The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-05-02 00:00:00

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE MR. SEWARD.

Nrw YORK, April 15.—Mr. Secretary Stanton
reports: His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President
of the United States, was uwassinated at the hour of
10.30 p.m., last night, in his private box at Ford's
theatre' in the city.
The President, about eight o'clock, ansompanied
Mrs. Lincoln to the theatre. Another lady and gentle-
man were with them in the box. About 1030 p.m.
during a pause in the performanee, the assassin entered
the box; the door WIIS unguarded. He hastily ap-
proached the President from behind, and discharged •
pistol at his head.
The bullet entered the back of the President's head,
and penetrated nearly through. The assassin then leaped
from the box upon the stage, brandishing • retjelfnife
or dagger, and exclaiming, Sic "wiper tyrranis, and
escaped in the rear of the theatre.
Immediately upon the discharge of the pistol, the
President fell to the floor insensible, and vont •in
that state until 7.20 this morning, whew ed
busiest. ) ,
About the same time the murder wee 401 M•
mated at the theatre, another assassin proton him-
self at Mr. Seward's reeidenoe, gained admission
by representing that he had a prescription fermi Mr.
Seward's physician, which he was direeted te - see
administered. He hurried up to the third storey
chamber, where Mr. Seward vu lying. He bete ,dis-
covered Mr. Frederick Seward, struck hiss over the
head, indicting several wounds, and fracturing his akull
in two places, inflicting, it fa said, mortal wounds.
The assassin then rushed into the room where Mr.
Seward was in bed, attended by • young daughter and •
male nurse. The male attendant was stabbed through
the lungs and it is believed will die. The asounin then
struck M.;. Seward with a knife or dagger *wise in the
throat, and twice in the face' inflicting terrible wounds.
By this time Major Seward, eldest son of the
Secretary, and another attendant, reached the room,
and rushed to the rescue of Mr. 'Seward. They were
also wounded in the conflict, and the assassin escaped.
No artery or any important blood-vessel was severed
1 by any of the wounds inflicted upon Mr. Seward, but
he was for a long time insensible from loss of blood.
Some hope of his recovery is entertained.
The office of President now devolves upon Vise-
President Johnston.

, The murder of the President has been disoovered,
and evident* obtained !hitt these horrible crimes were
oommitted in execution of • conspiracy deliberately
planned and eel on foot by rebels under pretence
of avenging the South, and aiding the rebel cause.
The News York Times says :—An actor named J.
Wilkes Booth, together with his horse, bee dis-
appeared from his home, and he is 'apposed to
be the assassin of the Preadent. A letter found
in his trunk makes it evident that the assassin-
ation was planned previous to the 4th of Mara, and was
I not executed owing to the faintheartedness of his
sooomplice, who is supposed to have mode the attack
on Mr. Seward.

Arm, 15, 1 o'clock.—Booth has been arrested.
Vice-President Johnston rewired the oath of °Sae
RR President from Mr. Chase, at 11 o'clock. He in
- said, "The duties are mine ; I will perform them,
- in God."
condition is unchanged. Mr. Frederick