The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-05-04
WHY BOOTH KILLED LINCOLN.
1t Was to Avenge the Execution of
His Friend BeaIl and Not Because
OF the Presidents Course in the
War as Is Generally Supposed.

We were much interested in a short
article in the April number of Wake
Forest Student. 1t was sent bv
George Anderson Foote, son of the
late DR., George A. Foote, of Warren
ton, an honored and highly reputable
physician lately deceased. He first
gives an extract from Appleton's
Cyclopedia of Biography, (wrongly
printed ''Biology,') of the hanging of
that very gallant and meritorious
officer, Captain John Young Beall,
native of Virginia and born in 1885
and hanged 4th February. 1865, as a
spy, which was most Infamous, most
internal. He was regularly COM
missioned and was acting under
orders. 1t was one of the many dis
graceful acts of the Goths and Van
dals in their war upon the South and
literally without any reasonable or
just cause. A sketch was found
among DR.. Foote's papers, who was a
surgeon In the Confederate army and
was imprisoned in Fort Columbus,
New York harbor. DR.. Foote'S
posthumeus paper is both interesting
and informing. He tells of the
efforts made to save Captain Beall's
life, by Governor Andrew, of Massa-
chusetts and others, but in vain. DR..
Foote'S cell in which he was confined
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 Bealls release from prison,
but in vain. An effort to secure his
escape was made, in which DR.. Foote
was to be party. In fact two plans
came to naught.
The interesting point, really of
historic interest, is to follow DR..
Foote'S private memorandum gives a
statement 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 for the war upon the
South. In other words that Booth
being in intense sympathy with the
South, and being something daft, had
assassinated the President on account
of his course in the war. After the
plans failed DR.. Foote says Booth
hurried to Washington and on his
knees implored President Lincoln
and Secretary Seward to pardon or
at least respite Beall. Lincoln prom
ised to respite, but that night
ordered his execution. DR.. Foote
says:
This order was executed and
Beall was hanged within thirty yards
of my window inside Fort Columbus,
and not at Johnson's Island as has
been frequently reported.
Booth, for what he termed to per-
fidy of President Lincoln toward him
self and friend Beall, at once swore
to avenge his friends death by kill
ing both Lincoln and Seward. He
did not intend to shoot Lincoln ir
the theatre, but the contemplated
opportunity did not offer itself else
where.
,.But for the fact that Booths spul
caught in the curtain that fata
night he would have escaped, al
least for a time. The war had moth
ing to do with the assassination O
the President; it was due simply anC
solely to revenge, intensified by
Booths love and admiration for hi:
friend.
Booth went to New York th'
morning of Bealrs execution, ant
being so grievously disappointed a
what had occurred, he became
measurably an insane man. l hat
not the least idea of Booths plan t
assassinate the President. This plal
was known only to one man, and t.
him Booth revealed it only an hou
before the assassination. The mai
to whom he thus confided his pur
pose. begged him not to carry it out
and finding that Booth was not to b
turned from his revenge, left the cit.
before the horrid tragedy occurred.
, We were very intimate with DR.
r Foote for many years. He wa
! our family physician, and most al
l tentive, sympathetic and skillful
g We always thought him truthful
5 honorable and sincere. We at leas
: believe his statement without reservs
e n.-Wilmington Messenger.