The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-04-22
LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION.

Albany, April "A number of mem
bers of the Assembly were in Assembly
man Wren's parlor few evenings ago.
and the conversation turned upon the
law respecting the carrying of concealed
weapons. Assemblyman Lindsay and
Stanley and others expressed various
opinions about the law, but Mr.. Wren
said nothing. He sat quietly smoking a
brierwood 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 conceal
ed weapons in New York.
"Well, I've had my lesson said Mr..
Wren, ''and it was one that taught me
the danger of carrying weapons. 1 had
my hand on my pistol to shoot John
Wilkes Booth once, and [ wish had, tor
I drew on him on the morning of the
very day that he assassinated Lincoln. -
There was DO further talk about con-
cealed weapons. The Assemblymen
were anxious to learn more Of tLe Incl
dent that Mr.. Wren referred to.
"Did you know Booth1" asked Mr..
I1Iuusay.
ultimately. I had acted with him q
season in Richmond, and been on the
Southern circuit several times with him.
I 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 I had served my time in the
army and got my discharge, | made an
engagement with Mr.. Grover, who then
had one of Washington theaters under
lease. They were quite number of my
old friends in Washington, actors who
were well known, at least to the profess
sion. There was 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 fre-
quently tell us, when we asked him
where he'd been SO long-for we would
not see him around soemtimes for days,
and then he would suddenly appear
that he had been taking horseback rides.
He used to argue with US On the merits
of the Southern oause :"
On the afternoon that the Marine Band
serenaded Lincoln when he returned
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, who was manager for
Mr.. Grover. We were going to hear a
new play read. We were playing "Alad-
din" at Growers, and Miss Effie Germon
was leading lady. She was in Mr.. Hess
office with the others, if I remember
Alright. At all events. Booth came in,
and greatly interrupted us with his vio-
lent secession talk. I think this was on
the Wednesday before the assassination.
! Booth asked Mr.. Hess at that time, too,
when President Lincoln was going to the
theater to see aladdin" for the Presi.
dent had been invited to be present, and
/ had promised to do so.
''The next day a number of US, after
rehearsal, were standing in front OF
Growers, and afterward We went into the
lobby of the theater. As now remem-
/ ber, there were Mr.. o. FL. Hess, Mr.. Yer
ney, Mr.. Jennings, and one or two other
! gentleman. Booth came sauntering in
/ My impression was that he had beer
drinking. He began at once to talb
about the war. We didn't pay much ct
/ tention to his wild talk, for we had heard
very much of it, but he finally spoke o.
Lincoln by a very vulgar and profane
term. That made me very angry.
"'John, said 1, what Go you talk thai
way forI The war is over. Your side i:
beaten. What is the use of crying ROW
If you feel SO bad, why didn't you go in
to the Southern army, as I did in the
Northern? 1t dom look well to brag now
when you never shouldered musket fol
your side.
perhaps I've done as much as Yor
did for the cause, and can do no more
'Doyou mean to say that I'm coward:
'''I didn't say so, John, replied
but l did say that you ought to hav,
showed your courage before you talk a
you do now.'
cat this he got very angry. You cal
me coward, do your said he, end b
drew his pistol at once.
81 was very angry, too, and a goo.
deal more foolish. being Q hut-hesde.