Telegram-herald., 1889-09-20
WILKES BooFHs PLOT.
"a Iatsresttas sters froza oas Pr~ssn'
wheA Lincola Nzs Murdered

Aa Iatsresaias sters froza oas Pr~ssat
wh@A Liacola Va asrasrsd.
One u tie nlost important Witnesses
~ tAe ASSASSINATION OF the lsmentet
martyr. President Abraham Lincoln, :
Ia the city. Il Is william Withess, the
musical Ieetor OF Prank Daniels
Little Puck" company, now playing
a. Powers Opera House. Mr.. Withers
was the leader Of the orchestrs IA
tord's Iheater, and he described his
relations 20 the terrible and appalling
trs z edY 70 TxLEGKAM-HERALD re-
porter last evening, a. follows.
Il Was directing the orchestra az
Fords Al the time, and l Was paFucu-
laTly anxious about the music when
learned that the President was 10 be in
the theater that fatal Frday night l
knew Mr.. Lincoln very well personally, A.,
and warmly esteemed him for MS be-
r0-e and manly qualities 80 endeared
IA tie memory OF the American peO-
pie. l had organized a band among
tne Presidents body guard, and MS
little son. Ted, played the snare
drum. After we had had several re-
nearsals we serenaded Mr.. LIN
cOln al the White House,
and / shall never forget how
proud and happy the great and good
man appeared as ne east a benign smile
down on little TED wnO was playing
the drum
'Oh, YOU want 70 near about the
Assassination Wen, | VIII make II
brief. Just before | entered the theater
met Wilkes Booth, and We went INTO 2
bar-rO0m and had Il drink together.
asked Booth IL he was gong 10 the
theater, and he SAID no / then
went under the stage, and as the
orchestra entered got side glance Of
Booth away back OF the parquette,
leaning against the rail. Knowing that
the President WAS 10 be present that
evening | prepared a song entitled In
Honor OF the soldier, which was 10 be
sung Oy Miss Laura keene's company
Ia tae second act. After the first act
went under the stage 10 inquire about
the singers. | was trying 10 make my
way 10 the prompt SIDE 10 consult Mr..
/ Wright, the stage manager, but was
gruhiy luterce pied by Mr.. Spangler,
the scene-shltter and one of the con-
spiratOrs. lie was near the lights aud
MS cue was to turn them out when he
heard Booths pistol, and leave the
house IN confusion and darkness. He
was very surly and mad to
order hun aside IN very en-
phatic language. There was some
hitch III the preparation of
the song, but the stage manager and
Miss Keanc assured me that they would
attempt to give it at the beginning OF
the third act. A was about to enter
the orchestra from underneath the
stage | heard the report of a pistol. |
thought It was an accidental discharge
OF one OF the property pistols ana was
trying to make my way back to the
stage. In dong sol got INTO the passage
way extending from the parquette en-
trance 10 the outside door OF the stage
IN the alley. | had noticed. a few MN
utes before. that there was a horse
standing IN the alley. As | stood near
the door man dashed against ne and
with IN oath exclaimed: Let me pass"
As / looked up | recognized Wilkes
Booth. InC expression on ms face was
that of q frcnzled ficnd incarnate and
ms lustrOus eyes seemed bulging from
thelrs0ckets. Thinking perhaps | was
trying to impede his passage. he gave
NE Il vicious stab with MS dagger,
which penetrated my undcrclOthIng,
and then gave me 4 dif on the back of
the head which rende ered me uncOn-
sciOus. | was aroused, and saw de-
tcctve standing IN frOat of me, and
then learned tnat the President had
been shot. / was taken y the police
>taCOn. the crowd OF the streets shout
u-, Hang him.' OF course. as soon
a. / explained taat knew nothing IN
any WY about what had occurred,
was safe from violence and prosecu-
ton | numbered among my ac-
quliutancCs some OF the leading and
popular men of Washington, among
them the mayor. I gave nay testimony
at the trial s.O.t3 t3u-ally a. ! have re-
lated IL % YOU. / believe the assassina-
ton was pr.mcditate1 on the part of
Booth. one day q crowd ol lOaler ac-
quantances were jcerng hm about ms
ability as an actor. TINS was two weeks
before the terrible tragedy. They told
him that Edwin was much the superior
actor. and that ue could not act a little
Bit Wilkc, Booth stepped to the end
of the curb and. assuming n tragic at
titude. exclaimed Well, gentlemen,
may be / can not act, but when / make
ny exit from the stage the whole world
wlll know It,