The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-08-28
Tiny Drop of LlncoIn,s blood.

Tiny Drop of LincoIn's Blood.
An interesting and valuable relic,
which brings wildly to the mind the
historic scene in Ford's theater. Wash
ington, on the eve of April IA, 1865. is
owned by Col. James S. Chase, at one
time a resident of Philadelphia, bur
whose home is now in Brooklyn.
1t is only play bill, but upon IL IL a
GiscoloratiOn made by a tiny drop of
President Lincoln's blood 1t was
picked up just after the tragedy by
john I. Ford, the manager Of the thea
ter He foun1 it on the floor of the
box where it had fallen from the
Presidents hand when the bullet of
Assassin Booth pierced his head. II
lay beneath tn" chair in which the eiti-
zen hero received his death wound.
There was a tiny spot of blood. still
red and warm as it came from the
great heart of Lincoln, Gu the edge.
Mr.. Ford, who was also manager of the
Holiday Street theater, Baltimore, and
the Academy Of Music in this city,
carried the precious paper home, and
only parted with it at the request of
the late A. X. Browne, Of Washington,
who was warm personal friend of the
manager. 1t came into Mr. Brownies
possession while the nation was still
mourning for its idol, ami soon after
his assassin had met justly merited fate
at the hands Of Sergeant Boston Cor
bett. The play bill is somewhat vel
low from age, but is otherwise in an
excellent state CT preservation. The
bloodstain is now a dark brown. The
program is "Our American Cousin"
which was being given for the benefit
of Laura Ike enc. The h!oodstain is
nearly halfway down the program,
opposite the names of John Dyott and
Harry Hawk, Miss Keene's leading sup
port.
This relic came into Colonel Cases
possession nineteen years ago, it hay
ing been bequeathed to him by Mr..
Browne, who was his uncle and a we'll
known Washington lawyer The bill
ID preserved in large frame, which
also contains affldavits in support of
its genulneness and authenticity. One
made by Mr.. Ford at the solicitation
of Mr.. Browne reads:
~, John T. Ford, on oath say that l
presented Mr.. A. K. Browne with
program of the play, Our American
Cousin, which picked up near Presi-
degSt Lincoln's chair when he was as
sassinated, and l. have every reason to
believe that the one hereto attached is
the identical one.
John I. Ford"
"Teste: D. w. Bliss, M. D.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 18th day of November, 1879"
"Th. Harris Hodges,
Notary Public"
The other affidavit is signed by Mr..
Browne and witnessed also by DR..
Bliss, who attended the late President
Garfield during his finPI illness, caused
by Assassin Guiteau's bullet.
Colonel Case prizes dearly this pre-
cious momentO of Lincolns death. He
has received many offers to part with
it, but his one answer has been that
it shall be an heirloom of the Case
family.
There is an interesting story of late
years connected with this program. A
short time before the death of Edwin
Booth, an actors fair was given in New
York for the benefit of the actors fund. |
A stage friend of Colonel Case. who |
knew of his possession, suggested to
the committee having the fair in |
charge that the program be secured for |
exhibition with other rare programs. |
Colonel Case consented, but the day be- |
fore the fair opened Booth became |
aware of the action of the committee
and made a personal request that the
program be not exhibited. The mem