Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-11-24
wHy BooTH KILLED LINCOLN

Wilkes Booth shot and killed President
Lincoln in Fords Theatre, at Washing
ton, on April IA, 1865.
Barnes School History adds to this
statement that by this shooting OF Lin
coin, Booth "insanely imagined that ne
was Kidding his country OF tyrant,
while recent Southern historian says;
abraham Lincoln was shot in theatre
at Washington on the night of April If
by an actor, who, sympathizing with the
falling Confederacy, thought his deed
would avenge the South. "
In the editorial columns OF The
Christian Observer, Louisville, KY, Of
October II, the following statements are
made. to which, as Daughter OF the
Confederacy deeply interested III all that
pertains to the truth of history and the
honor of the South, desire to call the
attention of South Carolinians:
"No citizen Of the Southern Confederacy
had anything to do with the assassna-
ton of Mr.. Lincoln.
"John Wilkes Booth, who assassinat-
ed Mr.. Lincoln, was citizen OF the
limited States-not Of the Confederate
States. He was at no time a resident
of the Confederate States. His southern
sympathies did not lead him to come to
the South and make common cause
with the South 1t was not an ar
dent love of the South or of the southern
cause that prompted Mr.. Booths crime,
but rather spirit Of revenge for the
personal wrong that Mr. Lincoln had
done in having Capt John Young Beall,
one of Booths friends, unjustly exc
cuted.
"The editor of the Christian Obverver
was acquainted with Captain Beall. he
was a native of Virginia, a member OF a
good family, college graduate, brave
Young man of attractive personality. In
Richmond, Va, we boarded at the same
house ate at the same table and we
learned to appreciate his sterling worth
ln the fall of 1864 man was
wanted TO lead hazardous enterprise
and make diversion on Lake Erie and
he promptly responded 10 the call OF his
government. With a handful of brave
seamen he seized boat on Lake Erie.
made its crew prisoners, converted itinto a
, war vessel, captured or sank one or more
/ other boats, terrorized the commerce OF
the Great Lakes, produced panic in
; Buffalo and the cities on the lakes, and
thoroughly alarmed the northern people.
In due time he was captured. He was
l tried by court-martial and sentenced to
8 death as pirate.
"John Wilkes Booth interested him
|. self in his behalf; obtained from the
Confederate government at Richmond,
Va. the evidence that he was com
i missioned officer of the Confederate
navy; he obtained also evidence that hi:
= acts we're only those of Legitimate war
\ fare, and that he was acting under In
\ structions from the Confederate govern
! ment Booth went TO Washington
armed with these documents and secured
from President Lincoln the promise that
Captain Beall should not be put tC
: death, but should betreated as prisone
war. This promise oflMr. lincolI
gave offense to Secretary Seward, wn'
4 persuaded him, in the face of 1t, L
q sanction Bealps execution, and Captain
3 Beall was hanged at Governors Island
N n. Y, on February a, 1865.
n "John Wilkes Booth was not well
e balanced man at his best. Doubtless h
y inherited a streak of the insanity wit
n which his father, though a great actor
= A.. ofH
e as it may, he was fearfully wrought u
q by the death of his friend in such cir
n cumstances. He denounced the KILN
y in cold blood of u prisoner of war afte
Z he had surrendered as murder,
y and the doing it after the President ha
n given his word that it should not b
Il done as 'falsehood' and 'treachery, an
4 vowed vengeance against the author
g this wrong.
n "At once he organized a conspirac
n for the assassination of President Lii
& coin and Secretary Seward, and on II
8 night of April IA, only seven weeks alt
= Captain Beall was hanged, the plot wa
y executed. Booth shot Mr.. Lincoln
q Ford's Theatre, Washington, exclalll
4 ing six semper tyrannis J" and on u
y same night Paine, one of his co-col
n spirators, inflicted severe but not morti
n wounds on William II. Seward, Seer
e tsry of State.
3 "The United States was fearful
aroused by the assassination of Il
q President. At first it was suspect,
- that the crime had been instigated
. Confederates. Many prominent Gil
zens of the Confederscy were arreste
y. The most thorough and searching e
animation was made, and il was co
clusiyely proved that no representati
of the Southern Confederacy had al
hand in it. 1t was as sincerely
pretted and as severely condemn
- through the South as in the Nor'
s,. Mr.. Lincoln was killed not by citiz
:. of the Confederate States, but by CT
Aon zen of the United States-a partially
ranged man. to ayenge the wrong
will claimed had been suffered By his frie
at Mr.. Lincoln's hands. :"