The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1899-08-02
LINcoLN's ASSASSINATION.
said 10 Have Been killed by Booth
because of the Hanging of John
Yates BeaIl.


We were much interested in a short
article in a recent number of Wake
I Forest Student. IL was sent by George
I Anderson Foote, son of the late DR..
/ George a. Foote, of Warrenton, an hon
ored and highly reputable physician,
lately deceased. He first gives an ex-
tract from ~Appleton's Cyclopoedia of
biography" wrongly printed Biol
ogy'), of the hanging of that gallant
and meritorious officer, Capt. John
/ Yates Beall, native of Virginia, and
I born in 1885, and hanged on the oath
of February, 1865, as a spy. A sketch
J was found among DR.. Foote's papers,
who was a surgeon in the confederate
army and was imprisoned in Fort Co
lumbus, New York harbor. DR.. Foote'S
posthumous paper is both interesting
and informing. He tells of the efforts
made to save the life of Capt Beall,
who was a regularly commissioned con-
federate officer, by Gov. Andrew, of
Massachusetts. and others, but in vain.
DIR. Foote's cell in which he was con-
fined was adjoining Capt. Bealrs. Beall
mates at college, and were dear friends.
Booth tried every way to secure Bealps
release from prison, but in vain. An
effort to secure his escape was made, in
which DIR. Foo:e was to be a party.
In fact, two plans came TO naught.
The interesting point really of his
toric interest is to follow. DIR. Foote'S
r1rivota ,naypora Ddv,,, Tr;vas q sf,ta,,,art
that win surprise many as it did us.
The common idea is that President Lin
coin was murdered by John Wilkes
Booth because he was the head of the
northern states and was responsible
for the war upon the south. fIn other
words, that Booth, in being in intense
sympathy with the south and being
president on account of his course in
the war. After the plans failed, DR..
Foote says Booth hurried TO Washing
ton, and on his knees implored Pres
ident Lincoln and Secretary Seward
to pardon or. at least. respite Beall.
Lincoln promised to respite, but that
night ordered his execution. DIR. Foote
says:
This order was executed, and Beall
was hanged within 30 yards of my win
dow and inside Fort Columbus, and
not at Johnson's island, as has been
frequently reported.
Booth, for what he termed the per-
fidy of President Lincoln toward him
self and friend BealI, at once swore
10 f,-sa /, In
both Lincoln and Seward. He did not
intend to shoot Lincoln in the theater,
but the contemplated opportunity did
not offer itself elsewhere
But for the fact that Booths spur
caught in the curtain that fatal night,
he would have escaped-a least for a
time. The war had nothing TO do with
the assassination of the president; it
was due simply and solely TO revenge,
intensified by Booths love and admira-
ton for his friend.
"Booth went to New York the morn
ing of Beall's execution, and being so
grievOusly disappointed at what had
occurred, he became measurably an in
sane man. ] had not the least idea of
boOth pau W dSSdSSlHdtc lHe pTesi-
dent. This plan was known only to
one man, and 70 him Booth revealed !
it only an hour before the assassina- /
ton. The man to whom he thus con-
fided his purpose begged him not TO |
carry it out, and finding that Booth |
was not to be turned from his revenge, !
left the city before the horrible tragedy |
occurred"
We were intimate with DIR. Foote for |
many years. He was our family physi- |
clan, and most attentive, sympathetic |
and sldllful. We always thought him
truthful, honorable and sincere We |
at least believe his statement without /
Observation-Disclosures (N. c. Mes
senger.