Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-16
THIRTY-ONE YEARS AGO
Recollections of the Assassination of Lin
coin.
A Talk Before the Unity CIub-Per-
sonal "Reminiscences of the
Martyred President.

evening at the residence of Mr. William
Oscar Roome, No. 1877 Corcoran street,
was large attended by members of the club
and guests.
Judge John W. Bennett presided and af-
ter Secretary Baker had read the proceed
ings of the previous meeting Miss Bella
Pierce performed an overture on the piano.
The chief event on the program was an
address by DR.. Frank T. Howe of Tie
Star, en- the subject of Lincoln's assassi-
nation.
DIR. Howe said in part:
The first time 1 saw President Lincoln
was in the office of Judge Advocate Cen
eral Holt, where L was on duty A tall
thin man, who seemed to be even taller
than he really was, came into Judge Hollis
office and asked me if the Judge was in
l sent messenger into the judges pri-
vate office to ascertain, but before the mes
senSer returned Mr.. Lincoln opened the
door of the private office and went in 10
whereOJudge Holt was.
After a little while, Judge Holt sent for
me. AS l entered the door of the room
l heard Mr.. Lincoln say-they had evil
IDENTIFY been talking over the case before
my opening the door-'Judge this poor
girl has been to see me three or four times
about her brother. l promised her / would
look into the case myself l want to do
so, and If l can make her happy, l am
going to do it,.
Judge Holt then told me to get the pa
pers in the case referred to by Mr.. Lincoln
L did SO, and found that they were those of
private soldier who had been tried and
convicted Of desertion and sentenced-not to
death. but to a long imprisonment at the
Dry Tortugas. and at the end of his term
to be dishonorably discharged from the
service of the United States.
Il handed the papers to Judge Holt and
returned to my usual duties. After some
time President Lincoln opened the door to
leave. AS he was about to take his de-
parture. he said: Judge, l want you to
make that report and will make that poor
girl happy by releasing her brother l
know 1t struck me as a remarkable thing
that Mr.. Lincoln, though occupying the ex-
allied position of President of the United
States, had gone over all the testimony in
the case of that humble private soldier, as
lawyer had analysed the evidence, found
technical flaw in the proceedings told
Judge Holt to give the prisoner the benefit
thereof and to make report in accordance
Herewith. and as he had promised, restored
the soldier to his liberty.
Il suppose I heard the last public speech
ever made by Mr.. Lincoln. 1t was during
the afternoon of the 14th of April, on the
light of which he was shot / was going
through the White House grounds on my
way to my office In the Wnder building
There was band of music playing in front
of the White House. / do not know what
Mr.. Lincoln had been talking about, but I
well remember his closing words. They
We're: 1 want to say a word to the band;
want them to play Dixie" I have always
liked the tune and now that we have
honestly conquered it I think our bands
ought to play it
Il was not at Ford's Theater when the
shooting took place. had been invited to
go by friend, who stated. an induce
Tent, that the President would he there
J had seen Mr.. Lincoln so many times that
the fact that he would be present was no
attrac ton to me, and, besides, l had seen
the play, Our American Cousin performed
over and over again. In addition to these
had ynrlyo tbao off -
l desired to close UP, and I went there and
attended to it.
~ know that shortly after o'clock 1
heard a band playing and looking from the
window. saw torchlight procession going
up TO the White House. The music stopped
for few moments, and then saw the pro-
cesslon move on out of the grounds.
thought at the time that the President had
not gone to the theater and that those who
had attended in the hope of seeing him had
been disappointed.
Leaving my office about $50 o'clock, 1
went home, end, as was tired retired al
most Immediately. l soon fell asleep but
was not lorg afterward aroused by the noise
made by friend knocking on the door of
my my room, and exclaiming: Get up. Frank.
The President has been shotr My friend
was someWha: given to playing practical
jokes, and said, oh, go away He did not
do so, and. in reply said: My God! Frank,
John Wilkes Booth! 1 doubted no longer
The news of the shooting spread over
the city with frightful rapidity, and the
excitement which Immediately followed
was something that can hardly be describ-
ed Almost as quickly as it takes to tell
IL, a line OF soldiers was formed across the
street at 10th and F streets and another
at 10Th and E, and no one allowed be-
tween them unless he was connected with
the government and had business at the
Peterson house.
While these sad and thrilling scenes
were occurring rumors gained circulation
rot
Johnson had been killed at their homes
and Gen. Grant murdered on a train on
which he had left Washington to go TO
Htrlington, Iowa. AS a matter of fact,
MT. seward mad been attacked and badly
wounded by would-be assassin at his
nome which was on the site where the
Lafayette Square Opera House is now To-
gated, but Vice President johnson and Gen.
Grant ESCAPED injury.
When Mr.. Seward was attacked the first
impulse of his son, Mr.. Frederick W. Sew
ara, who was at home at the time and also
mat or the attendant of the former, he be-
ing SICK In bed, was to send for Surgeon
General Barnes, and they did so. The sur
geon general was not at home, being at
the residence of his friend, Judge Cartier,
playing whist, of which amusement both
gentlemen were very fond. While they
were so engaged a messenger rushed into
Judge Carriers house and told the man
VINO answered the bell that the surgeon
general was wanted at Mr.. Stewards house
where the Secretary had been stabbed bV
an assassin. Both Gen. Barnes and Judge
cartier went Immediately to the bedside of
the stricken man. and the former dressed
the wounds Of the Secretary and his son
ana attendant, who had also been attacked
just as this had been completed a carriage
grove up, and the bell was violently rung
by negro man, who asked if the surgeon
general was there, saying he was wanted
at mouse on 10th street, where the Pres
1dent lay wounded, having been shot in
Ford Iheater. The surgeon general and
Judge cartier started at once, the latter
driving the carriage, as the negro was so
scared that he didn't dare to hold the
1eins, and soon reached the Peterson house
ana MI Lincolns bedside. The President
was, however, unconscious, and the sur
seon general at once saw that the wounded
statesman was beyond human aid, and that
ms death was simply question OF hours.
All night long the soldiers were looking
lot the assassirs. No one knew exactly
VINO mad committed the horrible crime
some said 1t was John Wilkes Booth,
others said 1t was some one else, and even
the government authorities had no reliable
information on the subject, nor did they
get any for hours afterwdrd." To show
how little was known of the extent of the
conspiracy, DR.. Howe read copy of dis
patch sent few hours after the shooting
by Secretary of War Stanton to Gen. Dix,
commanding at New York.
Dr. Howe then told how soon after the