The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-04-27
Letter from aM Eyewitness Of
the Presidents Assassination.
4. aari ais .sffH ST-s,.s44aegT ,C{.sstt -
Statement Of an Actor aoho ,cas on the Stag 4
in Forfs Theater at the Time
ADDITIONAL FACTS.


Mr.. William j. Hawke. Of this civ, who
resides at 254 State street, has received 4
letter from. his son Harry. who is a member
Of Laura Keene's theatrical company. who
we're playing Our, American Cousin" al
Fsrd's Theater, in Washington, on the nigh.
Of the horrid tragedy. lie gives some new
facts in reference to the assassination and
the assassin. We sre permitted to publish
the letter. which. is As follows:-fC Chicago
Tribune.
80 Washington, Sunday. April l6.
This Is the first opportunity have had to
write to you since the assassination CT oar
dear President on. Friday night. as have
been in custody nearly ever since. vas
one Of the principal witnesses Of that sad
affair, being the only one on the stage at the
time Of the fatal shot. I was playing IA sa
Trenchard." in the american Cousin."-
The "old lady" Of the theater had just gone
of the stage. and was answeri ing her exit
speech when I heard the shot fred. I
turned. looked up at the Presidents box,
heard the man cxclaim, Isle sempeN fyran
nis."' saw him Jump from the box. seize The
flag on the staff ard drop to tho stage; he
slipped when he gained the stage. but got
upon his feet in moment, bran dishng q
large knife, saying. the South shall be free!'
turned his face in the direction stood, and
I recognized him as John Wilkes Booth
He ran toward me. and I, seeing the knife
thought I was the one he was after. ran of
.the''staee and up fight Of stairs. He made
his escape out Of door, directly in the rear
OF the theater, mounted . horse and rode
Of. So @;F afE2> ~sHHsE' 70 &7@9 ~
d" The above sll occurred IN the space Of
quarter Of 4 minute. and at the time did
not know that the President was shot; a..
though II ] had tried to stop him he would
have stabbed me- +.#T4 81 f7 .
I am nov under one thousand dollars hail
to appear as a witness when Booth is tried
If 'cancht. 81 7r85 7eT a717aT Gas sA'
IAN the above I have swornto. Y,u NAV
imagine the excitement in the theater, which
was crowded. with cries Of s'hans him!''
''who was hc?'' etc. from every one present.
6, In about fifteen minutes after the occur.
renee the President was carried out and
across the street. I was requested to walk
dawn I" the police headquarters and give
nv evidence. They then put mo under
$1,000 bonds. TO appear at 10 o'clock next
morning. I then walked about for some
time. a. the CITY was Wild with excitement,
and then went to bed. Al half uast three
was called by an aid Of the President to
60 tn the house where he was lying. to give
another statement before Judge Carter. Sec
rotary Stanton and other high officials as
sembled there. Il did SO, and went to bed
again. On Saturday gave bail. a,s
q. 1t was the saddest thing ever knew
The city only tho night before was illum,n.
sted. and everybody was 50 happy. Now
it is all sadness. Everybody locks gloomy
and sad. si.5a4 fEsa1 rHH fsasss .@'
On that night the play Was going Oh so
well. Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln enjoyed it
much She was laughing At my speech
when the shot was fired. In fact It Was one
laugh from the time the curtain vent up un-
til it fell--and to think Of such Q aorrowful
ending! 1t is an era in my life that shall
never forget. Enclosed is a piece OF fringe
OF the flag the President was holding when
snot. So s-a sass vs1 v'...a1 sE--l.