The Washington herald., 1915-04-24

ing cautiously forth. he came to the
house of Col ]. ]. Hughes. Here he re-
vealed his identity and, his story being
sympathetically heard. was given food TO
last them through the day and d1rec-
tions for resuming their voyage TO Mach
odoc Creek at night.
During the day the fugitives lay hid
den in the woods where they had land
ed. 1t was the eighth day since the
assassinat ton. Booth was now much re-
duced in strength The night of the
crime and the night following he had
spent in the saddle Six days and nve
nights he had lain without shelter In
the woods in agony from his broken leg
and with no comforts except cold food
and coffee brought him daily by Jones.
Booth was now wild-eyed. haggard. un-
shaven and unkempt. shadow OF the
CAV and handsome young man OF eight
days before. He was savagely resentfui
against the world for its denunciation
of his crime He had believed South
ern people would acclaim him their hber-
ator When he found that compassion
for his pitiful plight was all ne couid
command from the most ardent support
ers Of the South that he had met in MS
streets he began to see what ne had
done.
Booth Writes of His Crime.
The bitterness of Booths reflections
ON his day of hiding by the river is re-
yealed in an entry he made in the little
red diary he carried. with a Few Wom-
ems photographs. in an inner pocket
The date Of the entry is wrons-he
might easily lose track of the days In
his misery-but its text Is clear reveia-
ton of the assassin's mind. The entry
was as follows:
Friday. 21.-After being hunted
like q dog through swamps. woods.
and last night being chased by
gunboats till l was forced to return.
wet. cold and starving. with every
mans hand against me. I am here in
despair. And why? For doing what
Brutus was honored for-what made
Tell a hero: and yet !. for striking
down a greater tyrant than they
ever knew, am looked upon as a COM
mon cutthroat.
My action was purer than either
OF theirs One hoped to be great
himself: the other had not only his
country, but his own wrongs to avenge
country, but his own wrongs to aVenSe.
wrong. 1 struck for my country. and
that alone. A country ground beneath
this tyranny. and prayed for this end.
and yet behold now the cold hand they
extend mel God cannot pardon me if
l have done wrong. Yet 1 cannot see
any wrong except in serving a degener-
ate people.
The IittIe-the very little-I left
behind to clear my name. the govern
ment will not allow to be printed. So
ends ALL For my country l have given
up all that makes life sweet and holy.
brought misery upon my family. and
am sure there is no pardon for me in
heaven, since man condemns me so.
ct have only heard of what has been
done (except what | did myself). and
it fills me with horror. God. try and
forgive me and bless my mother. To-
night / will once more try the river.
with the intention to cross. although l
have a greater desire and almost
mind to return to Washington. and in
measure clear my name, which i
feel / can do.
Il do not repent the blow I struck.
I may before my God. but not to man
think l have done well. though l
am abandoned with the curse OF Cain
upon me. when. II the world knew my
heart. that one blow would have made
me great. though did desire no great
ness.
Tonight try to escape these blood
hounds once more. Who. who can read
his fate? Gods will be done. | have
too great a soul to die like a criminal
o may He. may He spare me that. and
let me die bravely! I bless the entire
world. Have never hated or wronged
any one. This last was not a wrong
unless God deems 1t so. And it's with
Him to damn or bless me. And Il this
brave boy with me. who often prays
ives, before and sincs) with true
and sincere heart, was 1t crime in him?
II SO. why can he pray the same? ]
do not wish to shed a drop of blood.
but I must fight the course 'Tis all
that's left me-"
'.The little I left behind" was a COM
munication to a newspaper. Justifying
himself, that Booth put in the hands of
a friend, who destroyed it on learning
its character.
TOmOrrow-Lfncoln funeral.