The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-04-30
LINcoLN's ASSASSINATION.
Drawing Pistol to Shoot Booth on the
Morning of the Tragedy.
New York Sun.

and listening to what his colleagues had Il
say. At length Mr. Lindsay asked him
what he thought Of the Law, and whether
1t had done very much to prevent the car
rying of concealed weapons in New York
city.
"WelL I've had my lesson" said Mr..
Wren, and it was one that taught me the
danger of carrying concealed weapons.
had my hand on my pistol to shoot John
Wilkes Booth once, and wish I had, for
drew on him the morning or tho very day
that he assassinated Lincoln" +
There was no further talk about conceal
ed weapons. The Assemblymen were anx.
ious to learn more of the incident that Mr..
Wren referred to. (
"Did you know Booth?" asked Mr..
Lindsay.
ultimately. had acted with him q
season in Richmond and had been on the
Southern circuit several times with him.
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 ar
my and got my discharge, made an en-
gagement with Mr.. Grover, who then had
one of the Washington theatres under
lease. There were quite number Of my
old friends In Washington, actors who
weie well known, at least to the profession.
There were Jim McCullom, Sam Chester,
John Jennings, Sam Verney and others,
and we used to meet socially every Sunday
night. Sometimes Wilkes Booth would
join us. He would frequently tell us,
when we asked him where he had been SO
long-for we would not see him around
sometimes for days, and then be would
suddenly appear-that he had been taking
horseback rides. He used to argue with
us on the merits Of the Southern cauee.
"On the afternoon that the Marine Band
serensded Lincoln when he returned from
his visit to Richmond, Sam Verney, Jen-
nings and myself went to the White House
and on our return went to the Office OF G.
d. Hess, who was manager for Mr.. Grover.
We were going to hear new play read.
We were playing aladdin at Growers
and Miss Efie Germon was leading lady.
She was In Mr.. Hess Office with the others
il remember Alright. At all events, Booth
came in and greatly interrupted us with
his violent secession talk. Think this was
on the Wednesday before the assassination.
Booth asked Mr.. Hess at that time, too,
when President Lincoln was going 60 the
theatre to see aladdin" for the Presi.
dent had been invited to be present and
had promised to do 80.
The next day number Of us, after re.
hearsal, were standing 10 front Of Growers
and afterward We went into the lobby Of
the theatre. As now remember. there
were Mr.. o. d. Hess, Mr.. Verney, Mr..
Jennings and and 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 nay much attention to his Wild
talk, for we had heard so much Of it. but
he finally spoke of Lincoln In very vulgar
and profane term. That made me very
angry.
"John," said /, "what do you want to
talk that way forp The war is over. Your
side is beaten. What Is the use OF crying
now2 II you feel SO bad, why didn't you
20 in the Southern army as did In tue
Northern? 1t don't look we'll to brag now
when you never shouldered musket for
your side" "- n .. (.
"Perhaps Two done rs much as you did
for the cause, and can do more. Do you
mean to say that I'm coward ?' +.
81 didn't say so, John, replied, "but
did say that you ought 70 have shown
your courage before you talk as you do
now" .4..... -....# -.rw.
"At this he got very angry.
"You call me a coward, do you ?" and
he drew his pistol at once. no Il
az was angry, too, and good deal more
foolish, being hot-headed young fellow Of
81, but I also remember that he had me Ut
an advantage.
"Holi on, John" cried. "throwing up
my hands, 81 am not fixed. II you fire
now you will prove yourself . coward. Let
me 60 home and get fixed and we'll have
this out-shoot on sight, II you say" Il
81 had just that mslodramatic and fool
i,h buster, and was silly enough to be In
earnest 10 what I said, for Booth, after
looking at me a moment, put up his pistol
and said:
O." You want to be prepared the next time
you see me-" 1890. esa-. ~,
"Then vert home and got my revolver,
but didn't see Booth again that evening.
The next morning, which was the day Of
the assassination, went around to Ford's
theatre to see Miss Laura Keene, and pas.
sing down the front lobby, supposing that
rehearsal was going on, saw d. Clay
Ford and also Booth, who turned toward
me, aud, ~ supposed, made movement
to carry his threat into execution. bad
on . light overcost and my revolver In the
pocket, and put my hand on 1t and pre-
pared to shoot through the pocket at
Booth, for supposed 1t was going to be
the best thing to
GIT THE FIRST SHOT.
Fortunately for me, perhaps unfortunate
ly for the country, l waited an instant, and
saw Booth extend bis hand TO me. He
came up saving: ta
.won't you shake hands, GEORGE !
wasn't myself yesterday. Let bygcnes 30
bygunes." E.,5.f asa.s
"Of, course, that WAS the end Of the
trouble. That evening, while Miss Ger
mon was singing " Sherman's March TO the
Sea- and I was standing IN the wings
ready TO 20 on. c. D. Hess came rushing
| in the wings and said to me, Lincoln ha1
been shot in his box 1t Ford's.' said =
once. and presume Mr.. He's win remem-
her 4. That John Booth did Is. !
.c.-v y.~as profnno. but perhaps that