Year: 1865




opportunity by the assassin.


What an Eyewitness says.


Mr.. James 2. Ferguson, who was pres
ent at Ford on the night of the assassina-
ton, makes statement TO the following
purport


He went to the theatre with lady on
Friday night for the express purpose of see
ing General Grant, who was announced to
be present Mr.. Ferguson saw the Presi-
Dental party enter the box, but of course did
not see the Lieutenant General. He, how
ever, continued to watch the box. thinking
the General might intend to slip quietly ln
in order to avoid the demonstrations that
would attend his recognition.


When the second scene of the third act
OF the play was reached, Mr.. Ferguson saw
and recognized) John Wilkes Booth max
ing his way along the dress circle TO the
President S box OF this box MIR. Fergu-
son had an excellent view, being seated IN
the dress circle just opposite TO it, next to
the private boxes on the other side of the
circle This seat he had purposely chosen
10 afford his companion good view OF the
Lieutenant General. and. for the reasons al
ready stated, was narrowly watching the en-
trance TO it.


Mr. Ferguson and Booth had met In the
AFTERNOON anu fDIlNtTscI, anu NCIt htlt az
quainted with each other, so that the for
mer Immediately recognized him. Booth
stopped two steps from the door, took on
his hat, and holding it In his lett hand, lean
ed against the wall behind him. In this at
titude he remained for half minute. then,
adds Mr. Ferguson. he stepped down one
step put his hands on the door of the little
corridor leading to the box, bent his knee
against it, the door opened, Booth entered,
and was for the time hidden from Mr.. Fer
guson sight.


Mr.. Ferguson watched for his appearance
in the box, desiring 70 see who In that party
the actor could be on such intimate terms
with as to feel warranted In taking such a
liberty. Whether Booth shut the door of
the little corridor or left it open behind him.
Mr.. Ferguson fears to state positively; but
from what he observed OF the door, believes
he did shut it, The shot was the next thing
Mr. f. remembers He saw the smoke,
then preceived Booth standing upright with
both hands raised, but at that moment saw
no weapon or anything else in either. Booth
then sprang TO the front of the box, laid
his left hand on the railing in front, was
checked an instant evidently, by his coat or
pants being caught in something or held
back by somebody. Ut was, by Major
Rathburn.


4 post in front obstructed the view of
Mr. Ferguson, Booth soon changed his pO-
sition. and again was clearly seen by Mr. L.
He now had knife in his right hand, which
he also laid upon the railing, as he had al
ready his left, and vaulted out. As his
legs passed between the folds of the flags
decorating the box, his spur, which he wore
on the right heel, caught the drapery, and
brought 1t down, tearing a strip with IT.
" hen he left go the railing he still clutched
the shini ~ knife. He crouched as he fell,
falling on one knee, and putting forth both
hands to help himself recover an erect posi-
ton, which he did with the rapidity and
easy agility of an athelete.


Having recovered his equilibrium, Booth
strobe across the stage to first entrance, pas
sing behind the actor on the stage, Harry
Hawk When he reached the other side
OF the stage, just ere be became invisible by
passing into the entrance, he lookedup, and
Mr. Ferguson said he heard him say, Il
have done 1t, and then he lost sight of him.
Mr.. Ferguson visited the theatre, and
with Miss Harris, the lady who was In the
box with the President, her father, and
Judge Olin, Of the Criminal Court, and
Judge Carter examined the box. The puz-
zling hole in the unused door of the box was
closely scrutinized by the light of a candle,
and was found to possess indubitable marks
of hariag been tcEittled acith a knife The
ball extracted from the head of the Presi-
dent is of much larger diameter than the
hole The edges of the hole show the
marks of knife blade very clearly


When the shot had been fired Miss Har-
ris rose to her feet TO call for water for Mr..
Lincoln. and distinctly noticed a bar of
wood placed across the door of the little
corridor one end resting against the wall in
to which it was partially let by a cut, or rath
er an indentation, scoored in the wall. The
other end was braced against the opposite
side of the door frame. This bar. as the
door opens inward, would effectually delay.
if not wholly prevent, all ingress into the
box from the dress circle, and would also
detain the egress of any one in the box.