Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-04-17
SAW LINCOLN KILLED
WILLIAM WRITER'S. LEADER OF FoRD's
ORCHESTRA, TELLS HIS EXPERIENCE

Had written = Song For That Particular
Perfornance-W~- Oh the Stage and
Booth Struck Him with q DagEer-He
Was First 60 Identity the Assassin.
At the Professional WOman's league,
while the members worked diligently
over the novelties being made for the
coming bazaar, the question came up,
lis there anybody living who saw Lin
coin assassinated?"
Immediately everybody had some
thing to say about somebody else who
had friend who was at the theater that |
night The most interesting story was
told of William Withers, Jr.. now or
chestra leader for MIR. DAILY, but at the
time of the assassination leader Of the
orchestra Of Ford's theater.
Mr.. withers enjoys the distinction of
having not only been ut the theater the
night Lincoln was assassinated, but OF
having been pierced by the dagger Of
the assassin just a few moments after
Booth had fired the shot that made Lin
coin a martyr Every time he goes to
Washington he is requested to tell this
story, and, although many and varied
are the recitals Of this thrilling event.
| Mr.. Withers' is somewhat different from
the others Here is the story as he tells
il in the Washington Post:
Il was leader of the orchestra at the
| time, and as the president was to wit
ness the performance of Our American
Cousin 1 thought that. as beftted the
occasion, would compose a song. So
did 1t was entitled Honor to Our Sol
diers' and dedicated to the president
This was to be sung between two of the
acts by q quartet had engaged and the
entire company, who were TO be attired
in the American colors-
Gas was on my way to the theater
met John Wilkes Booth just in front
of George Harry's saloon, which adj
joined the theater. 1t was sultry
night, and Booth had his overcoat over
his arm. Good evening, Billy, he said.
I Come and have something?
LAS was leaving to enter the thea
b ter Booth remarked, IN witness the
performance tonight Noticed nothing
e strange about his demeanor and subse
Quently saw him as was coming on
for the overture.
"Soon the president, his wife, Majo
. Rathbone and Robert and Tad entere'
: their box. 1 signaled for Hail to tn
e Chief, and the audience cheered, ant
r the president turned smilingly an
+, lowed Then he seated himself, an
with his accustomed modesty drew tn
> curtains bali across tae box.
after tie first act ]. p Wright, til
stage manager, sent me word he woul
= lee unable TO have the special song sun
n at that time, but he would try to hav
i it rendered between the second and thir
acts. A similar message was sent to IN
Ar at the close Of the second act, and 1 b'
~ came somewhat exercised. / started
"a go upon the stage when saw Booth Q
q the balcony walking down the aisle
a. the direction of the presidents box. Z
was seemingly attentive toward the &C
=, ing, for the curtain had again gone N
N l encountered a scene shifter, Spangle
lac whose Office l afterward learned was
nd turn out the lights in the theater as 500
in as the shot was fired. He INSTRUCTED n
DO Passage.
a. What do you want here?' he d
manded. In reply told him 1t w
u. none of his business. Mr.. Wright q
20 pearing, Spangler left his position
no the stage alongside the box in viii
was the apparatus for illuminating t
)ol theater. / closed the lid of the box a
)ut sat upon it TO talk to the manager, U
conscious that / was spelling the plan
he "Mr. Wright told me the song woJ
my DO nung at the close of the performan
~ and Miss keene had sent word to
Ia president requesting him to stay
hear it
Of II was Just about to return to the
~. chestra when the crack of q revol
any startled me. All was quiet instantly.
eve saw man jump from the presider
her box ON to the stage. 1t was Booth.
to ran directly toward the door lead
tel into the alley. This course brought h
I ~, right in my path. He had a dagger
- his hand, and he waved it threateni
~ He evidently did not recognize !
hi- for he appeared like a maniac. His e
,rse seemed starting from their sockets, 1
Ioes his hair was disheveled.
nan with head down, he ran toward
and cried, Let me pass? He slasheC
me, and the knife cut through my CT
4. vest and underclothing. He str
again, the point of the weapon penetl
ing the back of my neck, and the b
brought me 10 the uOOr. i watched
make his exit into the alley and eau
o' sight of the horse, held by Pea
John.
i'ei THE commotion in the audience
uoy something terrible Several actors,
~ ~ Guiding Harry Hawke, rushed out,
"'n a man who proved to be detective
ed me up and said. i arrest you
Aoss What's this all about? l asl
DC I'm stabbed / was quickly told v
eri- was the matter. The thought fias
nii1y across my mind that Booth was the
sassin.
,.e st was taken to the police stat
ils and my deposition was received in
peen presence of Mayor Wallach- That '
r'eIs believe, the first intimation that
mai mai had of the identity\of the murderer
arrei was at the trial Of the conspirators
! 'ne the second to give testimony. Ny We
o VI healed in short time.
own