Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-17
THE ASSASSINATION.
STATEMENT OF AN EYEWITNESS

STATEMENT OF AN EYEWITNESS.
Mr. James P. Ferguson, who was presen. at
Ford's on the night OF the Assassination, makes
statement to the following purport:
He went to the theater with lady on Friday
nlgnt Tor the express purpose Of seeing General
Grant, who was announced to be present. Mr..
ferguson saw the Presidential party enter the
box, but OF course did not see the Lieutenant
General He, however, continued 70 watch
the box, thinking the General might intend to
| slip quietly in, in order to avoid the demon
stratlons that would attend his recognition.
When the second scene OF the third act of
the play was reached, Mr. Ferguson saw land
| recognized) John Wilkes Booth making his
way along the dress circle to the Presidents
@ box. @ Ol this box Mr.. Ferguson had an excel.
lent view, being seated in the dress circle just
opposite to it, next to the private boxes on the
| other side OF the circle. This seat he mad pur-
posely chosen to afford his companion a good
| view Of the Lieutenant General, and, tor the
reasons already stated, was narrowly watch
ing the entrance to it.
Mr.. Ferguson and Booth had met In the af-
| ternooE and conversed, and were well ac-
quainted with each other so that the former
| Immediately recognized him. Booth stopped
| two steps from the door, took Off his hat, and
| holding il in his left hand leaned against the
| wall behind him. In this attitude he remained
for half minute; then, adds Mr.. Ferguson, he
| stepped down one step, put his hand on the
door OF the little corridor leading to the box,
bent his knee against il. the door opened, and
Booth entered, and was for the time hidden
from Mr.. Fergusons sight.
Mr.. Ferguson watched for his appearance in
| the box, desiring to who in that party the
actor could be on such intimate terms with, as
TO feel warranted ia taking such liberty.
Whether Booth shut the door OF the little cor
| ridor or left it open behind him, Mr.. Ferguson
| fears to state positively: but from what he OBJ
served OF the door, and for reasons hereafter
| to be stated, believes he did shut it. The shot
was the next thing MT +. remembers. He esaw
the smoke, then perceived Booth standing up
right with both hands raised, but at that mo-
ment saw no weapon or anything else in either.
Booth then sprang to the front Of the box, laid
his left hand on the railing In front, was
checked an instant evidently, by his coat or
pants being caught in something, or held
back by somebody. Ut was by Major Rath.
burn)
A post in front obstructed the view OF Mr..
Ferguson, but Booth soon changed his position,
and again was clearly seen by Mr.. f. He now
had knife in his right hand, which he also
LAID upon the railing, as he already had his
left. and yaulted out AS mis- legs passed be-
tween the folds of the flags decorating the box,
his spur, which he wore on the right heel,
caught the drapery, and brought il down, tear
ing strip with it.. When he let 60 the rail-
ing. he still clutched the shining knife. He
crouched as he fell, falling on one knee, and
putting forth both hands to help himself to re.
cover an erect position, which he did with the
rapidity and easy agility Of an athlete.
Having recovered his equilibrium, Booth
strode across the stage to the first entrance,
passing behind the actor on the stage, Harry
Hawk. When he reached the other side of
the stage, just ere he became invisible by pass
ing into the entrance, he looked up, and Mr.
Ferguson said he heard him say, 81 have done
it," and then he lost sight OF him.
Mr. Ferguson visited the theater yesterday,
and, with Miss Harris, the lady who was IN the
box with the President, her father, Judge Olin,
OF the Criminal Court, and Judge Cartier,
examined the box.
The puZzling hole in the unused door of the
box was closely scrutinized by the light OF a
candle, and was found to possess indubitable
marks OF hauing been whitled agith knife. The
ball extracted from the head Of the President
is OF much larger diameter than the hole. The
edges OF the hole show the marks OF a knife.
blade very clearly.
When the shot had been fired, Miss Harris
rose to her feet TO call for water for Mr. Lin.
coin, and distinctly noticed a bar OF wood
placed across the door of the little corridor,
one end resting against the wall into which it
was partially let by cut, or rather an inden-
tation, scooped in the wall. The other end was
braced against the opposite side of the door
frame. This bar, as the door opens inward,
would efectually delay, il not wholly pre- vent,
all ingress into the box from the dress circle,
and would also detain the egress of any one in
the box.
REWARD FOR THE CAPTURE OF THE
ASSASSINS OF THE PRESIDENT
AND SECRETARY OF STATE.
|. Every effort that ingenuity, excited by fer
vor, can make, is being put forward by all the
proper authorities to capture or trace the as
sassins OF Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Seward. The
Common Council of the city have offered re.
ward OF twenty thousand dollars for the arrest
and conviction OF the assassins. To this sum
another OF ten thousand is added by Colonel
l.. e. Baker, agent Of the War Department,
making the whole reward thirty thousand
dollars. To this announcement are added the
following descriptions of the indi viduals &C.
cused:
Description of John Wilkes Booth, who
Assassinated the President on the Even.
ing of April ID, ls6J.
Height ) feet 5 inches; weight, 100 pounds:
compact build; hair. jet black, inclined to curl,
medium length, parted behind eyes, black,
and heavy dark eyebrows; wears large seal
head forward; looks down.
Description of the r ersop who Attempted
to Assassinate Hon. w. IL. Seward,
Secretary Of State.
Height6 feet inch; hair black, thick, full
and straight no beard, nor appearance OF
beard cheeks red on the Jaws; face moderately
full ~ or % years of age; eyes, color not
known-large eyes, not prominent; brows not
heavy, but dark; face not large, but rather
round; complexion healthy; nose straight and
we'll formed, medium size; mouth small; lips
thin; upper lip protruded when he talked; chin
pointed and prominent head medium Size
neck short and of medium length hands soft
ard small; fingers taperng shows no signs of
hard labor; broad shoulders; taper waste
straight figure; strong locking man; manner
not gentlemanIy but vulgar; oTercoat donhIe.
breasted, color mixed of pink and gray spots
small-was sack overcoat POCKETS in side
and one on the breast, with lar ,els or fans:
pants black, common stun; new heavy uoots:
voice small and thin, ir clinef 10 tenor
THE NATIONAL CALAMITY.
n Ian n rruhn al