Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-18
THE ASSASSINATION.
TIE NURDEROUS ASSAULT UPON Mr.
NEW

! George F. Robinson, the nurse In attendance
| upon Secretary Seward on the night of the lith
| instant, and through whose brave and deter
| mined endeayoTs The coEsummauon OF tbe
murderous designsof the fiend were frustrated.
! HIS statement OF the attempt to murder thes
Secretary cannot fail to be read with interest.
| Mr.. Robinson is soldier, belonging to Com
| Pany + of the Sth Maine volunteers. On the
| llth OF August last, he came 10 Douglas Hos
| pltal badly wounded After he had partially
| recovered, he obtained furloUgh 10 return
| home, and subsequently another turlough,
| having been almost continually since the lith
| OF August unfit for military service. He re-
| turned 70 the hospital after his second tur-
Tough, oG the fth of last February. On the
| l2th of April, he was detailed 10 act as nurse
| for Secretary Seward, and the arrangement
| was that he was TO remain with hlm from five
| O'clock N the evening until after breakfast the
! next morning. He had entirely Tcco overed from
| the effects OF his wound, also from spell q
| sickness afterwards, bat had notlulte regained
| his strength
| Mr.. Robinson states that on the morning of
! the 18th inst, while sea,ed at hTeaktaS: in the
| breakfast-rOOn Of the Secretary'S residence,
! which room front. on the street, person bear
! ing most remarkable resemblance TO, if he
| was not the same man who subsequently COM
! ElItted the horrible attempted assassination OF
| the Secretary, stopped a. the window, and in
quiTed as 10 the condition OF The SecTetarys
| health. Mr.. Robinson supposed him TO be
| some friend OF the family, and opened the VIM
| dow and answered his question. The next
morning, on the lith, CT the night OF which
! the assassination was attempted, the same per-
! son again appeared and asked similar cues
| ton. No suspicion was excited IN the Tnlnd OF
MT. Robinson, however, and tor the reason,
| as above stated, that he considered him per-
| sQnaI friend OF the family
To The best of the recollection OF Mr.. Robin
| son, the man entered the room III which MT.
Sew ara lay about ten O'Clock in the evening.
His recollection Of the time is very distinct, as
only short time previous he had examined
! the thermometer 10 see that the proper tempera.
tuTe OF The room was preserved and at the
same moment observed the time by g. watch.
4 HNtS SfaTA Il u Ion
beds lead, in & reclining posture, and was
quietly sleeping. The lights were turped
dimly down, and the arrangements had been
perfected for the night. MISS Fanny Seward
was also in the room e. the time. Presently,
he heard mans footsteps ascending the stairs
with heavy and noisy tread, and Miss Seward
and he were both surprised 1t this. Then
there was pause. IT appears the man was
met at the landing by Mr.. Frederick Seward,
with whom he had some conYersation-prOoa
bly, referring TO his alleged mission from the
attending physicIan-for, short time alter
wards, Mr.. Seward entered, and noticing that
| his father slept, said: Father ls asleep now:
! guess We VIII not disturb him. Miss Sew
ard followed her brother TO the door, looked
out, and returned and she did this the second
time, then returned and sat down on the bed.
side. As soon as she was seated the second
time, slight noise was heard on the staircase,
as though man had struck another with
walking cane. Mr.. Robinson opened the door
slightly to see what was the cause OF the-dis-
tuT Toance.
The moment Mr.. Robinson opened the door,
he saw g man VINO appeared TO be covered WIth
blood, whom he supposed 70 be MAJOR Seward,
and Immediately IL front OF him the assassin.
The william was about six feet In height, OF
medium sized round face, OF extremely light
complexion, with light sandy hair, and whis-
kers and moustache, 10th light IN color and
IN growth, and YVES broad-sh0uldered. He
wore SlouChed bat, which he left behind,
light-colOred oyercoat, buttoned closely TO the
throat with what seemed 70 be pearl buttons.
His hands were soft and delicate-looking, bat
ne displayed wonderful muscular power. AS
MI. RObllSOn CDeneC the door. The asSaSgtn
struck at his breast. In his hand be had G
| long kpite, the blade of which appeared to be
ahCut tWe!y { inches in length and one inch IN
width Robinson determined 10 oppose his
progress and raised his arm to parry the blow,
| intiic Led in the center OF Mr.. Robnson's tore.
head close TO the hair, which he wears turned
back The knife glanced, and the clsIChed
hand in which The man held the dagger came
down upon NT. RObinson's face, aad feIIed
birl 10 the floor.
Miss Seward, at this juurture. es .aDed from
| the room, and ran to The front window, scream
ing murder
The assassin lsaped on 10 the bed where Mr
Seward lay, still apparently in helpless con-
cition, and gave a Tremendous blow 2. hi.
face. He missed his mark, however. and, IL
MS effort. almost fell across MF. Stewards
| body.
BY this time Robinson had recovered, jumped
on to the bed, and caught mold OF ne dssassin's
arms. While he was thus attempting to hold
the assassin, the latter struck Mr.. seward on
The lef. side OF the face, and then on the righ.
side.
The assassin then raised up, and he and Rob
iDson came 70 the floor together. They bolt
got on tc their feet, Robinson still keeping E
hrm hold upon m The assassir! reached his
lett arm over Ro5inscn's shoulder, ana en-
deayored 70 force him TO the 1loor. FINDING ne
could not handle Robinson III thai position, he
drooped his pistol, which had been forced
against Mr.. Robinson 8 face in the hand which
was around his meek, caught hold 0! Robin
sons right arm with his lett hand, and struck
behind Robinson With the knife.
Sill continued 70 struggle fer z
moments, Robinson forcing him toward me
door, which was openeo with ,he intention OF
throwing him over the batusters. When they
had nearly reached the door, Ma ;0r i 4gus:us
II SswaId entered the room, Robinson calling
upon him 10 take the knife GU. ot thu assassia's
hand MAJOR Seward immediately cIu.chs6
the assassin. The latter Stru * Robinson iE
the stomach. E0cking MIN down, broke a1ay
from MAJOR Seward, and rushed down the
stairs.
During the ecElne between Robinson and.he
assassin, when, Mr.. Robinson canno: s9y. he
the latter received wound quite seTiOUs.
SONS two in ches il breadth, OF The upper pari
o! the right shoulder blade, another & lIttie
lower down or the SAN. side and also q siigR.
one on the ief. shoulder. WnIIs struggling
with the man near the bedside, he had seized
the wrist OF his right hand, IN which was the
dagger, and die no: release his hold until
knocked down by the assassin, near ths door,
and after Major Seward had Lone . his as
sistapCe.
He returned 70 .he room after he found tha.
the assassin had escaped, ana f3nnd tha. the
secretary had got OF the ped on 70 the Goor,
dragging with him the bed clothes, and was
lying IL Z pool Of blood Upon going 10 the
Secretary he found no pulse IN has Wrisl, and
stated 20 Miss Seward, who had re. en- tered the
room and asked if her father was dead, tha,
he '. Delieye he Tas;'' bat upon d second e3-
animation, Robinson ascertained tnac his heart
was still beating
The Secre airy then said, " an uos dead.
Send for the police and a surgeon, and close
the house" He then placed The Seer ctary rpon
the ted, telling him that he 8 must no, talk"
Mr seward did not speas after thai.
Mir. Hensell subseC Cuent!y told Fir. Robinson
the., having been alarmed by the noise, he had
started for the Secre tary's room, and was met
on the stairway by the assassin. AMI was
wounded and thrust Ie one side.
Nj. Robinson remained VIE Mr. Seward
until next morning a. eleven clocs, when he
was removed 10 Douglas Hospital. Every a.
tention is being paid to this brave !n2n by The
surgeons OF this iHstitu--on, aaG his cct.t.on
is very IA vorable.-. .roHi3}e.