Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-07
John II. EOrd,S RecOllectiOns.


Not far from the graveyard where the Booth
family are buried, lives John T. Ford, the vet
eran theatrical manager, who for many years
mad close relations with all the Booths who
were actors. Under his management Junius
Brutus, Edwin and John Wilkes Booth played
some OF their most successful engagements It
was Mr.. Ford who attended to the removal of
the remains Of John Wilkes from Washington
TO where they now lie, notwithstanding that the
crime he committed in Mr. Ford's theater
caused that gentleman great trouble and a vast
amount of money. met him the other day at
his opera house in Baltimore and the assassina-
ton OF Mr. Lincoln became the subject of con-
versation as in contrast with the assassination
OF Gen. Garfield, and the difference in the
character OF the men who committed these two
great crimes.
81 was not in Washington when Mr.. Lincoln
was killed." said Mr.. Ford. 81 had lived in
richmond 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 l started for
that city. Col Forney also went down at the
same time. arrived the morning of the day
the President was killed, and on the next morn
ing started home. When on the way first
learned of the crime. When / reached home I
was arrested and kept in prison for thirty nine
days"
when do you think Booth first conceived the
idea OF killing the President 2"
1T 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 the President was TO
attend the theater 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 fiancee, who also boarded at the National
Hotel with her parents. met him. They had a
short conversation, and after breakfast he walked
up TO the Surratt mansion. on H street, as is
supposed from the direction in which he was
flrst seen coming by the attaches of the theater
that morning. He was walking down 10th
street from toward H. He was fauItlessy
dressed i'm a full suit of dark clothes and fall
SILK hat. He wore pair Of kid gloves of a sub
dued color, had light overcoat slung over his
arm, and carried cane. Nv brother Harry.
who was standing in front of the theater with
some other gentlemen, first saw him, and turn
ing to his companions said:
THE ADONIs OF THE STAGE.
"'Here comes the handsOmest man in the
United States
''He came directly to the theater, went to the
box Office, got his mail, went out and sat down
upon the front steps of the theater to read it.
One of his letters was a very long one. 40
lengthy as to attract my brothers attention
When he had finished reading it he arose and ap-
preaching Harry, said:
"'What's on tonight
Our American Cousin. and we are going to
have big night replied Harry. THE Presi-
dent and Gen Grant are going to occupy the
Presidents box and Gen. Lee is going to have
the adjoining one, said he, by way Of chatting
Booth.
81 hope they are not going to do like the
Romans-parade their prisoner before the
Booth.
Harry replied that he was testing about Lee.
but that Mr.. Lincoln and General Grant wouId
certainly attend the evening performance; that a
note had been sent from the White House en-
gaging the box. As Harry said this Booth was
thoughtful a moment, and then turned and
walked down the street toward PENNSYLVANIA
avenue. Just az he reached the Avenue he met
MI John F. COyle, then one Of the editors of the
National Intetigencer and Booths very warm
iriend. he shook hands with him and said:
John, what would be the result If some one
would put Lincoln and the Cabinet out of the
way?' VITO
"COyle laughed and said:
I'VE don't have any Bruteses In these DAYS"
"BOOth turned and walked down the street
and after that time. which certainly must have
been nearly noon, the arrangements for the a.
sassinatiOn were hurriedly made. do not be-
lieve that any reasoning man longer doubts that
there was no thought OF killing Mr.. Lincoln
until the day upon which the crime was COM
mitted Until Booth came to the theater that
morning he had no knowledge that the Presi-
dent intended visiting the theater in the even
Ing. That afternoon he wrote the letter justi-
Tying the assassination. This letter he gave to
John Matthews. who now is engaged in New
York. He was then playing at my theater The
letter was intended to be published in the Ma
hondl Intelhgeacer, and it was well on toward
night when he gave 1t to Matthews He was
riding down Pennsylvania avenue toward the
National Hotel when he met Matthews and
handed him the letter. Matthews DESTROYED
the paper Immediately after the shooting, and
no one ever saw II but he.
BOOTH AS AN ACTOR.
"Was Booth great actor?"
Yes. sir. Doubtless he would have made
the greatest actor Of his time had he lived. Be-
sides being the handsomest man ever saw, he
was an athlete. He put into al. his impersona-
tons the vitality Of perfect manhood. He added
tine physical organization to his marvellous
mental powers. His Macbeth and Richard were
different from any other ever witnessed, In