Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-04-17
BOOTHS MEETING WITH w1THERs
1t was sultry night and Booth had his

1t was a sultry night and Booth had his
oVercoat over his arm. Good evening,
Billy he said come have something?
"As / was leaving to enter the theater
Booth remarked: I'll witness the perform
ance tonight 1 noticed nothing strange
about his demeanor, and subsequently saw
him as was coming out for the overture.
Soon the president, his wife, Maj. Rath-
bone. and Robert and Tad entered their
box. l signaled for Hail to the Chief and
the audience chcered and the president
turned smilingly and bowed. Then he
seated himself, and with his accustomed
modesty drew the curtains half across the
box.
After the first act ]. P. Wright, the
stage manager, sent me word he would be
unable to have the special song sung at
that time, but would try to have ii rendered
between the second and third acts. A
similar message was sent me at the close of
the second act, and l became somewhat
exercised. l started to go upon the stage,
when l saw Booth in the balcony, walking
down the aisle. in the direction of the
presidents box. He was seemingly at
tentively toward the acting, for the curtain
had again gone up. 1 encountered a scene
shifter, Spangler, whose office, afterward
learned, was to turn out the lights in the
theater as soon as the shot was fired. He
obstructed my passage
"'What do ouwant here? he demanded
In reply / told him 1t was none of his busi-
ness. Mr.. Wright appearing, Spangler left
his position on the stage alongside OF the
box in which was apparatus for illumin-
ating the theater. / closed the lid of the
box and sat upon 1t to talk to the manager,
unconscious that l was spelling the plan.
Mr.. Wright told me the song would be
sung at the close of the performance, and
Miss Keene had sent word to the president
requesting him to stay and hear it.
Il was just about to return to the
orchestra when the crack of a revolver
startled me. All was quiet instantly.
saw man jump from the presidents box
on to the stage 1t was Booth. He ran di-
rectly toward the door leading into the
alley. This course brought him right into
my path. He had dagger in his hand, and
he waved 1t threateningly. He evidently
did not recognize me, for he appeared like a
maniac, his eyes seemed starting from,
their sockets. and his hair was disheveled
with head down he ran toward me and
cried: Let me pass. He slashed at me
and the knife cut through my coat vest
| and underclothing. He struck again, tho
point of the weapon penetrating the back
of my neck, and the blow brought me to
the floor. / watched him make his exit into
the alley, and caught sight of the horse
held by Peanut john
THE commotion In the audience was
something terrible. Several actors, includ.
ing Harry Hawke, rushed out, and a mar
who proved to be a detective lifted me up
and said: i arrest you.'
whats this all aboutT ! asked. I'm
stabbed l was quickly told what was tho
matter. The thought flashed across my
mind that Booth was the assassin.
II was taken to the police station and my
deposition was received in the presence OF
Mayor Wallach. That was l believe, the
first intimation that they had of the identi.
ty of the murderer. l was at the trial OF
the conspirators, and the second to give
testimony. My wound healed in short
time"
SMITH d. FRY