Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1912-10-27
Three Presidents Have Died
as the Victims of AssasSins


States have fallen victims 10 assas
sins Lincoln, Garfield and Mckinley
The assassination of Lincoln, tbs
I first victim. occurred on the evening
/ OF April IS. 1865, in Ford's theater,
I Washington The slayer was John
Wilkes Booth. member OF the famous
theatrical family OF that name and
| himself an actor Of unusual ability.
The play Of the evening was ~Our
American cousin and the house was
crowded. The end of the war was
| in sight and the whole nation breath
ed more freely than il had done dur
ing the preceding four years. Lincoln
was at the aI'eX OF his popularity.
The presidential party was greeted
with a burst OF applause when they
entered the box set apart for their
use.
Fortunately, as later events proved.
the box was draped with bunting and
American flags, in honor OF its occu-
pancy by the Chief Magistrate
The play was about half through
and the audience was intent upon the
stage when q scuftie and shot were
heard from the presidential box. Col
lowed by the sharp cry OF a woman.
and a cry Seize him" in o mans
voice. Booth had entered the box
from the rear and shot the president
in the head
Then they were startled to see a
man clambering over the edge of the
draped box. brandishing a dagger in
his hand and defying anyone to stop
him.
Spurs Catch in Bunting
AS the man leaped from the box
to the stage floor one of his spurs
caught in the bunting and he was
thrown heavily, one leg being broken.
II is tradition that as he made the
jump he cried, Sic semper tyrannis
THUS be IL always TO tyrants.)
Despite Booths injury, the stunned
condition OF everyone present who
realized what had happened enabled
the assassin to get away from the
rhelter and 10 a nearby corner.
where fellow conspirators were wait
ing with horses. They dashed TO the
river, where a boat was waiting to
convey them across tlIe Potomac.
For weeks little band Of conspif.
ators, lodging about in the marsh
and woodland OF Virginia, evaded cap
ture, although heroic efforts were
made TO get them. Finally the band
began TO be brought in by parties OF
soldiers who had secured the districr,
and extreme precautions were taken
to prevent an attempt at lynChing.
Booth himself only was taken after
barn in which he sought refuge had
been set on fire In addition he was
wounded by the attackers. and dying
later was buried soon afterwards
Body Buried Secretly
Great secrecy characterized the dis
position OF his remains, but probably
the body was put in grave prepared
for il in a nearby military prison,
and then covered with quick lime.
Half a dozen other conspiTatOrs,
who believed that the death of Lin
coin would nullify the effect of TIE
Civil war and restore vitality to the
Lost Cause, were tried before a mill
tary tribunal and found guilty. One
Of them was a woman. With the
others she was hanged, late in the
year 1865.
Lincoln, who died several hours
after he was shot by Booth, twas
brought on a magnificent funeral
train TO Springfield. Illinois, where
the body lies in the oak Ridge Gene
terry, in a fine mausoleum.
James c. Garfield, the second pres
ident of the United States to be fell
ed by an assassin's bullet, was shot
on July 2. 1881, IN the depot at Wash
ington, D. c., while passing through
the waiting room to a train.
The murderer, Charles Guitteau, a
Chicago attorney. was captured by
the ticket agent without making an
effort to escape
Two Shots Were Fired
Two shots were fired, the presi-
cent paying no attention to the first,
which struck him in the right arm
The second bullet took effect on tho
right side, just above the hips and
passed out through his kidneys
The matron OF the station, who was
an eyewitness OF the shooting, i'm
mediafely rushed 10 the side Of the
stricken president, while others sum
moned help,
Garaeld's son was soon on the
scene. together with Cabinet officials
and physicians. and the wounded man
was carried to the White House,
where his condition was found TO be
most serious. -
The news was received by the
country at large with horror. Resi-
no complaint and it is sought to re-