Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-06-16
BOOTHS HISTORIC CRIME.
The Other side Of the Story Of Lin
coins Assassination.

ihcre are two sides to every story.
a few days ago there was read for
your benent clipping from North
Carolina newspaper In reference to
the assassination Of President Lincoln.
which Included sketch found among
the papers Tor the late Or. George A.
Epote Of warrcutown. n. c.. who was a
surgeon In the Confederate army, in
which II was stated. and reasons given
for the statement, that John wilkes
Booth had killed the President because
the latter had failed to respite. after
promising to do 80. John Y. Bcail. a
young Vlrginlan Of high social stand
Ing. who had been sentenced to death
by n military commission FOR being a
spy and guerrilla, and who was exc
cuted ON Governors Island IN New
York harbor. In Or. Foote'S p1sthumous
memorandum II iH claimed that Booths
motive In numbering Lincoln was be-
cause the latter was the head OF the
northern states and was responsible
for the war upon the South" The mar.
rator, arguing from historical facts,
contondcd that DIR. Fuutc was entirely
In error Now comes TO the front John
Barkley. chief clerk of tho Philadcl-
phlA, Wilmington and Baltimore rail-
road. at clayton. Del. and he produces
"a published record Of a conversation
held by New York newspaper correa-
pendent with the late Colonel John W.
Forncy. the unc-tlmo editor OF the
Philadelphia Press. and who was also.
AZ the time OF tho events referred 10,
the editor and publisher ~ tho wash
ington Chronicle. Fnirnoas, and n deelrc
Ia adhere 20 the facts Of history de-
mnnd that this story should be given
you, and certainly the narrative could
have no better source OF It's authorship
than Colonel F0rney The tale IL both
interesting and Historically important.
This IL Colonel Forncy's version OF
the afinir;
Among the chosen friends Of John
wilkes Booths boyhood was - daRhing,
chivnlrouH young man OF the name OF
John Y. Bcall whose home was In the
beautiful shenandoah Valley. not FAR
from winchester. When the war broke
out Hcall, who was fratcrnal Hecca-
aionlat went tO Canada, and from there
Joined party of Southcrncrs engaged
In carrying ON a regular Kind OF war
fare. on the Northern Lakes, against
the Union Their chief object was to
release Confederate prisoners Of war
quartered on JohnHon'H Island. near
Sandusky, ohio. but they also set fire
10 ships and public buildings, and
even took measures 20 send Infected
clothing into the North for the purpose
OF spreading "a pcHtiloncc. Finally
number Of them were captured, ana 20
the rest dispersed. Among the un-
fortunatcs who fell into the hands ~
tho eurngrd Northcrncru was young
Bonll. Iio was brought before court
martial and convicted Of an attempt
20 wreck "a passenger train near Buff
ftlo. The sentence was death by tho
rope.
zone afternoon. while Reail was un-
der sentence Of death, there nlightvd
from n carriage two mon. who walked
into the room occupied by Washington
Mclean Of the Cincinnati Enquirer,
who was at that time IN Washington
In tho Interest uf hla business. The
visitors were Senator Eugene Hale OF
New Hampshire and John wilkes
Booth. Booth was anxious 10 save
the life of his friend Boall. and had
Interested the senator In his behalf.
They importuned Mclean To 30 with
them 10 the Prcsldcnt-ns n Democrat.
az a friend OF Booth. ns "a man who
exercised influence over Mr.. Lincoln
and To vouCh with Mr.. Hale FOR any
promises that Booth might make In
return for this great favor 20 him.
After protructed Interview Mr.. Me-
Lean decided that the best plan would
be Tor him 10 first write TO the prcai-
dent begging FOR ilcal'a pardon.
NHNANNNA "a AfNN'I AANA NNNf INC NNNINNl
effect. Mr.. Mclean promised to inter-
cedc personally with Mr Lincoln.
iicfore hlH visitors left. however. he
advised them TO enlist the sympnthles
Of Colonel John W. Forney on Bealrs
Booth wuH not slow In following the
advice. Not being personally acquuiut.
cd with the gallant colonel. he visited
one Of the lattrr's friends Colonel Lee,
an old Washington resident Through
Colonel Lee and Thaddels stevens,
then the Republican leader Of pennayl.
Vnnla. Colonel Forney was Induced 10
address an earnest letter 20 his friend.
the president implodug him 10 exercise
hlF Clrinency Tor the convicted man
Several DAYS passed, but neither
Colonel Forneys nor Washington Nc
Leans letters wCrc answered. The date
liked for the execution was rapidly an
preaching, and Booth grew alarmed.
once morg. IN company with senator
Hale. he knocked az Washington Me-
Leans door The luiter declared him.
self ready 90 fulhll HE promise. n was
an hour or more past midnight when
Halo, Mclean and Booth Were driven
10 the White House. The guard, az
McLean'a request, admitted the car
rlagc 10 the grounds. Mr.. Lincoln was
called from his sleep, and there. IA tho
dead " night, he sat and listened 10 the
prayers ~ Booth and the Inducements
~ those who came with him TO AJAX tho
favor Of executive Clemcncy The in
torvlew lasted until four In the morn
ing. II was one Of tears. prayer and
petition. There WIS not a dry eye In
the nom as Booth knclt at tho feet on
Lincoln, clasped hla knees with hls
hands and begged him 10 spare tho life
Of man, personal friend, who. In
serving the ONES he loved, had come 10
the door Of death. Booth told all. Te
told how, long before. In a NJ III pns.
sion TO do some bold deed. ne iolnei m
a c0nsplrucy 30 kldnap the President
and 10 hold him ne q hostage FOR the re-
lease OF certain military prisoners who
were Booths friends. and who. n ,yaa
thought were 20 be shot lie told of
the meetings they had held nj tho house
OF Mrs Surrnu, and that an of that
plan had fallen TO the ground long be-