The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-16
SAW LINCOLN SHOT
THREE INDIANAPOLIS MEN WHO
WE'RE AT FORD's THEATER.
8. e. TiIford John s. INC and
that EventfuI Night In 60.

There are three men living in Indianapolis
to-day who saw the assassination of Presi-
dent Abraham Lincoln. They sat together
in the old Ford Theater at Washington on
the fatal night of April IA, 1865, and wit
messed every detail of the tragedy that
shocked the Nation. These men are Sam
uel e. Tilford, bailiff of Room 2, Superior
Court; Morris Defrees, of No. "a West
Michigan street. and John S. Duncan, of
the law firm of Duncan, Smith & Horn
brook.
They were all young then-mere striplings
from seventeen to twenty years of age.
But the events of that night are still fresh
in their minds. Samuel Tilford, or Sam"
as he is best known to his friends, was
the Oldest Of the trio. He tells the story
with thrilling interest. Tilford had seen a
year or more Of active service on the bat
tlefeld at the time Of the assassination,
but the other two boys were much younger
and had had little experience away from
the parental roof. Young Defrees was liv-
ing in Washington at the time. his father,
John M. Defrees having been appointed
public printer. Young Tilford enlisted early
in the rebellion. He went to the old Union
Station one night with his cousin to see
some of the troops depart for the front,
and caught the martial spirit.
I'm going,'' declared the young man.
Tell my people we gone and an hour
later Tflford had put on the uniform OF
his country and was one of Gen. Fred
Knefier's boys. He afterward came home
on a furlough, returned to the front again,
and late in the year 1864 met with an acct
dent while riding on the field that brought
him back to indianapolis on sick leave.
While not able to stand the hard cam
p~aigning in the field, Tilford was still an
active young fellow, and his government
found something for him to do. Army
mules were in great demand, and the de-
partment was shipping them to Washington
from all parts of the country. Indiana was
contributing literally and many a trainload
of these animals left Indianapolis consigned
to the national capital. Sam Ttlford was
put in charge of this work and made sew
eral trips to Washington. Early in April
of 1866 he made preparations to start with
another trainload of mules. He was ac-
companied on this trip by John S. Duncan,
who was then a sturdy young fellow of
seventeen or eighteen. Tflford and young
Duncan had been companions from child
hood and they anticipated a fine time to-
gether in Washington.
1--WE got there the night before the as
sassination Of Lincoln" said Mr.. Tilford,
in recounting the story, 'and stopped for
the night at the Willard Hotel. On the
following morning we picked up a play
bill of Ford's Theater and saw the an
nouncement that President Lincoln and
wife and General Grant would oc-
cupy a box in the theater that
night. The play, 1 believe. was to be
"Our American Cousin" John and / made
up our minds to attend the theater and
then it was suggested that we go out and
find Morris Defrees, whom we both knew
we'll, he having been an Indianapolis boy.
We went over to the government printing
Office and there found Morris. Before we
left him it was arranged that we three go
to the theater together that night. Even
ing came and found us in comfortable seats
in the parquette of Ford's Opera House. We
were near the stage and but a short dis
lance from the box which the President
and party were to occupy. l remember
distinctly how the interior of the house
looked to me. 1t was a brilliant audience
and distinctly military. There were army
officers from the different G~..v!sions of the
army and they were there Ill their bright
est uniforms. Everywhere the national
colors were prominent. The scene was
pretty and inspiring.
9TH President and party were late in
arriving and / think the second act was
almost on before they came. In the mean
time we boys were busy looking about us.
l remember that just before the curtain
went up on the first act Morris Defrees
called attention to a man who stood lean
ing against the Presidents box. l look
and saw a tall, dark man of fine appear
ance.
"Do you know who that tsp asked
Morris.
"'No, I do not 1 said.
That is Wilkes Booth, the actor re-
marked Morris.
II paid no especial attention to the man
and scarcely gave him a second glance. A
| few moments later the curtain went up and
we got interested in the play. l remember
when the President came in and took his
seat in the box the audience greeted him
enthusiastically. l don't recall now how
many there were in the party, but 1 re-
member an officer who 1 thought wore the
uniform of a colonel. The curtain had
gone up on the second act and the people
had just come on the stage, as 1 remember
it. when a shot was fired. For an instant
1 thought as did many others that it was
a part of the play. Then l looked over
toward the President and saw the COM
motion in his box. 1 saw j. Wilkes Booth
with a knife in his hand strike at the Of
hcer who accompanied the President, and
then saw him leap from the box. AS he
jumped he caught his foot in a flag and
fell to the stage. 1 don't think we three
boys spoke a word during the time this
was going on. I remember we rushed
toward the box but / got lost from the
other fellows. / didn't see John Duncan
- .-A:1 q soI11l~ 4Io -n1~t or~;o v-L.z
he came into the hotel. I'll venture there
are few cities in the country that have
three men who sat together that night and
saw that tragedy"
The silly Girl.