was terrible He
raysd Ike q ma6rnan. and IN his frenzy
| swcre that Lincoln and Seward should
both pay fer the grief ard agony he rad
| been put 20. From the deata OF BezII
| Booth broodsd over schemes of ven
| gearee for that wbsch he considered a
| personal a1ront- HIS rage took II sew
| ard. and re engaged Harold. Afzsrsde ard
/ others 70 avezgs Beaigs death by killing
Seward. while he fBooth} wrezksd hu-
| man vengeance upon the President At
| last came the hour. Booth killed Lincoln
| His friends and the relatives d. or ayen-
| gers Of Beal- tried their best 10 xiii Sew
! ard. bit failed
4 This : the other side Of the starry -
side that commands attention -p7r
rhia Ti1asa