New-York tribune., 1896-11-30
HE SAW LTNCOLN KILLED.
STORIES TOLD AT THE PROFESSIONAL
WOMAN'S LEAGUE on BAZAAR DAY"

At the Professional womans League day last
week. while the members rked diligently over
! the novelties being made for thc coming ba znar.
the question came up: rs there anybody living
who Lincoln assassnated"
| Immediately everybody had something 10 say
J about somebody else who had friend who was AZ
the theatre that night. The most interesting story
was told of William Wthers, jr, low orchestra
leader for Mr. DAILY bur at the time OF the assassi-
nation leader of the Chestra OF Ford's Theatre.
/ Mr. Withers enjoys the distinction of having not
only been at the theatre the night Lincoln was as
! sassinated but OF having been pierced by the dag
ger Of the assassin just few moments after Booth
| had fired the shot that made Lincoln martyr
| Every time he goes to Washington he is requested
| TO tell this story. and although many and varied
are the ractas Of this thrilling event Mr. Withers
IS somewhat different from the others. Here Is the
| story as he tells II In "The Washington Post
Il was leader Of the orchestra at the time. and as
! the President witness the performance or
| our Amerio an Cousin. thought that as behtted
| the occasion | would compose a song. So did. IL
was entitled Honor 10 our Soldiers. and dedicated
| TO the President This was to be sung between two
of the acts by a quartet had engaged and the
entire company who were TO be aitired III the
American colors.
LAS my way 10 the theatre m"' JON"
Wilkes Booth just In front of George Harry sa-
LOOM which adjoined the theatre 1t was sul'ry
night and Booth had his overcoat over his arm
Good evening Billy he said. Come and ha' =
some thing
"As was leaving to enter the theatre Booth re,
marked: IN witness the performance Ioainen'
noticed nothing strange about his derneanoi ana
subsequently saw him as was coming out ior '"e
overture ,.o >,o,or po,,,ors and
Robert and Tad entered their box sisnaIled ioI
Hall to the Chief and the aunlthc" M oh rn.n 'i1 h
seated himself. and with his accustomed ino"'SS
drew the curtains half across the box .
After the first act j. =. Wright. the stage man
ager word he would he unable to nave .. ,nr
have it rendered between the second and third acts
similar message was sent to me AZ ,h' los ,1 81
started to go upon the stage When ! saw i,oo,n a.,
on balcony walking down The aisle IN the Hi
attentive toward the acting. for ne curtain han
Ier whose Office sficrward learned was TO turn
out the lights In the theatre as soon az 'he s"o
was fred. He obstructed my passage T., ~
What do you want here? he demanded In re re-
ply told him ii WAS none OF ms nusinGssc i,so ", ON
NE stage aongsiGe the box in which was tn. ap-
paratus for Illuminating the tncanG 70 ,h man.
aCer UNCONSCIOUS that was spelling ne pan. -,
Mr. Wright told me IN" song Sd TSna M,ss * cene had
sent word to the President requesting MN 10 S'"'
- was ius, about to return to the orchestra when
tho crack of a revolver startled me All was que,
instantly saW s,ase "'n II was 1 Booth lie ran directly
toward the door leading into the a.E l,s ~ .ou T.,
hroTgn, h and h'i he wav"d t threatenngy H. ev
IDENTITY did not recognize me, for he appearen lh. l "
az and his hair dishevclled , ,,.
'.With head down he ran toward me a',u az, Ln,T
e, -, ,,. u,ss lie lashc1 me ana the KIM"
~ i..' rn,,gh my coat vest and underclo hing. lie
struck again the point Of The & Weap1n 1rogb m 10
.iie .i 49, / Watched him make his ext in'o IN"
aIIev and caught sight of the horse held ny ''"
nut John. =, 49,, ,,,,o,co was something
.crrihle Several actors. including fiari! Hamno'
r,isbcd out and q man VINO prove" W w '''
trn M ed me up AMI said: i arrest You ,,,.
What's this al about" asked ID s,a"'.r .rna
, ,ras nuicklv told what was the nlati'I. ~
,homrbt IA shed across my mind that Booth was 'ho
assassin .,,oo .,o,,on and nv deposi-
lion was received in the presence o inr MayTr mai
,oh Tb,, was ] believe. the first intima non Ihi.
~ h had of the identity Of the murderer was at
he ,ria OF the oonspiraors. and the second 70 se
testimony. My wound healed III s'o'' ""