The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-07-05


One of the few men living to-day,
the only man in indianapolis, and per-
haps in the Hoosier State, who can re
call the assassination of Abraham Lin
coin, the martyr President, April IA.
1865, as an eye witness Of the tragedy
is Professor William H De Motto, an
inspector in the science department. OF
the Indiana Institute for the Deaf and
Dumb.
Professor De Note is now 20 years
old, and is one of the pioneer residents
of the city. He was seated in the Ford
Theater when the historic event took
place. 1t was expressly to see Presi-
dent Lincoln and General Grant, who
was to have accompanied him to the
theater, that he, with two friends, had
were among the closest spectators of
the deed of John Wilkes Booth, the
assassin, and as the body of Lincoln
was borne from the theater they could
shave dipped their hands In the mar
tyr's blood . as Professor De Motto ex
presses it.
Professor De Motto can relate much
of interest about the stirring times
which followed the surrender of Gen
eral Lee OF the Confederate Army TO
General Grant And particularly
graphic is his account Of the assassi-
nation. Il was serving at the time"
states Professor De Motto, sin Wash
ington as military and sanitary agent
for Indiana, an Office created by Gov
ernor Morton, to look after the In
diana soldiery which was disabled OF
in need of attention for other reasons.
My attendance at the theater resulted
from the presence Of two friends who
wished to see Lincoln and Grant Pres
ident Lincoln was seated partially be-
hind flag which draped the box.
Grsns had not vet arrived Mrs. Lin
coin was In plain view, and we were
waiting for the President to move that
we might have a better view of his
face. when we noticed a tall. slender
man. dressed neatly in black. pass
along the balcony and into the Presi-
dents bex. We heard a pistol shot
and then saw the man step to the front
railing Of the box, and with a light.
graceful motion spring toward the
stage. A spur on his heel caught the
flag and be fell with one leg crushed
under him. We saw him rise and stag
ger to his feet. Then raising aloft a
dagger his words, Sic semper tyran-
MIS- Kissed In a stage whisper, fell
clearly on our ears. He walked in
deliberate manner diagonally across
the stage and disappeared In the wings.
Not until actors of the company had
| come before us and exclaimed. The
| President is shotv did the audience
realize the tragedy they had witnessed
| Booth had escaped. Some histories
| have it he said, The South is aveng-
ed If he said these words l did not
| hear Them"
Professor De Motto describes in an
interesting manner the scenes that fol-
| lowed. He states that feeling of awe
| at the boldness and the awfulness OF
the deed seemed to Cypress the crowds
| so that there were no demonstrations
of a rIotcus nature until after the body
! was removed He was one of the few
who were permitted to see the body OF
the President at the White House fol-
| lowing his death.
Professor De Motto rarely speaks Of
the experience which was his in being
witness Of one Of the most notable
events of history. He has been per-
| suaded only once or twice to address
| audiences of students at the institute
| where he is an instructor. and never
outside. He states that the reminis-
cence has depressing and saddening
| effect He has frequently noted the
deaths of witnesses Of the tragedy In
newspapers, and believes he is one Of
! the very few survivors of that historic
audience-American Tribune.