The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1865-05-04
The Assassination Statement OF
an Actor who was on the stage
snFord's Theatre at the Time.

Ill hUINI W Nv W0o W.. w q
inTord's Theatre at the Time
Tne Chicago "Journel"puolish.
., the following letter from Harry
Hawke. who was member OF
Laura KCcnc's theatrical company
who were playing "Onr American
Cousin" at Fori's Theatre, IN
I Washington, on the night Of the
horrid tragedy IL was written TO
his father living in Chicago. lie
gives some new facts in reference
10 the. assassination. ant also oithe
assassin itftF
wAsnisoroS, SuSeAY, Apr! 1G
This is the first opportunity |
have had to write TO you since the
assassination of our dear President
on Friday night, as ] have been
in custody nearly over since. II
was one Of the principal witnesses
offiat sad affair. being the only
ono on tho stage at the time OF the
fatal ehot. | was PLAYING ASA
Trenchsrd," in the " American
Cousin.n The "old lady" Of the
theatre had just gone of tho stage
and was answering her exit
speech when ! heard tue shot. !
turned, looked up at the Presi
dents box, heard the man exclaim
".Sic ssmper fsVaaais,' saw himI
iump from the box, seize
the hag on the staff, and drop to
the stagc, but got upon his feet in
a momant, brandishcd n large
knife, saying, "tbc South shall be
fiee l''turne1 his tace in tho dircc'
ton | stood, aud | recognized him
as John Wilkes Booth. llo ran
towards me, and l,seeing the knife,
thought ! was the one he was after,
ran off the stage and up II flight OF
stairs. IIo made his escape out OF
y door, directly in the rear Of the
theatre, mounted horse, and rode
off.
The above all occurred in tho
space Of q quarter OF u minute. and
a, the time did not know that the
President was shot although, itI'
had tried to stop him he would
have stabbed m". EHr I
am now undor one thousand /
dollars bail TO appear ss q witness
when tried, ii caught. All the
above | have sworn to. You may
imagine the excitement in the
theatre, which was crowded, with !
the cries Of or"hany him l""who was
he Y, etc, from every one present.
In about hitcon minutes after tho
occurrence tue President was car.
ried ~. and across the street. |
was reqnested ~ walk down to
the police headquarters and give
my evidence. They then put me
undor one thousand dollars bond,
Q, appear at.,cu o'clock next morn.
ing Ithen walked about Tor eome
time, US tie city was wild with cx'l
citement, and then | went to bed.
At half-past three | was called byl
an aid oi' the President to go to the
house where he was wing, TO give
smother stiteneht before Judge
Carter, Secretary Stanton and
other high officials assembled there
did SO, and went TO bed again,
On Saturday | gave bail 4
1t was tho saddest sight | ever
knew. The city only the night
before was illuminated, and every.
body was SO happy, Now it is all
sadness. Every body looks gloomy
and sad. l.
On that night the play was going
off 80 well. Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln
enjoyed i, much. She was laugh. !
ing at my speech whom the shot
was fired In fact, it was one /
laugh from the time the curtain |
wen, up until it iell---and to think |
oi such q sorrowful ending! Ii is
an era of my liic which shall
never forget. lucloscd is fringe
OF the ilsg tho President was hold.
ing when shot.