Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-09-14

assassination Of President Lincoln, and
has reminded me Of circumstances and
impressions that came to my knowledge
at the time, and previous and subse-
quent thereto that may not be generally
known, and if correct will throw a new
light on that awful tragedy.
I was Confederate soldier and pris-
oner Of war at Camp Morton, Ind, and
escaped therefrom in October, 1864.
made my way to New York, and from
thence to Canada. I, of course, met all
Of the escaped prisoners who were there
and the agents Of the Confederate
government. Among others met
Capt. j. Y. Beall, who was afterwards
hanged as a spy. I was intimately ac-
quainted with him. He was wealthy,
cultivated, and high-toned Virginian,
and was an intimate friend Of ]. Wilkes
Booth. I ascertained this fact from
Beall himself and others. They were
before the war much together, and from
what I learned were as Damon and
Pythias."
I left Canada after Beal's capture,
and went to Halifax, thence to Havana
and Matamoras, and returned to the
Southern States from the latter point.
met, after the war. comrades who re-
mained in Canada I cannot recall their
names now: but gathered from them
these facts-if they be such-to wit:
That Booth visited President Lincoln in
behalf Of Beall to secure a respite or
Communication Of death sentence; that
President Lincoln always merciful
when possible) expressed himself in
such terms as induced Booth to believe
that there was at least hope Of pardon
for Beall; that Booth visited Beall and
assured him that he could hope or ex-
pect a Communication Of punishment;
that the sentence was executed, and
Booth planned the assassination Of
President Lincoln, Secretaries Stanton
and Seward in revenge for the execu-
tion of his friend and more than BROTH
the impression made on my mind that
the death Of Joseph Holt was planned
at the time; but that he was out Of the
city, and thus escaped.
The fact that Booth stated in the barn
where he was shot that he was influen-
ced in his act by public and private rea-
sons, would seem to corroboate these
criticisms. I have always been con-
vinced that there was a great deal in
this theory. because Booth and Presi-
dent Lincoln were friendly rather than
otherwise, and every Southern man who
had sense was bound to know that the
death Of Mr.. Lincoln at that time was
the worst blow that could be inflicted
on the defeated Southern people.
I write you this because you are like
ly to interest yourself in the matter,
and can find out whether Booth and
Beall were friends; whether Booth did
visit Beall in New York, though possi-
bly, that would be hard to do; whether
Booth did intercede with Mr.. Lincoln
for Beall's life.
was in Mexico at the time Of Mr..
Lincoln's death. and as my information
in regard to many points is somewhat
removed from the fountainhead, send
you this with the request that you
let me know whether the interests Of
truth and history would be subserved
by pursuing the matter further and re-
ducing it to a form that would be in
teresting and valuable.
I have no doubt in my mind, from
what I heard in Canada from Beall be-
fore he was captured, and other
sources, that Booth really killed Presi-
dent Lincoln on account Of Capt. Beall's
execution and the presidents failure to
commute his punishment or pardon
him.
II you think the matter worthy Of
consideration, you can address me at
Yazoo City, Miss. The interest that
you have displayed in endeavoring to
get at the truth Of history in all mat
ters concerning the civil war has caused
me to write you.
I was on the expedition with Captain
Beall when he was captured; but did
not at that time cross Lake Erie. He
left all but three men on the Canada
side, and with these was captured in
New York.
OF course, 1t is unnecessary and not
desirable to make these matters pub
lie, unless we can do some good In the
interest Of truth, as want no newspa-
per notoriety or anything Of that sort
I merely want to know what you think
about it, therefore write without re-
serve.