The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-26
THE MAN VINO sHOT At BOoTH
A Vivid Description OF the Attempt 20
Assassinate the Actor.

CHICAGO. ILL.,, April 25.-The prisoner.
Mart Gray. who attempted to kill Edwin Booth.
asserts that Booth knew what the shooting WIS
for. and that Booth would not prosecute him.
The friends OF Mr. Booth Indignantly deny any
knowledge that liaison traceable to Mr. Booth
had ever existed. Gray's manner and looks do
not indicate insanity in the slightest degree.
despatch from Keokuk. Iowa, says that the
would-be assassin OF Edwin Booth is well
known there. His right name is Walter Lyon.
Gray being the name OF his stepfather. Patrick
Gray. a teamster and his parents are hard
working people. He is known for his sccen-
trcities. and has been stage struck " for years.
Katie Donovan. to whom the note was add ress-
cd. Is u pretty dressmaker to whom he paid
much attention.
Gray saws that he came to Chicago to shoot
Booth. When nsked what prompted him 10 at
tempt such thing. he replied: 'On thar am
silent" He SAYS he arrived here on Tuesday
the evening. hut did not shoot at Booth then he
cause he was not ready. Gray took deliberlte
aim when he fired the first shot and WAS as cool
rs man could be when he pointed the pistol
for the second time. He says that he thought
he had the drop on him. and couldn't see how
he missed him.
At the examination yesterday. Justice Sum
merfed fixed the bonds at SO 900. After n
brief consultation with his friends. Mr.. Booth
stepped up to the desk and expressed doubts ns
to the sufficiency of tho bond. He was afraid
Gray might procure bail and renew the attempt
onnls llle betore ne leittneclty. Judge sum mef-
field said he did not think It possible for the
young man to secure bail but to make assu-
rance doubly sure, he increased the bond to
$4,000. Gray says that Mr.. Booth never did
him AN injury. but intimates that he did an IN
Jury TO friend OF his several Years ago. Who
this friend Is he declined to say
Gray's fellow clerks in st Louis. and other
people who were more intimate with him, tell
strange stories Of his ecerntricitics. About
three years ago. they say. Gray WINS very dissi-
pated. drinking heavily. and at one time
threatened to shoot his mother and sisters
Keokuk. Being prevented from CARRYING out
his intention. he turned the weapon upon him
self. and received a scalp wound which for some
very badly stage-struck. and had strong
predictions for some actors. and
equally pronounced Antipathes for others.
He was always fierce in his denunciation OF Ed
win Booth as an artist In the store he WINS nj
times remarkably absentmindsd. and when
reproved for inattention. would frequently
strike stage attitude and utter a lament that
he was obliged TO waste his dramatic talent in a
dry goods store To his fellow clerks he was
known rs An eccentric person, whose theatrical
proclvities combined with u striking resem-
blance he bore the great tragedlan. caused them
to rive him the nickname of " Booth
Mrs Bruin. his cousin. who lives in ST. Louis
saws that Gray acted very singularly on several
occasions. At one time. after he had made a
trip to keokuk and Chicago he said. on return
ing 10 ST. Louis that few days before he had
seen his father. remark which caused Mrs.
Bruin. to remind him that his. father
had died before he was born, He then
him some me ago and he would not spcak 70
me. DIN him, will be even with him. Yes.
actors, aud knew him" 1t atterward became
known that { ray had seen Booth nj Chicago
and this led Mrs Bruin to believe firmly what
she had hitherto vaguely suspected. that Gray
was under the hallucination that he was the ille-
gitimate son OF Edwin Booth.