The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-22
LlNC0LN'S MURDER.
The Anniversary of the Bastard Deed
RsviVes the Memory Of 1t.
j. Harry Ford's RemIniscence-Inciden ts OF
the Terrtbls Night.

The Washington Critic of the 18Th, recall
irg the fact that last night was the twentieth
snniyersary OF the shooting of Mr.. Lincoln,
gives the following interview with J. Harry
Ford, still in town here, who Ta9 in the box-
oiice CT Ford's Theater the night OF the as
sassination:
Booth, you zee, SIS az actor and friend OF
the house, had the full run of the place He
could 90 anywhere he wanted to. Il was
the easiest thing in the world for him to fad
his way without hindrance and without dif-
fculty to the Presidents box. He came in
once during the day. ! told him that We ex-
pscted President Lincoln and General Grant
at the plsy that night. I also told him that
We were going to have these two distn-
guishsd men or one sids and General Lee on
the other. Booth broke into a denuncia-
ton of Lee for having given up the sword
of Virginia, which he had promised never
to surrender. He, however, showed no IN
usual excitement"
Did you see him when he came to the
iheater in the evening"
Yer, be came in abo1t o'clock. He
stopped 8! the box-office and cha.tsd few
minutes. He laid cigar stump on the ledge
in front Of him saying with a laugh as he
did so: Hs who would this stamp displace,
must meet j. Booth face to face"
when did you next see him?'
after the shooting. We heard the shot
in the box offics, but paid no attention to it
at first. If you recollect, there ia scsns in
Our American Cousin in which Sir L l.
ward TTenchaId' puts pistol to his head
with suicidel intent. The pistol is wrenche1
from his hand. we in the box Off ce thought
that the pistol had gone off accidentally, but
the noise and confusion which followed. and
the remembrance that the attempted suicide
did not take place until tbs third act, made
us change our mind. / threw open the
wicket looking from the box Office upon the
stsge. Booth was crounhed on the stage
with knife in his hand. He was crouched
upon his side. I saT him get up and run
across the stage, from the rear of which he
made his escape. No, did not hear the
words, Sic semper tyrsnnis" They we're
used by Booth in the box, do not think
there is any doubt that Booth injured him
self WHEN he jumped from tbs box. I ha IL,
in the absence OF the man who usually
atten ded to such matters, arranged the box
during the day. I had procured the loan OF
days from the Treasury Department and had
hung in front OF the box picture OF Wash
i, gton. Booths spur caught in that picture.
1t was ripped down several inches
When you saw Booth crouched on the
stage did you suspect what had occurred?'
NO, we thought there had been fight
and that Booth was in it. Ws thought so me
one had shot at him and that he had drawn
his knife in self defense. As soo1 as we
learned the facts, and We were bat short
time doing So came to the conclusion that
that knife for General Grant,
'In rushing from the building, did not
Booth jure some one else?"
"Tes, he struck at Withsrs, the leader of
the orchestra, who had gone under the stage
at the close of the act and who encoun-
tered Booth. The latter had the knife in
his hand when he struck Withers, but be
did not intend to stab him. He he'd the
blade of the knife lstterally or perpendicu.
larly. Withers' clothes were cut through,
and an incision was also made in the skin.
When Booth got to the hoIse he with
the but end of the pistol knocked the
man down who had the animal. The man
who brought the horse to the appointed
place was Spsngler, our stage carpenter.
Spangler was great adplirer of Booth. and
wcRld do anything for him. That he knew
nothing of Booths intention was evident
from the fact that he gave the horse to an
other man. Spangler, however, had to spend
three years in the Dry Tortugas."
How long after the shooting was it before
the President was removedr'
About ten minutes. He was taken to SIC
Tenth street. The house was the home OF the
Peterson family. 1t is now occupied by the
Washin gton Sentinel"
Were you suspected OF completely in the
crime?'
Eyes, there wss some talk of it st first;
but The examination showed that it WAS IN.
founded. We were held only az witnesses"
Yes" continued Mr.. Ford, there was
the greatest excite ment IN the city, and it
seemed as though it would never q1iet
/ down. The attack on Seward aud Johnson,
| the latter at the Old kirkwood House, on the
corner Of Pennsylvania avenue and Twelfth
street, added 10 The craze of the people. 1t
I wes the widest time ever saw or ever expect
! 70 ste."