The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-15
WILKES BOOTH STABBED HIM.
LEADER OF FORDS THEATER
ORCHESTRA DIES IN NEW YORK.
william 2. Withcrs's Story OF the Assassinn.
tlon OF L!nroln-He Was Arrested on
Suspic!on caused Identification OF
Nlurdercr-iI History Corrected In Details

| led the orc heatra of Ford's Theatcr, Wash
ington, the night of April IA, 1865, when
/ President Lincoln was shot. Is dead at
his home in that place at the age OF
/ 10. Wi!kcs Booth stabbed him after
leaping from the Presidents box to the
stage and detective arrested him. In
the confusion Of the moment many In the
theater beloved Withers fred the shot
that killed Lincoln. Hundreds screamed
Kill him! Shoot him. and he was dragged
out of the angry mob to the stage just in
time to lie saved from being badly hurt.
The old man retained wildly a recullec-
ton of the incidents of that terrible April
night. just before his death he told the
story to some friends.
Laura Keene's company was at Ford's
Theater that night" said he. 1T was Good
Friday. The play was Our American
Cousin with Laura Keene as the star
Il was young and enthusiastic then and
had composed a song which called Honor
to Our Soldiers Miss Keene had promised
me that it should be sung between the acts,
and had engaged a quartet.
"The entrance of the Presidential party
was entirely unexpected and it dashed my
hopes of hearing my composition sung.
In the party were the President, Mrs. Lin
coin, the two boys. Tad and Robert, and
Major Rathbone. They walked to box
on the right OF the stage and about fourteen
feet above Its level.
"How the audience cheered, and how my
orchestra crashed out Hail to the Chiefl
remember as distinctly as if 1t were to-day
how Mr.. Lincoln rose and bowed to the au-
dienoe and the orchestra with fine smile
on his big plain face. Then he withdrew
modestly to far corner Of the box, where
his face was shaded by curtain. He did
not sit in the front OF the box. History
says SO, believe, but remember perfectly
that he didn't.
wilkes Booth and I had had drink
together before the overture. He was
an cratic, spasmodio sort of chap, who did
queer things and would snap you up like
ANYTHING all of q sudden, but l noticed that
night he seemed more than usually tdgety
and excitable.
What's come over Booth tonight
said to member of the orchestra. He
was moving down the passageway leading
to the Presidents box. but he seemed
to be Watching the progress Of the play.
This was near the end of the first act.
Just then j. B; Wright, the prompter,
cided it was impossible to put on my song.
The arrival of the President had made
her nervous and she was afraid something
would happen to mar the play. l started
for the rear of the stage to see Wright
and get him to demonstrate with Miss
keene.
just inside the door leading to the point
I wished to reach the box containing the
governor which controlled the gas jets
Of the whole building was placed. SPangler,
a scene shifter was leaning over this box,
apparently watching the play.
/. lot n Of m I said to him.
What business have you here?' he
asked.
"He moved away from the box, and be-
fore he could get back to it, as he evidently
intended to do, the whistle blew and he had
to help make changes for the next scene;
| went on and saw Mr. Wright. He told
me the best he could do was to have my
song put on at the end OF the last act OF the
play, when knew there wouldn't be any
body left to hear it.
stepped down one step of the stairs when
a pistol shot cracked 1 stopped. wheeled
about and saw a mans body. whirl ling
through the air from the Presidents box
to the stage Half way his foot caught
foot orumpled under him, He was up
again In an instant and made for me with
a dagger flashing In the gaslight.
Il saw it was Booth, His face was fright
full. 1t was white; the skin was drawn
and seemed to stand out from his head.
LET me passl Let me pass!' he screamed
like wild beast
Il was stupid from surprise and terror.
I stood and stared and didn't open my
mouth Ee crouched and leaped at me
lunging with his dagger as he sprang. The
blade cut through my dress coat, waist
coats and shirts. but didn't Craze the skin.
He sprang again, leaping high in the air
and struck a. me- e thu
my neck and l fell to the floor with my |
face toward the rear door.
Booth leaped over me, swung the door |
wide and dashed through, slamming it |
after him. 1t was black enough outside
but the light from the stage gave me pic
ture out there I'll never forget. recog,,
nized the head OF old Peanut John and !
saw he was holding two horses.
"The house was roaring and the stage
was full of people by then. detective
collared ME and dragged me to my feet:
People crowded around me. shouting Kill
him and Shoot him
What is it2 asked the detective,
Look said he holding me tightly
and pointing to the Presidents box.
II saw the head Of the President hang
ing over the rail Of the box. His face was
very white. Mrs. Lincoln was wping his
forehead with a handkerchief while Laura
keene stood beside her with pitcher Of
water
He has said the detective. You are
under arrest
Il told my story at the police station,
where it was easy enough to. prove my |
innocence, assured them that it was
Wilkes Booth and that he had escaped. |
When the dagger was found an hour later
in front of the Patent Office l was dis
charged.
1T will be remembered that the scene |
shifter. Spangler, afterward confessed his |
share in the plot. He was to have turned
out all the lights at the sound of pistol
shot Had it not been for me, he declared,
the house would have been in total dark
been identified and would have escaped
in the darkness"
Mr.. Withers's last engagement was
under Augustin DAILY when @The Geisha"
was produced. Since then he suffered
from an abscess Of the ear and lived quietly
at home. He was soldier in the civil war,
going to Ford's Theater at the close OF fight
ing to lead the orchestra.
WILL NOT BE PAROLED.