Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-25
The Attempted Assassination Of
Edwin Booth.
THE ASSASSIN UNDOUBTEDLY A
LUNATIC.
The Remarkable Goodness of Mr.. Booth
During the Shooting.
GREAT EXCITEMENT Nv THE Az.
DIENCE
4 Gloomy Letter Written by the As.
sassin.
He is DISAPPOINTED AT THE RE.
SUIT OF THE SHOT.


CHICAGO, April ~. Further particulars of
the shooting of Edwin Booth. are given, as
follows:
The play was Richard the First. Near the
finish of the last act Booth sat in glare of
calcium light With all the other lights turned
down, and engaged in soliloquy. He sat a
little to the right of the centre of the stage
with the prison o. one side and the cottage
on the other.
The intended assassin sat nearly on a level
with him, in the first balcony, and some thir-
ty feet distant, with the pistol concealed in
his sleeve, and in his left hand copy of the
play, which he had apparently been following
with the dire purpose of firing only at the
right time.
When the first shot rang out there was a
dead silence. Booth did not stir, but rs the
second came whizzing down, and plowed its
way through piece of board in the cottage,
Mr.. Booth quietly rose and went toward the
wing.
rush was Immediately made for Gray.
and AS there seemed to be some doubt which
was the man, Booth again stepped out, point
| ed directly at him, and saw him taken into
custody.
All this time there was wild uproar in the
house, and shouts Of Throw him over :"
Hang him. Push him out the window ="
and the like. He was, however, speedily
hustled of to the station and locked ap. On
his person was found the following incoher-
cnt letter. which clearly indicates his pre-
meditatcd purpose:
CHICAGO, April %, 1879.
Dear Katie Forgive these brief, but hor-
rible lines. | left st. Louis Monday eve
ming. The firm | was with would not increase
IN | fip ,nl q,
keokuk. but being lover of fine acting
came to Chicago to see Booth. | was sadly
mistaken. 1t would take Booth one year of
constant acting to compete with Lawrence
Barrctt's Richclieu. Tonight he plays Rich
ard |. Katie if go tonight he will kill me
or ! him. In Shakespere's (sic) works | find
but one man to compete with Booth. and that
is Iago My Judgment ought to foretell me
that since call Booth Iago he could no more
play Richeleu than the devil could be an an
gel. | don't know what to do. Every line
write prance the floor as though was play
ing Hamlet. I'm sorry came here, for
think the hangman has Il rope for me. Re-
| member me to your mother and sister.
Yours truly, MARK GRAY.
Reading this note, the impression would
remain that the writer was an incohcrent lu-
matte but conycrsing with him. AS he sat
| coolly in prison and talked collectedly about
his decd, the almost irresistible conclusion
drawn from his manner is, that he is perfect
ly sane, and acted with full knowledge and
well considered purpose.
His story is that he belongs in keokuk but
has been travelling for st. Louis dry goods
house; that about three years ago Mr.. Booth
wrongcd friend of his, whether lady or
gentleman he does not state. and that be-
coming cognzant of the wrong about two and
one-half years ago, he determined to avengc
it. He has only met Booth once since, and
then was on the streets of ST. Louis and he
was not prepared. He says he fred directly
at the tragedian. and wonders greatly that he
missed. He regrets his failing even more
than he wonders at il.
He says he has sccomplices back of him,
and that Booth will yet suffer. He came here
for the express purpose of killing Booth.
Mr.. Booth says until tonight he never
heard of this man. He was not aware he had
been fired at during the first excitement, and
went behind the scene to quiet his wife, who
feared he had been injured
The opinion is generally expressed by at
taches of the theatre, and by others who saw
Gray that he is crazy. He fired two shots,
snapped his pistol again, and was cooking it
for "A fourth trial, when he was seized
Gray plead guilty to attempt to kill. The
magistrate remarked that it was lucky the
charge was not murder. Gray said, Il wish
it was" Bail was fixed at $50, 000-he went
to Jail. The penalty is from one to fourteen
years.
Gray bought the pistol Wednesday, for the
express purpose of shooting Booth.