Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-10-17
LTNcoLN's GUARD ABSENT.
GSr Booth, the Assassin, Saw and
Seized His Opportunity.


Now that l have told the story Of
my three months association with
Abraham Lincoln, there are two things
of which l feel that l must speak. The
first question relates to the circum-
stances of the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln. 1t has never been made
public before, says William H. Grove
in Harper's.
L have often wondered why the neg
ligence of the guard who accompanied
the President TO the theater on the
night of the 18th has never been di-
vulged. So far as know, it was never
even investigated by the police depart
ment. Yet, had he done his duty. be-
lieve President Lincoln might not have
been murdered by Booth. The man
was John Parker He was a native
of the District and had volunteered,
as l believe each of the other guards
had done, In response to the Presi-
dents first call for troops from the
District. He is dead now and as far
as have been able to discover all of
his family. SO it is no unkindness TO
speak of the costly mistake he made.
1t was the custom for the guard
who accompanied the President to the
theater to remain in the little passage
way outside the bOX-that paSSageway
through which Booth entered Mr.
Buckingham, who was the doOrkeeper
at Ford's Theater, remembered that a
chair was placed there for the guard
on the evening of the 14th. Whether
Parker occupied it at all do not know
Mr.. Buckingham is of the impression
that he did. If he did he left it al
most Immediately; for he confessed to
me the next day that he went to a
seat at the front of the first gallery
so that he could see the play. The door
of the Presidents box was shut: PROB
ably Mr.. Lincoln never knew that the
guard had left his post.
Mr.. Buckingham tells that Booth
was in and out of the house five times
before he finally shot the President
Each time he looked about the theater
in a restless, excited manner. 1 think
there can be no doubt that ne was
studying the scene of his intended
crime and observed that Parker, whom
he must have been watching, was not
at his post. To me it is very probable
that the fact there was no one on
guard may have determined the time
of his attack. Booth had found It
necessary to stimulate himself with
pitch of fanaticism Had he found a
man at the door of the Presidents box
armed with a Colts revolver his alco-
hol courage might have evaporated.
However that may be, Parker's alb
sence had much to do with the sue
cess of Booths purpose. The assassin
was armed with a dagger and pistol
The story used to be that the dagger
was intended for General Grant when
the President had been despatched.
That is absurd While it had been
announced that General and Mrs.
Grant would be in the box, Booth, dur
ing one of his five visits of inspection,
had certainly had an opportunity to
observe that the general was absent
The dagger, which was noiseIess. was
intended for any one who might inter
cept him before he could fire. The
pistol, which was noisy and would
arouse pursuit, was for the President.
AS it happened, since the attack was
a complete surprise, Major Rathbone,
who, the President having been shot,
attempted to prevent Booths escape,
received the dagger in his arm.
Had Parker been at his post at the
back of the bOX-Booth still being de-
termined to make the attempt that
night-he would have been stabbed.
probably killed. The noise of the
Struggle-Parker could surely have
managed to make some outcry-would
have given the alarm. Maj. RathbOne
was a brave man and the President
was a brave man and of enormous
muscular strength. 1t would have
been an easy thing for the two men
to have disarmed Booth, who was not
man of great physical strength. 1t