Another JWB Myth?

[historybuff22]

This Saturday night I watched a show on H2. It was "America's Book of Secrets - Monuments." It gave the background and little-known facts about some of our National Monuments - Washington Monument in DC, St Louis Arch, etc. The last segment claimed that in February 1865 John Wilkes Booth solicited Abraham Lincoln to grant a pardon for his Confederate friend John Beall who was court marshaled and sentenced to be hung. The show goes on to state that Lincoln granted the pardon but Stanton talked Lincoln in to canceling the pardon. Lastly, the show claimed that this was the motive for Booth wanting to kill Lincoln.

I'd expect this sort of "scandal" out of FOX network, but not H2. Did H2 get fully hoodwinked or is this version of motive for Booth killing Lincoln actually true. I find it hard to believe. Any thoughts or proof to offer?

Rick Brown
HistoryBuff.com
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