The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-05-04

The Murder Of Lincoln.

The Murder OF Lincoln.
SOME STRANGE BITS ABOUT
A GREAT TRAGEDY.
Story of an Eye-witness--AS Stage
Managers Account of BoOth--
A First Attempt Frustrated.
"Csrp" says in Washington letter to
the Cleveland Leader: Mr.. Davis, who
has been leading lawyer Of Washing
ton since the davs OF James Buchanan,
was present in Ford's theater the night
that Lincoln was shot. He chatted with
me about the assassination last night
Said be: IL had not intended to 20 to
the theatre, but I saw it stated in the pa.
pers that both the President and General
Grant would be there, and | went there
more to see Grsut than anything else.-
The play was, you know, The Ameri
Gan Cousin,' and the house was crowded
sat within Eve or si1 rows of the from
in the pic, and Joe Stewart, the six foot
two-hundred-weight of men who at
tempted to catch the assassin, was i'm
medistely in front of me. President
Lincoln entered the theatre with his par.
ty when Dundresry was telling whv 6
dog wags its tail. The audience greeted
the President with cheers and clapping
of hands, and as he reached the door o.
bis private box he turned and bowed tc
the audience. He then followed Mrs
Lincoln into the box, and took his sea
at the front of it by her side. The in.e
rior of the box wss lined with crimson
velvet paper, and the people within i
shown out plainly from this IS back
ground. The front of the box was hune
with curtains made of American Gags
and between these fags the Presiden
looked out.
"The comedy went on until the third
act, and the President's party seemed tc
enjoy themselves. Lincoln was sitting
with his LETT arm on the balustrade o.
the box, aud with Mrs. Liucoln's hand
resting on his knee. In the midst of 6
scene pistol shot rang out and scream
FROM Mrs. Lincoln drew my attention te
the President. ! saw clouds Of smoke
coming out between the hags, and
through this saw the Presidents heao
fall upon his chest. Then out OF the
smoke fotm sprang down on the stage
his foot catching in the dag as be fell
II vas John Wilkes Booth. Tall, tbir
black hair, and with eyes which glitter
ed like thpse of wild beast, his face
was as white as chalk. He rose hal
upon his knees and waved q sword.lkt
dagger which l can see glit,ering before
my eyes now. heard him say in tragic
tones, sic semper tyrsnnis,' and then be
limped fast across the stage, going be
hind the scenes. All this happened in
an instant, and all the time Mrs. Lincolr
was screaming. AS Booth rushed from
the stage be pushed aside Laura Keeae
who was ready to enter for her part, anc
within half minute he wrs in the alley
aud away The audience was dumfoun
ded for q moment Then everyon,
Esprang to his feet, but my friend Jos
Stewart was the only one who attempted
to seize BoolL. He rushed through th,
orchestra, crushing violins and tom
bones in his efforts to get upon the stage
but the footlights burned his fingers, snC
when be at last clambered up he was tor
late. He was able to see Booth gsllop
ing out of the alley. A moment late
aud the whole audience wss in The street
Lincoln was carried across TO tn,
Peterson House, in which be died th,
next morning. l do not think Mrs
Lincoln ever recovered from the shock
OF that night. / did not see Grant, fol
you know he was prevented from attend
ing the theatre by his baggage being lef
at the depot instead of being brought t,
the hotel, as he had directed. On tn,
trial of the conspirstors l remember tha
a stage-shifter wes among the witnesses
who, on being asked as TO what Boott
had said as he went across the stage, re
piled: He said: l am sick; send TO
McGnuis.'
John 7. Ford, who owned Ford
theatre at this time, is nov a gray.haire(
man, and he is keeping theatre in Bal
timore. Ford talks very interestiugl,
about the assassinalon. He says Boot
was a good actor, and that he could hav
made great deal on the stage. He wa
a ine looking young fellow, aud wa
one of those actors whom the ladies g,
crazy over. Booth came into the thea
tre before he did the shooting and the
went out again and got glass of brandy
About three quarters of an hour late
he returned, and slipping into Lincoln
box, shot him. His jump from the DO.
to the stage was fully nine feet, ani
was his shin bcne that he broke in th
falling. Booths spur caught in the pic
ture of Washington and tore it, ins iea,
of in the flags as has been stated. =
When he ran out from the theatre h
met Mr.. Withers, The leader of the or
chestra, and made thrust at him will
bis knife. The knife cut through With
ers' clothing, and it vas the same knif
that Booth had just brandished In tn
air as he yelled "Sic semper tyraunis.
Withers thought Booth had stabbed hiu
at first, hut before he was able TO d.
snything Booth bit him a blow on th,
back Of the neck with the butt of th,
knife aud knocked him down. He the
jumped for the back door, seized hi
horse, which was held by a boy known
as John Peanuts, or Peanut John," ant
galloped off into Maryland.
Booth is said to have attempted to ss
sassinate the President ct the time of hi
second Inauguration at tie capitol. Dan
ger was apprehended at this time and
double row of policemen had been sta
toned 10 the rotunda to keep open th
passage way for the procession, Waicl
was going from the Senate to the ess
portico, where the President was Il
speak. This procession vas made u
OF the supreme court, the diplomats
Congress, aud the other oflcis,s. al
vas headed by the President and til
Vice President. As it passed .broug'
the. rotunda q man rushed from To
crowd behind tue policemen and sttemp,
ed to get to the President. A police
man, named Westfsll, seized him, sD
thinking he was a. crank or crazy, rush
i od hin, out Tho nroree aion then vpn