The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-08-05


An interesting and valuable relic
which brings wildly 10 the mind the
historic scene 10 Ford's ,hea,er Wash
ineton. on the eve Of April "a. 1865, Is
owned by Col James s. Chase. At ono
time a resident Of Philadelphia. bur
whose home IL now In Brooklyn.
Il r. only q play bin. but upon e Is a
Gifcoloratlon made by a tiny drop Of
President Llnoolns blood. I; was
picked up Just after the tragedy b.
John r. Ford. the manager Of the thea
tit lie founi u on the noor Of the
box where Il had fallen from the
Presidents hand when the ballet Of
Assassin Booth pierced hts head. Il
Jay beneath tn chair In watch the cl.l-
zen hero received his death wound.
There was a tiny spot of blood. still
red and warm no Il cane from he
great heart OF Lincoln. On the edge.
Mr Ford. who was also manager Of the
Holiday Street thcater. Baltimore. and
the Academy u Music In this city.
carried the precious paper home. and
only parted with Il a. tn request OF
tho late A. X. Browne. Of Washington.
who was a warm personal friend Of he
manager. Il came into AZ Browne
possession whlis the nation was still
mourning for Sc idol. ami soon after
his assassin had met Justly merited fate
az the hands OF Sergeant Bofton Cor
hoti. The play bill Is somewhat yel
low from age. hu, Il otherwise IN a.
excellent state a preservation. The
blCodstain h now a dark brown TIL
program q Our Americas Cousin.
which was being given Cor the bene,i
Of Laura Ke ne. The hioodstain Il
nearly halfway down the program
opposite the names oi John Dyott an,
Harry Hawk. Miss Keene'S leading sup
port.
This relic came into Colonel Case
possession nineteen years ago. Il hav
ing been hequcathed to him by Mr.
Browne. who vas his uncle and a well
known Washington lawyer. Tho bll
is preserved In large frame whlcl
also contains afidavlts In support o
rs genulneness and authenticity. On
made by Mr. Ford at the solicitation
OF Mr.. Browne reads:
Il. John 7. Ford. ON oath say that
. presented Mr.. A. X Browne with
program Of the play. Our America
Cousin which picked up near Presl
dent IAncoln's chair when he was al
| sassinatsd. and have every reason I
believe that the one hereto attached
: the Identical one.
John T. Ford
"Teste. u. W. Bliss. ND.
Subscribed and sworn TO before N
\ this 18th day OF November. 1879"
\ "Th. Harris Hodges.
: Notary Public
= The other afidavit Is signed by N
Z Browne and witnessed also by d
n Bllsa. who attended the late Preaidei
2 Garfield during his final illness. caus,
! By Assassin Guiteau's bullet.
y Colonel Case primes dearly this pr
A clous m0mento Of Llncoln's death
a has received many offers 10 part VII
p A. but hla one answer has been M
, Il shall be an heirloom OF the Ca
family.
y There IL an interesting story OF "a
y ycars connected with this program.
y short time before the death Of ,sdw
Booth, an actors fair was given In Ne
York for the benefit Of the actors fun
A stage friend OF Colonel Case. vi
NJ knew OF his possession. suggested
m the committee having the fair
We charge that the program be secured q
'e. exhibition with other rare program
NJ Colonel Case consented. but the day b
x fore the fair opened Booth becau
IN aware Of the action OF the commit
and made a personal request that 4
program be not exhibited The meF
Der % the committee 20 whom Boo
made the request is authority for q
a. abatement that this little incident. dol
In. unthlnklngly. and without intention
Iai causing him sorrow. had the effect
40 casting a gloom over those friends
m. the great actor who knew OF his ave
pa slon 10 even a thought OF considerable
Of the desperate and insane act OF