River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-04-22
Albany Cores pondence New York sun

Albany Cores pondence New York sun.
A number OF members of the assem-
bly, were in Assemblyman Wren's par
Tor few evenings ago, and the con-
yersation turned upon the law respect
ing the carrying of concealed weapons.
Assemblvmen Lindsay and Shanlay
and others expressed various opinions
about the law, but Mr.. Wren said moth
ing. He sat quietly smoking briar-
wood pipe and listening to all that his
colleagues had TO say. At length Mr..
Lindsay asked him what he thought OF
the law, and whether it had done very
much to prevent the carrying OF con-
cealed weapons in New York.
'tWeil, I've had lesson" said Mr..
Wren, "and it was one that taught me
the danger of carrying weapons. | had
my hand on my pistol 10 shoot John
Wilkes Booth, once, and wish ] had,
for drew on him on the morning of
the very day that he assassinated Lin
coin"
There was no further talk about con-
cealed weapons. The assemblymen
were anxious to learn more of the in
cident that Mr.. Wren referred to.
ibid you know Booth ?" asked Mr..
Lindsay.
ultimately. l had acted with him
a season in Richmond, and been on the
southern circuit several times with
him. l have slept with Booth many
and many time, and there was no one
of my friends that was better liked"
Mr.. Wren being urged to narrate the
incident, began;
when had served my time in the
army and got my discharge, | made an
agreement with Mr.. Grover, who had
one of the Washington theatres under
lease. There were quite number of
my old friends in Washington, actors
who were well known at least to the
profession. There was Jim McCullom,
Sam Chester, John Jennings, Sam Yer
ney, and others, and we used to meet
socially every Sunday night. Some
times Wilkes Booth would join US. He
used to argue with us on the merits Of
the southern cause.
"On the afternoon that the Marine
Band serenaded Lincoln when he re-
turned from his visit to Richmond, Sam
Verney, Jennings and myself went to
the White House, and ON our return
went to the office of G. ID. Hess, VINO
was manager for Mr.. Grover. We
we're going to hear new play
read. We were playing Aladdin at
Growers, and Effie Germon was lead
ing lady. She was in Mr.. Hess office
with the others, if l remember Alright.
At all events, Booth came in and great
ly interrupted us with violent secession
l. !,
day before the assassination. Booth
asked Mr.. Hess at that time, too, when
President Lincoln was going to the
theatre to see Aladdin for the presi-
dent had been invited TO be present and
had promised to doso.
The next day number of Us, after
rehearsal, were standing III front of
Growers, and after he had went into
the lobby of the theatre. AS ! now re-
member, there were Mr.. G. H. Hess,
Mr.. Verney, Mr.. Jennings. and one or
two other gentlemen. Booth came
sauntering in. My impression was that
he had been drinking. He began at
once to talk about the war. We didn't
pay much attention to ais wild talk, for
we had heard very much of it, but he
finally spoke of Lincoln by a very yul-
gar and profane term. This made me
very angry.
"'John,' said /, what do you talk
that way for?" The war is over. Your
side is beaten. WHAT is the use OF cry
ing now? If you feel so bad, why didn't
you go into the southern army, as | did
ia the northern? 1t don't look well to
brag now, when you never shouldered
a musket for your side
"'Perhaps I've done as much as you
did for the cause, and can do more. Do
you mean to say that I'm a coward.
al didn't say so, John | replied, but
/ did say that you ought to have
showed your courage before you talk as
you do now
"At this be got very angry. 'loa
call me a coward, do you" said he,
and he drew his pistol at once.
81 was angry, too, and good deal
more foolish, being a hot-headed young
fellow then of 81, but l alse remem-
bered that he had me at an advantage.
&" 'Hold on, john l cried, throwing
IN my hands, i am not fixed, and
We'll have this out,-shoot on sight, if
you say So
ST had lust that melodramatic and
foolish buster, and was silly enough to
be in earnest in what | said, for Booth,
after looking at me a minute, put up
his pistol and said, You want to be
prepared the next time you see me- ;and
/ went home and got my revolver, but
didn't see Booth again that enening.
"The next morning, which was the
day of the assassination, | went around
to Ford's theatre to see Miss Laura
Keene, and passing down the front, sup
posing a rehearsal was in progress, l saw
Ii. Clay Ford and also Booth, who
turned toward me and, as l supposed,
made movement to carry his threat
into execution. | had on light over
coat and my revolver in the pocket,
and l put my hand on it prepared to
shoot through the pocket at Booth, for
| supposed it was the best thing
TO get the first shot. Fortunately for
me, perhaps unfortunately for the coun-
try, waited an instant and saw Booth
extend his hand to me. He came up
saying, won't you shake hands,
George? wasn't myself yesterday.
Let bygones be hygones." OF course
that was the end OF the trouble.
THAT evening, while Miss Germon
was singing Sherman Has Marched to
the Sea-" and / was standing in the
wings ready to go on G. d. Hess came
rushing into the wings and said to me,
with a face like death, Lincoln has
been shot in his box at Ford's.' | said
at once, and l presume Mr.. Hess will
remember il, That - John Booth
did it, am sorry was profane, but
perhaps that will be pardoned. Jim
McCullom, Sam Hall, and went up to
Booths fathers farm, in Maryland, the
next morning, looking for him, for we
had heard him talk about some caves
that were there. We went armed to
the teeth, actor-hke there Mr.. Wren
smiled), and in a very historical man
ner. Afterward | went 10 the gunboat
and saw Booths body. 1t was the poor
fellow, fast enough. have been inclined
of late years, as have recalled his
wild and unreasonable manner all that
winter, to have charity enough fo1
Booth to believe that his mind was de-
ranged.
"From that day to this" continued
Mr.. Wren, as he refilled his pipe, II have
not carried weapons, though | used tc
wish l had shot Booth. If everybody
had the experience l have had, there