The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-03

1 y OF Delng with a social party
J of prominent members oil
AA the theatrical profession who
met III this city few evenings ago.
There were in the party a few old timers
in the profession and their anecdotes
would fill an interesting volume. They
talked about the Booths, Forrest, Daven-
port, Wallack, Adams. Barrett, McCul-
Tough and Keene, and related many pages
OF unwritten history about the great act
ors.
II tell you," said ono of them after re-
lating some personal recollections of the
great artists, "that John Wilkes Booth
was never captured"
The remarkable statement was con-
Cured in by several members of the pro-
lession, ana the writer became interested
III the remark SO unexpectedly made.
What is your reason for believing it ?n
was asked.
WELL" continued the man of the stage,
I'VE were playing in Baltimore a few
years ago and while in conversation with
the doorkeepcr discovered that he was on
the door of Ford's theater at Washington
the night OF the assassination of Lincoln
ana mad occupied a similar position with
Mr.. Ford at his Baltimore house, where
we were playing, ever since that
memorable night. The name of the door.
Keeper is Monkey, who is now quite an old
man, and, getting him interested, learned
from him all that transpred the night of
the tragedy. SO soon as / preached
the subject, however. l observed that
Monkey became excited, uneasy, conf
DENTAL and extremity mysterious. In
TACT he was astonishngly guarded in his
conversation. what is the r,atter
Monkey l said, you appear to be afraid
lest you talk too loud
"'Well,' was the reply. during the war
l did not dare TO speak to a person on
account OF being continuously watched by
detectives and whenever a person came
to the door, handed me a ticket or ap-
preached me in any manner whatever,
half dozen detectives we're at me at
once wanting to know who the man was
and what he said to me. Your mention
of Booth and the war; continued the old
gentleman, who had been Mr. Ford's
faithful doorkeeper for more than 80
years, 'revives the feeling of danger and
caution which was on me at all times and
1t makes me shudder to think of it even
at this late date
Tell me something about the assassi-
nation," l said to him. Il am curious to |
learn from an eye witness what trans.
pired at that time"
ITO begin WITH said Mr. Monkey. Il |
am satisfied John Wilkes Booth was |
never captured
why do you think so, and how do you |
explain the fact of a man being shot in |
the barn by Boston Corbett? ?"
Easy enough said Mr. Monkey. On
the night of the assassination was on
the upstairs door and John Wilkes Booth
who was not in the cast that evening had |,
the freedom of the house. The theater
was crowded TO suffocation and standing
room itself was at premium. After the
first act and during the recess left an
usher on my door and strolled down into
the bar room beneath the theater. Along-
side the bar conversing with some friends
was Booth, who appeared to Re in his
normal condition and l noticed nothing
exciting or anything out of Che usual |
routine. lie appeared TO be totally I'M
concerned and was smoking his cigar as
pleasantly as one could wish and had no
indications of excitement about his face
whatever. After had finished my errand
IN the bar room l turned TO depart when I
heard one of the party, with whom Booth
had been conversing, say: Goodbye. ,
Pet--a name used by Booths intimate ,
friends at that time in Washington
Il wish you success in the oil ,
regions Those with whom he had been !
r
were no doubt members of the conspiracy !
and had met in the bar room by appoint- ,
ment. After this | returned to NV door !
and resumed the usual duties of the door
keeper. In few moments, or about the | 1;
time the curtain had gone up. Booth | 7
strolled in, walked leisurely down the :
aisle about midway of the theater, stood =
here for few moments gazing at the :
people on the stage, then returned and :
walked around TO the presidents box. n
oeeped through a small hole which had ii
previously been cut in the panel of the !,
ioor TO the presidents box. observed the !,
PRESIDENT with his friends, opened the h
loor, stepped behind Mr.. Lincoln, and be- b
ore any one could realize what was y
committed the deed and l.
umped out of the front of the box on the -
tage and, as is well known, made his es- ~
ape. "
I'm making the jump" continued the h,
aithful ticket-taker, Booths spur caught a,
\ the drapery of the picture of Washinr- .,
ON which was hanging in front of the .,
residents box and ripped it from top to p
otom, throwing Booth TO the stage floor. III
ne fall fracturing his leg. MIR. Ford ever a,
fterward retained the picture of WASH 90
lgton with the rip in the drapery as n =;
iemento of the dreadful occurrence and 10
Is now at the family residence. Mr..
ord also held, as sacred, the door of the II
OK with the hole in the panel and the u
'me is TO be seen on the upstairs dress W
Z room door of the Baltimore theater. =,
ut few professional people ever play the
aItlmore house, said the veteran, who OH
ad by this time himself become inter-
ited IN relating the incident, without 70
aking all inquiries about that particuIar w
Die in the panel of the dressip, 49,, y
oor.' 10
But why do you think that Booth WAS -
ever captured?i / asked. -,
- Simply replied Mr.. Monkey, from wi
G fact that the authorities refused TO hi,
TN the body over TO his brother, Edwin di
both, after he had been reported shot SIC
Id killed by Boston Corbptt \.