The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-25

which was the man, Booth again steppe,
out, pointed directly at him, and saw bin
taken into custody. All this time there
was wild uproar in the house, and shout!
OF "Threw him over" "Hang him.
"Pltch him out Of the window" and the
like, were audible. He vas, however
speedily hustled off to the station ano
locked up. On his person was found
THE FOLLOWING INcoHERENT LETTER,
which clearly indicates his premedtated
purpose:
Chicago, 22d. 1S79.--Dear Katie: For.
give these brief but horrible lines. The
firm / was with would not increase my sal-
airy, so [ made. up my mind to return to
Kcokuk, but being q lover Of fine acting I
came TO Chicago TO see Booth. But was
sadly mistaken. It would take Booth one
Lawrence Barrett's Richelieu. Tonight he
plays Richard II. Katie, il go tonight lie
will kill me or I him. In all Shakspeare's
(sic) works I find but one man to compete
with Booth, and that is 1ago. My Judge
ment ought to foretell me that since T call
Booth Iago be could no more play Richeleu
than the devil could he an angel. I don't
know what to do. Every line l write
pranee the floor as though was playing
Hamlet. Pm sorry came here, for think
the hangman has a rope for me. Remen,-
| Der me to your mother and sister.
"Yours truly, MARK GRAY"
SANE OR INSANE.
Reading this note, the impression would
remain that the writer was an incoherent
lunatc. but conversing with him as lie sat
coolly in prison and talked colectedly about
| his deed, the almost irresistible conclusion
drawn from his manner is that be Is perfectly
sane and acted with full knowledge and q
well.considered purpose. His story is that
he belongs in Keokuk, but has been travel
| ling for a st. Louis dry-goods house; that
about three years ago Booth wronged a
friend OF his whether lady or gentleman he
does not slate); and that becoming cogni-
zant OF the wrong about two and one half
years ago he determined to ayenge it. He
had only met Booth once since that time,
and that was on the streets in st. Louis,
and was not prepared.
THE NEW rORK TINEs's ACCOUNT.
CHICAGO, April 23.-An unsuccessful at
| tempt was made tonight 10 assassinate Ed
win Booth, the eminent tragedian. The
| play was " Richand II. y" and when the last
act had been reached, and Mr.. Booth held
the stage alone. in the prison scene. the
| audience was startled by two pistol-sh0ts
| in quick succession. 1t was al first sup
posed that they might have been the re-
suit OF accident, either on the stage or on
the part 81 some one OF the spectators,
| hit in Il few minutes the startling InteI!-
gence was spread among the audience that
it was, in fact, an attempted murder, but
the gratifying fact was also apparent that
the intended tragedy had proved abortve.
/ cnon tho shots had Epnp tirpd ar
Booth excused himself to the audience, and
retired TO his drrssing-roOm, where his wife,
who was in state OF great excitement, was
in waiting. As soon rs he had quoted her
fears lie returned to the Stage resumed his
line, and finished the play.
At the time OF the shooting the stage was
quite dark, and it is probably owing to this
| fact that the assassin missed in his aim, and
the bullets. instead OF entering the person
OF the actor, penetrated the scenery and
buried themselves in the stage floor, from
whence they were extracted after the cur
tain fell. The man who fired the shots was
at once arrested. He occupied Il seat in the
second balcony. He gave his name as Mark
Gray, and said he was 4 travelling sales
man for st. Louis dry goods house. On
his person was found letter adj
dressed 10 woman in some town in
Ohio, in which he avowed his intention
and determination TO kill Mr. Booth. Upon
being taken into custody he was at once in
carcerated in the Central station. Mr.. Booth
says he knows nothing OF this man, and
cannot divine why he should be singled out
as the target for his bullets. II is stated
that OF late Mr.. Booth has received large
number OF letters threatening his life, but
he himself asserted this evening that the
report of having received such letters when
in Detroit lately was untrue.
Mr.. Booth declines to make any statement
at length tonight owing to the illness OF hl:
wife and his desire to be left in quiet will
her. The suppositon is that Gray is some
half-crazy fool, or was drunk at the time he
committed the act. Mr.. Booth says that ht
knows nothing Of the man Gray, and tina
he had no idea he was being fired at unit
informed by one Of the people behind thu
scene.
THE HERALD'S ACCOUNT.
CHICAGO, April 23.-There is intense cX
element here tonight over daring ant
desperate attempt to asSlssnate Edwin
Booth, the great tragcdian. He was play
ing upon the stage of McEicker's Theatre
in one Of his familiar parts, when man wbt
was in the gallery fired two shots ut hin
Just as the last scene was closing.
The audience, the members Of tie orchrs
ira. and the dramatic company, were thrown
into the utmost confusion.
Mr.. Booth escaped all harm, and tht
would-bc murderer was Immediately arrest
ed. He announced his name as Mark Gray
aud said that he was dry-goods clerk en-
ployed in St. Louis. He gave no reason:
for his act.
The scene in the theatre recalled 4 similar
one which occurred in Washington some
fourteen years ago, and terminated i'll the
most affecting tragedy that has ever befallcn
the people OF this country.
KILLED BY FALL.
BALTIMORE, April 3l.-Ths afternoon
w. J. QWgley, aged seventeen, employed
in the american Office, fcll over the stairs
from the third TO the ground floor, and dled
in few minutes.
| SIX MEN BURIED ALIVE N \ C0IIlERY.
WLKEsDARRE, PA, April 24.-Six men
were imprisoned by the cavc-n OF portion
OF the Lchgh aud Wiikcsbarre co!licry yes
tcrdav, and despite the immediate ctlolt>
made to release them they have hot yet been
eXtricatcd.
| HOMICIDE IN PITISTLyANIA COUNTY.
nANvILLE. VA. April 24.-Dr. ". &
Cabcll, nephew OF Hon. G.. {. Ca5ell, sho
and mortallv wounded i. W. Palmer, Il dcS
perate character, near Cal.and's, Pitisyl
Yanla county, Gu Tuesday. No arrest Ia:
yet been made.
| H!nGs-Janacs Homicide.
| BALTIMORE, April 2i.-Thc grand jury Of
the Criminal Court Oh Tuesday last took