The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-25
EDWIN BOOTH.
Details Of the Attempt on His
Life
The Wousa.be Assassin Believed
tO.be Insane.

CHICAGO, April "a Further particulars of the
shooting of Edwin Booth are as follows The play
was Richard l. Near the finish of the last act when
Mr. Booth sat in the glare of the calcium light with
all other light turned down, and engaged in solilo-
INV little to the right of the stage, with the prison
ON one side and the cottage on the Other the intend
inc assassin at nearly on level with him in the
first balcony and some 80 feet distant. The pistol
was concealed in his sleeve and in his left hand was
eopv of the play which he had evidently been follow
iny with the dire purpose Of firing only at the right
time. When the first shot rang out there was dead
silence Mr. Booth did not stir, but as second
c,me whizzlng down and plowed its way through
board in the cottage Booth quietly rose and went to-
ward the wing. A rush was Immediately made for
GRAY, and as there seemed &c be some doubt which
was the man Booth again stepped OUT pointed di-
rectly to 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; pitch him out
Of the windows" and the like were audible. He
was, however, speedily hustled eff to the station and
locked up.
On his person was found the following iDcoherent
letter which clearly indicates his premedtated pur-
pose:
CHICAGO, April %, 1879.
Dear Katie Forgive these bIief but horrible lines.
left St. Louis Monday evening. The firm 1 was
with would not increase my salary, SO maue up 10y
mind to return to Keokuk, but being aloyer of fine
aciing came to Chicago to see Booth, but was
sadly mistaken. 1t would take Booth one year Of
constant acting to compete with Lawrence Barretts
Richeleu. Tonight he plays Richard L. Katie If
90 tonight he will kill me, or him. In all ShGk-
speare Sic works find but one man to compete
foreell me that call Booth Iago he could no
more play Richeleu Than the devil could be an an
prance the floor as though was playing hamlet.
| Pm sorry came here, for think the hangman has
| a rope for me. Remember me to your mother anu
| sister. Yours truly,
Reading this note the impression would remain
that the writer incohereut lunatic, but con-
yersng with him he sat cooy in prison and talked
coectedly about his deed. the almost irresistible
conclusion drawn from his manner that he is por
fecty sane and acted with full knowledge and we'll
considered purpose. His story is that he belongs p
Keokuk, bnt has been travelling for ST. Louis dry
| goods house; that about three years ago Booth
wronged friend of his (whether lady or gentleman
he does not state) and that becoming cognizant Of
the wrong about two and half years ago lie deter
| mined to avenge it. He has only met Booth once
siuce that time, and that the streets of st,
| Louis and he was not prepared He says he fired
directly at the tragedian and wonders greatly that he
missed. He regrets his failure even, more than he
wonders at it. He says he has accomplices back Of
him and that Booth will yet suffer. He came here
for the express purpose of killing Booth.
Mr.. Booth says tonight that he never heard Of
this man before. He not aware that he had beer
fired at during the first excitement, and went be-
hind the to quiet his wife, who feared that he
had been injured. The opinion generally expressed
by attaches of the theatre and others who saw Gray
is that he is crazy He fired two shots. snapped his
| pistol again and was cecking it for fourth trla
| when he was seized.
Gray. the attempted assassin of Booth, plead
guilty of attempt kill. The magistrate remarked
that it was lucky that the charge was not murder
| Gray said 81 wish it was" Bail was fixed at $2o,'
900 and he went to Jail. The penalty is from to Il
years. Gray bought the pistol Wednesday for the
express purpose of shooting Booth.