The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-23
a PLOT.
Booths First Attempt to Murder Lincoln
-WcstfaH and His History.

ldNu on tlldl cNCllluS ABOUT Il idSu dbleiupU, ny
u handsome young man, to break through a line
of policemen, in the rOtunda of the Capitol, who
were guarding the passage of the President and
his attendants through the eastern door to the
platform at the portico. ] believe the circum-
stance was barely alluded to in the local journals
the next morning as Il ripple on the surface of
current events.
A month later, President Lincoln and his wife,
with Miss Harris and Major Rathbone, were
seated in a box at Ford's Theater, in Washing
ton, listening to the play of Our American
Cousin" A young man in the passageway near
the box put a card into the hand of Nh. Lincolns
messenger, and entered the vestibule of the
Presidents box, fastening the door securely be-
hind him, Standing a few moments, he drew a
derringer pistol, and with this weapon IN one
hand and a two-edged dagger in the'other, he
stole noiselessly behind the President and put a
bullet through his brain.
The events of that night wildly recalled to
the memory OF many persons the mad attempt
of the young man to break through the line of
policemen at the rotunda a few weeks before,
for there was an impression then that he had a
~mischievous, perhaps a murderous intent. lie
and the assassin were identified as the same per-
son. Little was said about it at the time, in the
public journals, and histories of the civil war
are silent on the subject.
These circumstances were brought to my at
tention recently by some authentic documents
which We're placed in my hands, and which give
interesting details of the affair in the rotunda,
as told by participants in it and eye-witnesses of
it. These documents have lain in concealment
many years. They present materials and hints
for an additional and important chaptel il the
history of the civil war. 1 here give it IN rrief
outline.
Southern newspapers having declared that
President Lincoln would never be inaugurated a
second time, and such being common utterances
in the Southern Confederacy, special precautions
were observed at that Inauguration for the pro-
lection of the President and to prevent confu-
sion during the ceremonies. These precautions
were timely; for it is now known that a conspi-
PacV 70 ahduct or mup6ap Mr. TiOc01D ba1 beaO
formed, of which his assassin seems to have
been the leader. Major B. B. French, then
Commissioner Of Public Buildings at Washing
ton, had this matter in charge at the Capitol.
He stationed a double row of policemen in the
rotunda, to which a large number of persons
were admitted by tickets to see the procession of
of the President and his attendants-judges of
the Sureme Court, the Cabinet ministers, repre-
sentatives of other nations, congressman and
others from the Senate chamber in the north
wing of the Capitol through the rotunda to the
eastern portico Of the main building, where the
Inauguration was to take place.
The police were arranged from the northern to
the eastern door of the rotunda, to keep open
the passage for the procession and to prevent
any of the spectators forcing it. Major French,
who was in command of the police force, took a
position at the eastern door. While the process
sion was moving, and when the President and
the judges had passed through the door. q young
man suddenly rushed from the crowd of specta-
tors and broke through the southern line of po-
icemen. He was instantly seized with a firm
grasp by John w. Westfall, a native of the State
of New York, who was a private in the Capitol
police force. The intruder, wild with excite
ment, struggled violently, and insisted on his
right to go to the inaugural platform. He was
very strong, and, after dragging Westfall from
his place in the ranks, he broke from the police
mans grasp. Mr.. French had promptly closed
the eastern door. The procession halted. as
~sistance was rendered to Westfal1, and the in
truder, who was considered a l~unatic, was forci-
bly, thrust from the passage. The procession
then moved on withoutfurther interruption.
The lineanents of the face of this young man
were deeply impressed on the memory of Mr..
Westfan and Others Of the police force. West
fall was also impressed with a belief that the
intruder intended to assassinate the President
on the inaugural platform. When Mr.. Lincoln
was actually murdered, a few weeks later, and
executors of the laww were in pursuit of the assas-
sins, this faithful guardian Of the public peace
sought for a photograph of the alleged riminal
He found it at the Office Of L. c.. Baker, the head
Of the United States secret service, and at once
recognized it as the similitude of the face of the
young man with whom he had the fierce struggle
in the rotunda. Westfall procured a copy Of it,
and Fastening to the office Of Major French, and
showing it to that officer, said;
Mr.. Commissioner, do you recognize that
facep
after scanning it critically a few moments,
the major said:
Eyes. would know that face among a thou
sand or ten thousand. That is the man you had
the scutle with on inauguration day, who gave us
> u LIOublGs L uitu MIN ldGC IO lace. 1ndt
is the same man. Who is it'
He is the actor thang him) who has murdered
She President" replied Westfall.
my GOdI' exclaimed the Commissioner,
what a fearful risk we rant alluding to the
scene in the rotUnda. He undoubtedly intend
ed to murder the President then, but you pre-
vented it,"
Others of the police force, who were partici-
pants in the struggle, also recognized the like
ness.
This discovery put the simple act of duty of
Mr.. Westfan among the lofty ones of public
benefactors. So thought Commissioner French.
He felt that the nation owed a debt of gratitude
for this act which had probably saved it from
dire calamity at that critical time. The con
federate armies were then in the field, strono
and defiant. The issue was yet doubtful. The
Confederate government was apparently firmly
treated at Richmond, and hopeful. Had Lincoln
fallen at that time, who shall say what the re-
suit might have beenl When he did fall, the
confederate government was a fugitive, and its
power was dissolving like a vapor. The armies
of the Confederacy were no more. They had
disappeared like mists before the ris-
ing sun. The republic was safe
The strong arms of J. W. Westfall, of Duchess
county, New York, a private policeman, had
spared the Presidents life to that haGnv time,
and enabled him to enjoy. for a moment, the ex-
quisite pleasure OF an assurance that his country
was saved, strengthened and purified.
Commissioner French called the attention of
acting Vice president Foster and Speaker Colfax
60 Westfalls great public service; and they inn
mediately authorized the creation of the office
of lieutenant of police, that he might be the
honored incumbent of the place and enjoy the
comfort which the increased salary would con
fer. This was the least reward that could be
offered. 1t was done, and by a commission
signed by Major French, Jan. %, 1866, Westfall
was duly installed in the office createdfor him.
Does this faithful, patriotic citizen still enjoy
the honor and the emolument of this lieutenancy
to which he is entitled
Alasl No. Soulless political partisans, re-
gardless of public sentiment and the voice of
different political creed, and this faithful pub
lie servant was discharged from the service in
1876.
Mr.. Westfall is a poor man, and is now in
the decline of life. He is too modest and self
racnactinp tO eomnlain He has borpa tho in