The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-09
SAW LINCOLN AsSAssINATED.
Indiana Man Tells of Experience in
 Old Ford's Theatre.

From the Indianapolis Star.
 There Is a man living in Ladoga who saw the assassination of President Lin coin, who sat in the old Ford theatre at Washington on the fatal night of April 14, 1865, and witnessed every detail of the awful tragedy that shocked the nation, who was one of the first to reach the box and who helped carry the stricken resi- dent from the theatre.
 This man is Samuel E. Tilford, now a mail clerk. He tells the story with thrill ing interest. Although more than forty years have elapsed since that memora ble night, the events are still fresh in his mind.
 MT. Tflford had seen more than a year of active service on the battle field at the time of the assassination, Army mules were in great demand, and were being shipped into Washington from all parts of the country. Sam Tillford was put in charge of tais work, and it was one of these trips that took him to Washington that eventful night
 ''I got there the night before the assas- sination of President Lincoln," said MT. Tillford T was stopping at the old Will lard hotel. On the morning following my arrival l picked up a hand-bill on the street advertising the play of Our AliltIlCdl 1OuSill, lO Dt pldytu ludL night. I saw by the bill that Presiden. Lincoln and his wife and General Grant would occupy box at the theatre. I inn mediately made up my mind to go.
 T knew two other young men in Wash ington named Defrees and Duncan, who used to live in Indianapolis I hunted them up, and it was arranged for us to attend the theatre together When even- ing came it found us comfortably seated in the narQInt of EOrdiS theatre We were close to the stage and but a short distance from the box the President was to occupy
 q can distinctly remember how the opera house looked to me that night. It was a brilliant audience and distinctly military. Army officers all in their brightest uniforms. and everywhere the national colors were prominent.
 General Grant did not attend, and the Presidential party waJ late in arriving. I think the second act was nearly over when they came. In the meantime we boys were busy looking about us. I re- member Defrees called my attention to tall, dark man of fine appearance who was leaning against the Presidents box. Do you know who that man is? asked Defrees. No, do not I said. That is Wilkes Booth, the actor he replied.
 When the President came in the audi ence greeted him enthusiastically. I can't recall just how many were in the party, but I remember an officer who wore the uniform of colonel. The curtain had gone up on the second act when the shot was fired. For an instant I thought, like many others that it was a part of the play Then I looked over at the PreSi- dents box and saw the commotion. saw J. Wilkes Booth with a knife in his hand strike at the officer who was in the party, and then saw him leap from the
 t.~ Iii. .r, a flag draped on the Presidents box and fell to the stage. I don't think we boys said a word while all this was going on.
 '.I remember only two or three others reached the Presidents box before l got there By the time we had carried the President to the house across the street things were in a complete uproar. I never found Defrees and Duncan until o'clock next morning.
 MT. Tillford is one of the four living who was an eye witness of the tragedy on that night