The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-25
JOHN WILKES BOOTH.

New Facts Concerning Abraham LincOIn's
Assassin-RecOl collections of the Man by
Intimate Personal Friends
X. CazaurOn's Description of the Murder
Explosion of the "Sic Semper Tyran-
mis-" Story.
JFrom the New York Dramatic News1
A short time since party of theatrical
gentlemen we're assembled one night at
the Albion Club in Fifteenth street.
Among them were James Peakes, the
singer; John P. Smith, the theatrical
agent; A. r. Cazauran, 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 an 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 discussion of the circumstances
which surrounded the man previous to
his crime, and of the fact that each Of
the speakers had played somewhat of a
part in the circumstances which sur
rounded the period of which they spoke.
Those present naturally spoke of the
dead actor as a "Reminiscences more than
a criminal, and the sole object of this
article is to add some curious facts to
the unwritten history of the man. There
was species of fascination in the con-
versation, and as it proceeded it became
deeply interesting.
81 remember so well meeting John
Booth" said John p. Smith, ga few
days before the assassination. He had
just been playing in the oil regions, and
L asked him at the hotel in Washington
how he had made out. Business was
fine, said Booth, but I intend to give
up the stage forever. can make more
money specializing in oil. Besides, I am
here on some business of my own which
may take some time knew nothing
of the oil regions, and asked Booth if
Inc wouldn't indicate good route, and
the hotels to go to. He drew out his
pocket book, and scribbled off two
weeks route in five minutes, and gave
it to me. l put it carefully away in my
papers for future reference, and saw no
more of Booth. I went to bed early the
night of the murder, and when I got
down to breakfast the next morning, I
sat beside some man whom was in the
habit of conversing with. He asked me
il had heard the news. what newsg'
said I. The President is dead, said
he. Dead, howe Shot 'Shst By
whom 2 why, that friend of yours who
was here the other day, what was his
name-Booth, wasn't it, When / heard
that, tell you my flesh crept. Instinct
lively felt all there was in having been
seen talking to Booth. / went on with
my breakfast, went up to my room. tore
up Che route he had given me, took
what / could lay my hands on, made a
bee-llne for the depot, and got ON the
cars for Baltimore. / remember the re-
lief / felt, though could never describe
it, when got out of Washington.
"You were right, said James Peakes.
81 was in Washington that night, and
LSuSuUeT the nOrTOT OF CQ0 WnOl0 pOpu-
lation, the sentries in every street. 1
felt scared myself, because was an in
innate friend of Booths, and used to go
over to his rooms, which were opposite
Ford's, and take a drink. I almost
feared getting suspected of completely.
Booth roomed with John Matthews, and
ut was rather strange they never took
him. Matthews was pretty frightened
they would, and that was the very room
they carried the President to, and where
lie died tire next morning. A singular
coincidence. If Lincoln could have
seen, there was portrait of his muir
derer at the foot of the very bed on
which he expired. I thought Booth
acted queerly during those days. He
aidn't seem himself, and spoke of not
acting for some time to come. I remem-
Der his saying, I shall surprise you in
few days. and when asked him how,
he wouldn't answer, but kept silent.
This happened two or three times. I
couldn't get anything out of him, and