Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-04-22
Albany Correspondence New York Sun


A number of members Of the assem-
bly, were in Assemblyman Wren's par
lor few evenings ago, and the con-
versation 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 a 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 WHISTLER it had done very
much to prevent the carrying of con-
cealed weapons in New York.
swell, I've had lesson" said Mr..
Wren, "and it was one that taught me
the danger of carrying weapons. l had
my hand on my pistol to shoot John
Wilkes Booth, once, and wish had,
for l 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.
did you know Booth ?" asked Mr..
Lindsay.
ultimately. l had acted with him
season in Richmond, and 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
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 we'll 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. d. Hess, vino
was manager for Air. Grover. We
were going to hear a 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 | remember Alright.
At all events, Booth came in and great
ly interrupted us with violent secession
talk. [ think this was on the Wednes-
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 dose.
THE next day number of US, after
rehearsal, were standing i'll front of
Growers, and after he had went into
the lobby of the theatre. AS l now re-
member, there were Mr.. G. II. 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 his wild talk, for
we had heard very much of it, but he
finally spoke of Lincoln by very vul-
gar and profane term. This made me
very angry.
"'John,' said I. what do you talk
that way for?" The war is over. Your
side is beaten. WHAT is the use OF cry
ing now? Ifyou feel so bad, why didn't
you go into the southern army, as did
ia the northern? 1t don't look we'll to
brag now, when you never shouldered
a musket for your side.'
Perhaps Eve done as much as you
did for the cause, and can do more. Do
you mean to say that Pm coward.
az didn'tsay so, JOHN replied, but
did say that you ought to have
showed your courage before you talk as
you do now
"At this he got very angry. You