Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-17
5000 Prisoners and 800 Guns
MATTERS IN RICHMOND
No Repentant Traitors TO
Virginia.
The Inauguration OF President
Johnston.
HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
FULL AND GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF
THE LATE A5sASsINATIOE.


NEw YORK, April 16.
The HeraLds Washington special sends
the details of the events preceding the as
sassinstion of the President, and his last
hours.
About half past seven P. N Hon. George
Ashmun called ct the White House and
was ushered into the psrlor where Schuyler
Colfax was waiting for short interview
with the President, on business which had
bearing upon his proposed overland trip.
A few moments elapsed when President
Lincoln entered the room and q short con-
versstion took place, touching upon vari-
ous matters. The President was in happy
and jovial frame of mind.
Mr.. Ashmun desiring 10 see him on
special business, and there being no time to
attend to it then, the President took out q
card, snd placing it on his knee wrote SIS
follows: HAlloW Mr. Ashmun and friend
to come to me at 9 A. N. tomorrow.
[Signed] "a. LINooLN.
"April IA, 1866"
These were the last words that he PEN
ned. It was the last time he signed his
name to any order, document, or message.
Mr.. Lincoln finally stated he must go to
the theater, and warmly pressed Speaker
Colfax and Mr.. Ashmun to accompany
him, but they excused themselves on q
score of previous engagements. At about
8 o'clock P. N Mr.. and Mira. Lincoln start
ed for the carriage, the latter taking the
arm of Mr.. Ashmun, the President and
Mr.. Colfax walking together. As soon as
the President and Mrs. Lincoln were seat
ed in the carriage, the latter gave orders
TO the coachman to drive around to SEN
ator Harris residence for Miss Harris. As
the carriage rolled away, both said "Good
bye, good byeI" to Messrs. Ashmun and
Colfax. The carriage had in moment
more disappeared from the ground in front
of the White House.
A few moments later party of four
persons, the President and Mrs. Lincoln,
Miss Harris and Mr.. Rsthbone of Albany,
step-son of Mr.. Harris, arrived at the
thestre and entered at the front left-hsnd
box. A moment before the attack was
made the President was leaning forward
resting his head on his hand in his usual
careless way, his eyes bent on the stage
and enjoying 8 hearty laugh. Miss Harris,
who was in the box with the President,
makes the following statement:
Nearly one hour before the commission
of the deed the assassin came to the door
of the box and looked into it to take q sur
vey of its occupants. Il was supposed at
the time it was either mistake or the exer-
else of impairment curiosity. The cir
cumstancs attracted no particular attention
at the time. Upon entering the box again
Msjor Rathbone asked the intruder his
business. he rushed past the Msjor with
out making an reply, and placing the
pistol close to the back of the Presidents
head, fred and instantly sprang upon the
cushion baluster ofthe box, when he made
q backward plunge with his knife, aimed
at the face or breast Of Mr.. Lincoln
Major RsthbOne, springing forward to pro
tect the President received 8 stab in hi
arm. The murderer jumped on the stag
and escaped. The rapidity with which al
was committed on the President was as
tonishing. Mrs. Lincoln asw the form o
8 person go down from the box and though
Mr.. Lincoln had fallen out and looked +
see if she could see him on the floor sn'
barely ssw the culprit jump to the stage
When all was over she turned her eyes t
the box and saw that Mr.. Lincoln's heaC
had dropped forward upon his breast AM
at once realized what had transpired.
The murder of the President was s
once announced at Growers Theaser. Lit
tie Fred. Lincoln was in attendance thsrI
The moment he heard the statement b
seemed to go almost crazy, and ShEisks