The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-26
JOHN WILKES BOOTH.

New Facts Concerning Abraham Line oIn' 8
Assassin RecOli ections of the Man by
Intimate Personal Friends Ale xa nd er
X. CazaurOn's Description of tho Murder
Explosion of the "Sic Semper Tyran-
mis-" story.
From tho New York Dramatic Newsl
A short time since party of theatrical
gentlemen were assembled one night at
tho Albion Club in Fifteenth street.
Among them were James Peakes, the
singer; John 2. Smith, the theatrical
agent; A. Il. Cdzauran, the critic; John
Thompson, the stenographer; w. p.
ferguson and Tom Within, the actors,
and several others.
The conversation was general, but
after some time fell on John Wilkes, who
was personal acquaintance of every gen.
tleman present, with the exception of
One-Mr. Within. All had been more
or less connected at various times with
the man whose name and whose act will
always occupy en- important page in
American history. 1t was rather singu-
lar that so many persons should meet
at The same table, and find that each had
been more or less an acquaintance of
John Booth. This naturally brought
about a discussion of the circumstances
which surrounded the man previous to
lis crime, and of the fact that each OF
the speakers had played somewhat of
part Iii the circumstances which sur
rounded the period Of which they spoke.
Those present naturally spoke of the
dead actor as n "Reminiscences more than
Il criminal. and the sole object of this
article is To add some curious facts to
thu unwli!ten history Of the nan. There
was ap, cies OF fascination in the con-
verset.On, and as It proceeded it became
deeply interesting.
&C remember go well meeting John
Booth, said john p Smith, "a few
days before the assassination. He had
just been playing in the oil regions, and
| asked hIn ut the hotel in Washington
ROW he had made out. Business was
fine, said Booth, but / intend to give
up the stage forever. I can make more
money speculating in OIL Besides, am
here OH same business OF my own which
may teks some time. knew nothing
OF the OH regions, aud asked Booth if
no wouldn't Indicate q good route, and
the hotels TO go TO. He drew out his
pocket-bool, and scrubbed off two
weeks route in five minutes, and gave
1t to rae. put it carefully away in my
papers for future reference, and saw no
more of Boo.h. / went TO bed early the
night of the murder, and when l got
down to breakfast the next morning, I
sat beside some man whom was in the
habit of conversing with. He asked me
If l had heard the news. What news2'
said /. 'The President is dead said
he. Dead. howe Shot. Shot By
whom 2 Why, that friend of yours who
was here the other day, what was his
nemo-Booth, wasn't it 2 When l heard
that, tell you my flesh crept. Instinct
lively felt oil there was in having been
seen talking to Booth. went on with
any breakfast, went up to my room, tore
up the route he had given me, took
what could lay my hands on, made a
Decline for the depot, and got Oh the
cars for Baltimore. [ remember the re-
lief L felt, though could never describe
It. when got out of Washington"
"You were right, said James Peakes.
80 I was in Washington that night, and
remember the horror OF the whole popu-
lation, the sentries in every street. /
felt scared myself, because i was an in
ttmate friend of Booths, and used to go
over to his rooms, which were opposite
Eord's and take drink. l almost
feared getting suspected of completely.
Booth roomed with John Matthews, and
.it was rather strange they never took
him. Matthews was pretty frightened
they would, and that WINS the very room
they carried the President to, and where
he died Tire next morning. A singular
coincidence. III Lincoln could have
seen, there was a portrait Of his MUIR
derer at the foot of the very bed on
which he expired. / thought Booth
acted queeriy during those DAYS. He
tidnt seem himself, and spoke of not
acting for sSme time to come. / remem-
Der his saying, i shall surprise Won in
few days and when asked him how.
he wouldn't answer, but kept silent
This happened two or three times.
couldn't get anything out OF him. and
began to think from the way he moped
round that he was little crazy"