National Republican., 1881-12-07
5OHN WILKES BOOTH,
MURDERER OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
His Grave Near Bnlilmore-An Interesting Talk
with John \. Ford-Ihe Plans OF the Assas.
sin-His Wonderful Ability as
an Actor-NOtes.

BOOtn family are Duflcu, Sohh
Il. Ford the veteran theatrical manager, who
for many years had close relations with all the
Booths who were actors. Under his manage
ment Junius Brutus, Edwin, and John Wilkes
Booth played some of their most successful en-
gagcmonts. Il was Mr.. Ford who attended to
the removal of the remains of John Wilkes
from Washington to where they now lie, notwith-
standing that the crime he committed In Mr..
Ford's theatre caused that gentleman great trouble
and a vast amount Of money. met him the other
day at his opera-house In Baltimore, and the as
sassination Of Mr.. Lincoln became the subject of
conversation as In contrast with the assassination
Of General Garfield, and the difference in the
character Of the mon who committed these two
great crimes.
81 was not in Washington when Mr.. Lincoln
was killed." snid Mr.. Ford. ~ had lived In Rich
mond some years before the war, and had friends
and relatives there. Fearing that they might be
suffering for the necessities of life Immediately
after the surrender started for that city Colonel
Forney also went down at the same time. l mr.
rived the morning of the day the President was
killed, and on the next morning started home.
When on the way first learned of the crime.
When reached home was arrested and kept in
prison for thirtynine days"
"When do you think Booth first conceived the
idea Of killing the PrcsidentT
ut is morally certain that he never had
such thought until late in the day upon which
he committed the assault.
THE FACTS IN THE CASE
are that he never knew that the President was to
attend tho theatre until nearly noon of that day.
He was always late riser He came down to
breakfast about ten o'clock on that morning and
HIS iancee, who also boarded at the National
Hotel with her parents met him. They had
short conversation, and after breakfast he walked
up to the Surratt mansion, on Sixth street, as is
supposed from the direction in which he was first
Nx.,st n. A..
morning. He was walking down Tenth street
from that direction. He fautle lessly dressed in
full suit of dark clothes and tall silk hat. He
wore pair of kid gloves of n subdned color upon
his shands, had light overcoat slung over his arm
and carried cane. Ny brother Harry, who was
Standing in front Of the theatre with some other
gentlemen, first saw him, and, turning to his COM
panion, said
"' Here comes the handsomest man in the
United States
"He came directly 10 the theatre, went 10 the
box-oflicc, got his mail went out and sat down
upon the front steps Of the theatre to read It, One
of his letters was very long one, 50 lengthy as
to attract my brothers attention. When he had
finished reading 1t he arose, and, approaching
Harry, said:
Whats on to-nightT
&c" Our American Cousin" and we afe going to
have a big night replied Harry. The President
and General Grant are going TO occupy the Prcsi-
adjoining one, said he. to chat 4 % Booth. ""'' '"0
"'I hope they are not going to do like the Ro-
mans, mansMparade their prisoner before the public to
Harry replied that he was jcsting about Lee,
but that Mr.. Lincoln and General Grant would GER
nNe had SeSn sent bep p%e oTse ns
ing the box. AS Harry said this Booth was
thouchtiul moment and then turned and walked
down the street toward Pennsylvania avenue.
Just as he reached the Avenue he met Mr. John f.
Coye, then one OF the editors OF the National Ii-
felitgenoer aud Booths very warm friend. lie
shook hands with him and snid
"'JOhn, what would be the result If some one
would put Lincoln and the Cabinet out of the
fCoylc laughed and said
We don't have any Brutuses In these days.
Both turned and walked down the street, and
after that time, which certainly must haye been
nearly noon, the
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ASSASSINATION
were hurriedly made. do not believe that any
reasoning man longer doubts that there was a
thought Of killing Mr.. Lincoln until the day upon
which the crime was committed. Until Booth came
TO the theatre that morning he had no knowledge
that the President intended visiting the theatre In
the evening. That afternoon he wrote the letter
justfying the assassination. This letter he gave to
John Matthews, who snow engaged in New York
He was then playing at my theatre. The letter
was intonded TO be published In the National III,
teui0encer, and II was well on toward night when
he gave II 10 Matthews. He riding down Penn
sylvania avenue toward the National Hotel when
he met Matthews and handed him the letter Mat
shooting, and no one ever saw IL but him"
"Wns booth great actor?"
Is, SIT. DOuDtltSS ne WOulu nave made the
greatest actor of his time had he lived. Besides
being the handsomest man ever saw, he was an
athlete lie put into all his representations the
vitality of perfect manhood. He added n fine
physical Organization TO his marvellous mental
powers. His Macbeth and Richard were different
from any other ever Witnessed In the scene i'm
Macbeth where he enters The den OF ihe witches
Booth would not content himself with the usual
steps to rench the stngc, but had ledge OF rocks
ten or twelve feet high erected in their stead down
which he spralg upon the stage. Ills Richard was
iull OF marvellous possibilities, and his fighting
%se WSs %nS bPS be cnsv haSs "a him 900
he was only twenly-six years old when he died
He was very fine in the Apostate,' and his
2dphdd, IN tic Marble Heart was simply match
less. He was an ideal Rdphdd When wewere play.
ing in Boston he doubtless made the greatest sue
cess OF ANY aeior Of his dny People waited in
crowds aflcr the pei rformance to catch glimpse Of
him MS lie len The theatre"
WAS he netting at all the winter he was in
mo, Sir; not at all. He had given out that he
had made great deal OF money in oil speou,a.
1ions, md suppose he had, for he showed me a
pamphlets sort Of prospectus of oil property fol
sale-in whcht nsmentioned that the land Joined
he told my brother Harry that he was
ONLY GOING TO ACT TWICE
that wintcr--once In II performance for John Nc.
Nulloughs benefit, who had not then become
ni.ons az an ACTOR, aud once for Hnrry's benefit
Mccullough and Booth were great friends and
Booth had played the Apostate, think, for Me
Inllonghs benefit, when he told Harry he would
play for his. believe he wns going to repeat thu
10 Washington evidently bent upon the single or
rand Of capturing the President
Finding that all his plans for the abduction
had lhiled and the end OF the war was growing
nearer aud nearer, he, Ut the very last moment
sinati0i. Booth was u very gifted young man
and was great invorite IN 81 ciety in Washington
He was engaged, i was snl,l, to young lady Of
she wrote TO Edwin Booth after the assassination
telling him that she was his brothers betrothed
and would marry him, even ut the foot of the gnl-
lows,
amy Godi Ny Godl have no longer coun.
try This is the end Of constitutional liberty III
"'Thesc were the words spoken with startling
emphasis on the evening Of the l4th Of April. 1865
Pennsylvania avenue, in Washington, and nea
the corner of Thirteenth street, had met JOIN
Matthews, Q fellow actor and boyhood friend
"'H He was pale as aghost when he uttered ihos,
words said Mr.. Matthews 10 me day or twt
since, while relating the occurrence. There wer
quite number of confederate prisoners passing
along the avenue as he spoke, and when he said
this is an end 70 constitutional liberty II
America he pointed feelingly toward them. III
looked at them moment alter they had passed
aud was thoughtful. He then turned TO m
quickly nnd said:
80 want you to do me favor
Any!hhing Mit in 81 ~ mn my power John replied
% si,ep s sad Sna peyer ieI H,s And SsSng
National fRteaigeneer, TO- might by eleven o'cocl
unless see you before that III do can stien
~ took the letter, saw that II was sealed, put
into my pocket and walked on. Booth who wa
on horseback, rode rapidly down the street and
never saw him again until he
JUMPED FROM THE BOX IN FoRp's THEATRE
10 the stage after shooting the President wa
then playing ut Ford's, the piece being "Ou
American Cousin" Laura Keene was the sta
Booth almost ran against me MS he leaned acros
the stage on his way TO the door. There was q
course a great commotion, and at once went ;
my dressing. room and picked up my wardrobe
passed under the stage, out through the orcheslr
md auditorium to the street with the audienos
My room was directly opposite, at Mr.. Peterson,
the house In which Mr.. Lincoln died. / wake
quickly across locked the door and began at ono
pho ali In ptnkI Ina,