Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-10-10
LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION.


my three months association with
Abraham Lincoln, there are two
things of which | feel that I must
speak. The first question relates to
the circumstances of the assassination
of President Lincoln. 1t has never
been made public before.
l have often wondered why the neg.
ligence of the guard who accompanied
the President to the theatre on the
night of the 14th has never been di-
vulged. So far as | know it was nev-
er even investigated by the police de-
partment. Yet, had he done his duty
| believe President Lincoln might not
have been murdered by Booth. The
man was John Parker. He was ma
tive of the District, and had volun-
guards had done, in response to the
Presidents 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.
II was the custom for the guard
who accompanied the President to
the theatre to remain in the little pas
Sageway outside the boX-that pas
sageway through which Booth en-
tered Mr.. Buckingham, who was the
doorkeeper at Ford's Theatre, remem-
bers that 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 almost Immediately. for he
confessed to me the next day that he
went to a scat at the front of the first
gallery so that he could see the play.
The door of the Presidents box was
shat; probably MIR. 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 thea
trc in restless, excited manner
think there can be no doubt that he
was studying the scene of his intend
ed crime, and that he observed that
Parker, whom he must have been
watching, was not at his post. TO me
it is very probable that the fact that
there was 10 ono on guard may have
determined the time of his attack.
Booth had found it necessary to stim-
ulate himself with whisky in order to
reach the proper pitch Of fanaticism
Had he found man at the door OF
the Presidents box armed with a
Colts revolver, his alcohol courage
might have evaporatcd.
However that may be. Parker's alb,
sencc had much to do with the sue,
cess of Booths purpose. The assas,
sin was armed with dagger and q
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, during one of his five visits OF
inspection, had certainly had an op'
portunity to observe that the General
was absent. The dagger, which was
noiseless, was intended for any one
who might intercept him before he
could fire. The pistol, which was
noisy and would arouse pursuit, was
for the President. AS 1t happened
since the attack was a complete sur
prise, Major Rathbone, who, the Pres
ident having been shot, attempted tC
! 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 tina
! night-he would have been stabbed
/ probably killed. The noise of tht
! Standardization could surely have
! managed to make some eoutcry-woult
! have given the alarm. Major Rath
j bone was a brave man, and the Presi
! dent was brave man and of enor
NOUS muscular strength. 1t woult
have been an easy thing for the TIVE
men to have disarmed Booth, wh'
WAS not a man of great physica
strength. 1t was the suddenness o
his attack on the President that mad
it so devilishly successful. 1t make
me feel rather bittor when | remem
Der that the President had said, jus
a few hours before, that he knew h
could trust all his guards. And the
TO think that in that one moment O
test one of us should have utterl
failed him! Parker knew that he ha
failed in duty lie looked like cor
victed criminal the next day. He wa
never the same nlan afterward. =
NNm. II. Crook, IN Harpers.