New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
OCCUPANTS OF THE BOX WITH LINCOLN.
TRAGICAI ATTER-HIsToRY OF PEOPLE WHO
WERE WITH HIM on THE NIGHT OF
HIS ASSASSINATION.

| To The Editor Of The Tribune.
| Sir. Any story concerning President Lincoln Is
interesting. and no. least anything authentic IN
relation to his assassination. But referring TO
your article OF to-day, headed "He Saw Lincoln
Killed." historical accuracy. regards minor
details. should be sought In dealing with hstori-
cal characters and events.
The account given by William Withers. jr, Of
his connection with the circumstances of Mr.. Lin
coins tragical taking off Is presumably correct so
far as it relates to what occurred outside of the
box occupied by Mr.. Lincoln and his party IN
Fords Theatre that fateful night. But the
Presidents sons. Robert and Tad" not OF
his party Those In the box with him only
Mrs. Lincoln. Miss Clara Harris one Of the daugh-
tiers OF Senator Ira Harris. OF New-York State and
her etepbrother. Major Rathbone The memoranda
l mado at the time not accessible at this mo-
ment. but my recollection IS that General and
Mrs. Grant were the Presidents invited guests. but
that at tho last moment something on the Gen
erals part prevented the fulilment OF this pro-
gramme and that, In their stead Mr.. Lincoln's
carriage took up Miss Harris and Major Rathoone
on tho way to the theatre.
Exactly week after tho assassination spent
| tho evening at the residence of Senator Harris,
when Miss Clara gave me a circumstantial ac-
count OF the whole transaction. which | put on
paper tho same night and may add that, years
after, l lent this recital Of what she told me. at
| his particular request. TO Walt Whitman. who
wished 10 read 1t before writing and lecturing on
| tho subject
The dagger with which It appears Wilkes Booth
| had wounded Mr.. Withers must. OF course. have
been the weapon with which moment or
two before he had struck Major Rathbonc, who
% up upon M rhe fo ass TO ne h
The wound, Miss Harris told me- was severe one
left tse room in Witch we We're sitting to go and
| look after her s,epbrother. .,,, ,
This historical tragedy Of their friends have
| affected
afterlives Of these unconscious participants IN It,
Ono cannot say spectators of IT, for 1t Is evident
that 10 one besides the assassin-unless 1t may be
the victim himsef-saw the murderous shot nred
Miss Harris told that all the three survivors
who occupied the box leaning out OF II when
tho shot fired. and that as far as she herself
concerned. II quito an apprcciable space OF
time before she realized that the firing and succeed
ing excitement were not part OF the play whicn a
over, is that she told me. that same Friday night
| next succeeding tho misnamed GOOD Friday OF
tho deed. that Mrs Lincoln had made the same
statement to her. and also that Major Rathbone
said he did not for the first few moments. associ-
ate the President with Booths appearance but sup
! posed the latter TO be maniac who had just
found his way into tho box and whose course
No blood relationship existed between Miss Harris
and Major Rathbone. and they were grown up
when their parents married. They were naturally
with her subsequent nursing OF him while recover
ing from his wound. resulted. naturally enough. in
their marriage not long afterward. when they took
up their residence abroad with every promise Tor a
/ happy life so far external things were con-
cerned. But the tragedy had planted It's seed Of
evil in tho memory OF the husband and In course Of
time, tho father OF several children. He brooded
over It until his mind unhinged developing a
homicdal tendency from which his wife more than
! once-if l remember rightly-barey escaped ;
when one night on the OF his proposed removal
20 an asylum he made a rush. with murderouS In
! tent on their children. His wife OF course threw
herself between them and her maniac husband and
paid with her life the forfeit or a mothers devo-
ton. Thus also died by murder linked with tho
great murder OF her period and herself woman Of
no inconsderable talent, and one OF the most prom
incnt In Washington society during the Civil War.
| thus. a often before and since, was
crnplihed the melancholy truth that great wrong.
wrought IN high places. breeds similar II less
! splcuous evil TO which no limit OF time place
be assigned. A. j. Il.
! New-York. Nov 80 1885,