Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-04-21
Account Of a Distinguished Eye Wit

III ness
N On the night of Friday, April 18th, 1866
Hin company with friend, went to Ford I
II Theatre, arriving there just after the en-
@trence of President Lincoln and the pasty
accompanying him. My friend and /, after
@viewing the Presidential party from the op-
aposit6 side of the dress circle, went to the
Right side and took seats in the passage
Nabove the seats Of the dress circle and about
live feet from the door of the box. During
sthe performance the attendant of the Presl-
#dent came out and took the chair nearest the
door
N sat, and had been 80 sitting, about foul
feet to his left and rear for some time. A
#man, whose face | do not distinctly remem-
Hber, passed me, and inquired of one sitting
#near me where the President S messenger
@was and learning his identity, exhibited to
Shim an envelope, apparently official, having
Va printed heading, and superscribed in q
Mb0ld hand | could not read the address; AND
@did not try | think now it was meant fol
3Lieutenant General Grant. The man went
HaWay. Some time after | was disturbed in
Amy seat by the approach of a man who desi-
4red to pass upon the aisle in which | was
Sitting.
VI Giving him room by bending my chair for
gward, he passed me, and stepped one step
Rdown upon the level below me. Standing
8there he was almost in the line Of sight, and
Il saw him while watching the play. He
Hstood, as | remember, one level above the
amessenger, and remained there perhaps one
minute, apparently looking at the stage, and
athe orchestre below Then he drew num-
AbeF of visiting cards from his pocket, from
(which, with some attention, he drew or Sc
Elected one These things | saw distinctly.
II saw him stoop, and / think descend upon
Sthe level with the messenger, and by his
fright side He showed the card to the mes
Ssenger.
n My attention was then more closely fixed
aupon the scenes, and / donot know whether
The card was carried in by the messenger, OF
5his assent given to the entrance of the mar
who presented it. saw wminutes alter
1.-The man entering the door of the lobby lead
ling to the box, and the door closing behind
ahim. This was seen becaussI could not avoid
Hobserying it, the door side of the procenium
sbox right oblique linesof sight How long
III watched the play after this entering, / dc
Anot know. 1t was perhaps, two or three
#minutes, possibly four.
II The house was still, the large audience
&stening to the dialogue between Florence
NTrenchard" and MAY Meredith, when the
sHsharp report of pistol rang through the
sshouse. 1t was apparently fired behind the
%scenes upon the right Of the stage and be-
hind the President box While it startled
Sseyery one, yet it was evidently accepted by
Severy one as an introduction OF some new
massage, several ef which had been introdu-
deed in the early part of the play A mo-
ament after man leaped from off the box
Sldircctly down, nine feet, on the stage, and
4ran rapidly across, bareheaded and holding
Ian unsheathed dagger in his right hand, the
ablade of which flashed brightly as he came
awithin ten feet of the opposite exit.
D In the gaslight | did not see his face as he
4leaped or ran, but | am confident that he
Twas the man | saw enter. AS he leaped he
&cried distinctly and aloud the motto of the
Estate of Virginia Sic senlper tfraaAis ;"
4The hearing of this and the sight of the
dagger explained fully to me the nature OF
sthe deed he had committed In a second
Smore he had disappeared behind the side
4scene; CONSERVATION seemed for q moment
s8or two to rivet every one to the seat. The
snext moment confusion reigned supreme
III saw the features of the man distinctly
abefore he entered the box, having surveyed
Ahim contemptuously before he entered the
Tbox, having surveyed him contemptliously
4before he entered, supposing he was an i'll
4bred fellow who was pressing a selfish mat
s,,.s rnnn the President in his hours of leis-
MIR. Edwin Booth.
Il Of course, no just-minded or thoughtful
8person would let the foul act of j. Wilkes
slBooth reflect upon the eminent tragian Ed
I'll n.
sSmation of those who do not know Mr. Ed
9win Booth S opinions, and who may imagine
3that sentiments are inherited with family
04names, we viii say that he has been thor
5ough Union man; he has on different occa-
lsions, for the benefit of the Sanitary Com
Emission and in many other ways, shown his
sympathy with the Union cause We are
Uniformed that political differences had caus-
Sed a serious quarrel between Mr.. Booth and
.shis brother some time ago.
Il The Great Conspiracy.
q The National LatelltgenceT says I'VE
scan state, on the highest authority, that it
ahas been ascertained that there was regu,
liar conspiracy to assassinate every member
ssof the Cabinet, together with the President.
d Booth, it is said, sent his card up to the
sVice-P President at the hotel, but Mr. John
sason could not conveniently see him. The
anames of the severally appointed assaSsins
Care, we understand, known, and after the
9present investigation is concluded and pub
lSiished the public will be astonished at the
From motives of public in
aterest we refrain from mentioning the names
4of those that reach us
II "A member of the Cabinet remarked on
3the day after the murder of Mr.. Lincoln,
9that the Rebels had lost their best friend
5that Mr.. Lincoln, at every Cabinetmeeting,
5invariably counseled forbearance, kindness
land mercy towards these misguided men.
Il The Iatelligencer also contains the follow
5ing
F'We understand, from authority which is
4deemed unquestionable, that few days
zago, after an interview between the late
AChief Magistrate and the present one, Mr..
@Lincoln expressed himself gratiied with
Stheir concurrent views, and said he placed
implicit confidence in the Yice-President
ANDREW Johnson's Speech on the Fall
of Richmond
II Upon the reception in Washington of the
Tsnews of the fall Of Richmond, on the Sd inst.
sa Woo Dras;lanf Tobnsor, vras uoray,.dad h,