Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-01-08


GERS Of the Michigan and they had CON
scented to take supper with him on the
evening Of this day He proposed to
drug them, or in some way detain
them from their boat; signal would
inform Beall Of his success; the MichI-
gan would be attacked and taken by
surprise; cannon shot over the island
would inform the prisoners that theiF
time had come; and the rest would be
easy.
1t was a well-laid plot, and only
failed through Coles want Of cautiRp.
Suspicious were aroused by his actions
and instead Of supping with him that
night the commander of the Michigan
sent a squad ashore and arrested him.
Bcall saw that his plot had failed, as
hour after hour passed without the
signal being given, and in his despera-
ton he urged his crew to go with him
and attack the gunboat at whatever
risk. But their spirit was not equal to
his, and they refused Near midnight
Beall caused the Parsons to be put
about and run for the Canadian shore,
where the boat was scuttled and the
crew disbanded
Like all of his kind, this man was
bold to rashness. He had been seen
by so many Americans on this expedi-
ton who perfectly remembered his
face, that 1t would seem perfect folly
for him to venture over the border
alone. But he did in the following
January, and was recognized and taken
near Suspension Bridge. He was con-
veyed to New York, where General Dix
ordered his trial before military com
mission, on charges of piracy and be-
ing a spy. He was defended by James
It. Brady, more from a desire that he
should have every reasonable chance
than from any sympathy with him or
his crimes. On this trial an extraordi-
nary paper was produced from Jeffer-
son Davis, avowing the acts for which
Beall was being tried and stating that
they had been done by authority of the
Confederate government But he was
convicted, and sentenced to be hung
There was never any doubt as to the
Justice of his conviction and sentence
The man who goes in disguise into the
enemy's country to levy war by stealth
always takes his life In his hand, and
must expect to lose it if discovered
And this kind of war is abhorrent to
all civilized nations.
President Lincoln was, as usual.
earnestly appealed to for mercy; but
Bealls offense had been too fragrant,
the consequences of success would
have been too disastrous to permit the
President now to interfere. He con-
scented, however to delay the execu-
ton for week, to allow the mother OF
the condemned man to visit him. On
the afternoon OF Feb. "a, 1865, John Y.
Beall was hung at Governors Island.
He met his fate bravely-as men en-
gagged in bad enterprises have done IN
all ages of the world.
After the assassination Of the Presi-
dent and the death of the assassin. the
story was set atioat that Booth was an
intimate friend of Beall, and that the
principal motive of the hOrrid crime
was revenge for the execution of his
friend. The story has not been GEN
orally believed; but it is impossible to
say that there is no truth in 1T. 3.
F., in American Tribune.
Anecdotes of Grant,
ApropOs of "reminiscences concernius
General Grant, the Detroit Free Press
publishes the following, which come
from his old home in Galena:
Smith nno
dents of the place, was at dinner one
day, before the war was fairly lnaugu-
rated, when a servant announced:
Some one to see you, sir"
"a gentleman, james,"
well, no, sir; he's just common
man. | gave him chair in the hall"
The common man. was the tanner
Grant, the future commander-in-chief
Of the army Of America.
a few years later two gentlemen
called on young man who was located
in Chicago boarding house. Two
pieces of pasteboard were sent to his
room; on one was written in pencil the
name U. s. Grant. The other bore the
cognomen of General Grants friend
and chum, j. Russell Jones.
The young man on whom General
Grant was calling was Eugene Smith.
the son of General Smith. of GaIena.
The common mans" name was then
the foremost in the world
At one time the ladies of certain
church in Galena gave series of tea
parties for some charitable organlza.
ton. Mrs. U. S. Grant belonged to the
church circle, but would not give the
tea party.
Il haven't a whole set of china in the
house. she said in excuse, "and l will
not ask company to eat off broken or
nicked Dishes"
There We're slaughtered in the Unit
ed States in 1900, 5,53O,911 beeyes, o.