The morning times., 1897-02-14
He Was Nearly Imprisoned
When Lincoln Was Shot

Perhaps no one more wildly remembers
the scene OF the night OF Lincoln s assassi-
nation than Mr.. 1. G. Jaquett a soldier of
this city who enlisted and was sworn in
at Harrisburg, Pa, with Company II.
First Rifles. Pennsylvania Reserve VoIun-
teer Corps, May l 8, 1861, and who partici-
pated in several battles while in the ser
vice. His regiment was better known as
''kane's Bucktails,'' among the first to
respond to LincOln's call for three years
men, He recently gave me the following
account Of how near he came to going to
the old Capitol Prison under suspicion as
conspirator.
The night President Lincoln was assassf-
nated,h he said, Il was at the theater
and sat in the dress circle nearly oppo-
site the President, his wife and Major
Rathbone. l went there expecting To see
Gen. Grant, as il was reported that Lin
coin and Grant would both be there. Grant
had been unexpectedly called to New
York and was net there.
We'll, the play was nearly over when
there was pistol shot. Lincoln had been
leaning forward with his arms resting on
the front Of the box. Everyone was quiet.
for it seemed for a moment Lincoln had
dropped his head on his arms apparently
to rest, when there was a sudden shrek
from Mrs. Lincoln then a man Jumped
over the front of the box and hung by
his hands with his face toward the box
ii dropped to the floor. shUffled dia gOnaIly
across the stage with his face toward the
audience and III a tragic manner, with his
hands raised above his head, pistol in
one and dagger in the ether, said some
thing but few understood. ''Sic scInper
tyrannis, and then n terrible excitement
ensued
Men and women wept and moaned
Before Booth got across the stage two
large men by the name OF Stewart, broth
ers, jumped from the orchestra seats, and
triedto catch Booth, but he was soon beyond
their reach.
There was pandemonium in the theater
Doctors hurried to the box to find the
victim still alive but unconscious After
Lincoln was borne away a friend and
1 went into the box. There were double
boxes on each tier, and narrow hall was
made back OF the front box leading TO
the farthest one, and then a petition
down between the two boxes. As the
President was there, this petition was
taken down: leaving the hall still there
door leading from it to the dress circle
Booth, or his assistants, had dug
hole in the wall (before handi and papered
it over. That night he placed a stick in
the hole, and the e nd pressed against the
lock of the door to the end of the hall.
Waiting his chance while all would he
looking at the play, Booth fired. Wen,
the door to the hall had been burst open
and the stick, about three feet long by
one and one-balf TO two inches. had fallen
te the floor. and as they carried the
President out, blood had fallen on the
stick NEARLY It's entire length 1 picked
up this stick and carried it to my room;
cut All inch. Off II for Il friend who was
very anxious to take it with him TO Maine.
So many were begging pieces of this stick
/ lid it in my room for fear of losing it
altogether.
the next Saturday. n week after the
assassination, "a messenger from the War
Department came to me Just as we were
starting home from the office, ard said
that sergeant aud several; soldiers were
at my boarding place, and were in my
room turning everything 'topsy turvey'
hunting for that stick. as "a link in the
chain of evidence. ! hurried hoEle: the
guard met and seized me as though had
beer murderer. and they We're about To
take INC to the theater. which was the
ccnpany's headquarters yhen the great
government detective, Baker. stepped up,
took me one side. and asked me to state