Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-08-12
TWO WARTIME EPISODES.

WO Whk"1bNlL LTloObI<o'
The recent deaths OF Judge Daniel B.
Lucas, of Jefferson county, and Mrs. Bet
tie Taylor cambridge, of Winchester, re-
calls two thrilling adventures OF the Civil
War that are of particular interest to the
people OF this section. The first is in re-
lation to the cruel death OF John Yates
Beall. a gallant Confederate soldier from
Jefferson county.
Referring TO the death of Judge Daniel
B. Lucas, the Baltimore Sun, in speaking
OF his service in the Confederate cause,
aludes to the fact that in January, 1865,
he left Richmond TO 60 into to Canada,
where he might arrange TO appear as
counsel for his friend, John Yates Beall,
who was then soon to be tried as a Con-
federate spy, who had been arrested with
in the Federal lines. The Suns account
says he was not allowed to appear there
for that purpose, but Our impression is at
this time that he did go to New York and
conduct Beall'S defense. But this fact is
not material to the story that grew out OF
John Y. Bealrs arrest, conviction and ex-
ecution at Governors Island. John Y.
Beall and John Wilkes Booth were insep-
arabic friends and companions at the Viz
ginia University, where both were at the
outbreak of the war. The attachment
between them was no ordinary friend
ship. II was as close as the affection
which linked the lives of Jonathan and
David or Damon and Pythias. Both
were members Of the same military COM
pany and both sought to enter the military
service when hostlities began. Edwin
Booth, the brother and guardian Of John
Wilkes Booth, was strong Unionist and
he exerted powerful influence over his
young brother and prevented him from
going into the Confederate service. John
Y. Beall followed the fortunes OF his own
State. Early in the war he became noted
for his daring exploits as soldier and a
scout. His courage was invincibe and
wherever danger beckoned he followed.
He seemed to bear charmed life. He
went in and out of the Federal lines as
frequently as he desired and established
and maintained system of communica-
ton between the friends Of the Confed-
crate cause in the north and its armies
that was most harassing and injurious to
the Federal troops. HIS success embold-
ened him to the point of rashness and in
one of his numerous visits TO friends in
the Federal lines, almost at the close oi
the war, he was captured and arraigne d
for trial as Confederate spy. He was
duly convicted and sentenced TO be
hanged. Here history must stand aside
for tradition If the remainder OF the story
is to be believed II is said that when
the proceedings of the trial had been in
dorSed, its findings approved and the
day of the execution set, Beall'S aged
mother went to Washington, and implored
the President TO intercede and save the
life of her boy. With his heart full Of
sympathy and sorrow, Mr.. Lincoln
showed her the impossibility of granting
her petition. He pointed out this neces-
sary rigors of war, the long continued
struggle in which thousands of lives had
perished, contest which had been pro-
longed by the acts of her son in defiance
OF the penalties always imposed on a con-
victed spy. The interview was almost
as painful to the President as to the moth
er, but in the end he convinced her that
under the rules of war her son had for
feited his life and it must be taken as a
warning TO others similarly engaged in
military service.
Finding the President obdurate in the
high sense of his duty to his country, the
heart-broken mother then appealed for
one act of clemency that would release
her unfortunate son from the death of a
common feIon. She told the President
that her son had been courageous and
honorable soldier and implored that he
might die a soldiers death. That he
should not die by The hangman's moose,
that he might be shot-a death befitting
his deeds and courage in a cause he loved.
It is said that the President yielded to the
request and gave orders, changing the
mode OF his execution to the war depart
ment, but that, as is now well known in
many other cases, Secretary Stanton
withheld the order, and John Y. -Beall
was hung in expiation OF an offense which
he and his friends believed was OF the
highest order of patriotic service. II is
said that from the moment of the death oi
his friend by the ignominious method
which he had reason to think the Presi-
dent would change, and believing the
President had betrayed and deceived the
mother by promise he did not intend to
fulfil. John Wilkes Booth became a
changed man. He became moody and
resentful, and said he lived only for re-
venge. Whether this be true or not, il is
a singular coincidence that President Lin
coin should have met his death by the
hands of one who next to his mother
loved John Y. BeaII the best. In support
of this theory, it is alleged that the band
Of conspirators who assisted Booth was
never aware that Lincoln's murder was
contemplated. The most that they were
led to expect was his abduction in the in
terest in the fast falling fortunes of the
waning Confederacy. In opposition tc
the story, if is said that in Booths diary
kept by him after the dreadful deed, he
had entered the statement that he was
moved TO its commission without malice
but wholly to help the people ofthe Soutf
in their efforts to free themselves from
tyranny However. If NAV be. there