New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-16
LILLE ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN.
"REMINISCENCES OF J. HARRY FoRD-rHE KNIFE IN
TTNDFD FOR GRANT.

"REMINISCENCES OF j. HARRY FoRD-THE KNIFE IN
TTNDFD FOR GRANT
rBr TELEGRAPH THE rRIBUNR
WASHINGTON, April 15.-Tbis being the an
niversary of Abraham Lincons death' INC o'"'o pun
fishes the following:
Mr. j. Harry Ford. who Ia managing the Opera House
n this city, IL brother Of Mr. John T. Ford, who owned
the old Tenth street Theatre Mr. John T. Ford, on the
night OF the assassination, was IN Richmond Visiting
some friends. Mr.. Harry Ford In the box office.
with him were J. 8. sessford. who Is also connected
with the present Ford and the husband OF Laura keen
Miss Keene wa then playing engagement On Tenth
al the piece nigh being our American COUSIN
Mr. Ford had the President aud General Grant To
attend performance Tue National Theatre tad ALSO
extended to them similar invitation. Mr. Lincoln nc
cepted Mr. FORTS invitation. General Grant could not
do So because he hal left that day 10 WISH MS noei
wins was living In New-Jorrey.
To a Critic reporter to-day Mr.. Ford saidi BOOTH
you see rs an actor and friend OF tho house. had INC
full run OF the place He could go anywhere no wahted
TO- IL WIS the thing In the world for MIN 10 ma
his way without hndranoe aud without dhicu'ty To the
Presidents box He came 10 once during the uAy' l
told hi,, that We expected President Lincoln and Gen
.ral Grant AZ the play that night. also told him that
We were going to have those two distinguished men
on one aide and General Ice the other Booth broke
Into of for having given up the SWORD
OF Virginia which he had pro sised never To surfehuor
lie. however, showed no unusual excitemenI
"Diu you hiHi "h'h ~" ''''~
evening 0"
.yes; he came In about o'clock. Ho stopped at the
box Office aud chatted few minutes. lilo lana cigar
stump on the ledge In front OF him. saying Win iauS
n, he did 40: lie who would this stump displace Aust
meet J. Booth face to face.
.Wben did you uext hint"
After the shooting We heard the shot IN inc oox
Office but paid no attention to 1t at hrst. II
you recslect there II scrhe III Out me-, -,
cousin I'm which SIR Ed1ard lrenehdrd puts psto W
IN. h.. with snolda intent The pistol 10 snateneu
ais hand We In box Office thought that ths ps,o
had gone of accidentally. hut the morse am , ,
which folIowed and tho remembrance that the NJ
tempted suicide di net take place untli tne tns Nv
ma ie ia change minds lhrew open 'Io W, -
.oElng from the office upon the stage beotn Wa
crouched tn. stage. with knlis IN us md RIM
was orouohed upon his side saw MN get uP hch he
across the Stage, from the rear oil whch ne
made his escape. | did not near , IND nv Booth
i'm the box do not think that there IA any doubt tna'
BSoth ea of The man who usually attended
to such matters. arranged the os1 uuinE snv Do
aud had hung In front Of the box picture OF
| Washington. Booths spur caught III tha' po'ui'
was o sa Boo croached on stage did you
suspect what had occurred y $1,000, =. eo,, a,d tia
Booth was in IT, We thought that some one hau Sn1
at HIM and that he hsa ura as we learned
the faesaSd we were but short time doing Sol came
tho sSTsasN% That hat s eaer atsr
"lu rushing from the building uiu Ho' D'''A
YES he struck nc withers the leader OF the
who had gone under the stage al te a The knife
ia his hand when he struck wthers, but he Sd MOI an
tend TO stab him lie held the blade OF the kniie a.S
alIy moi OVERWHELMINGLY. witherss clothes were eu'
through ana "A ncision also made Ia e s ,h hu,.
when Booth got to his horse he win the dawn oS1
| end OF hi, pistol i. knocked the man uomn
who had held The animal: o,I Ihs p hsa
Vas snansIer our stage carpenter. spsnEler wac u
great admrer Of Booth aud wond do any nns LOT
That he knew nothing OF Booths Intention ws man
from the fact that ne gave the horse TO ahos nrv
spanglsr however had to spend three years IN inc D
4 TortugaA"