New York Herald 1865

Full Title

New York Herald 1865

Description

New York Herald newspaper regarding the Lincoln assassination and identifying John Wilkes Booth as the shooter.

Transcription

"IMPORTANT. ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. The President Shot at the Theatre Last Evening. SECRETARY SEWARD DAGGERED IN HIS BED, BUT NOT MORTALLY WOUNDED. Clarence and Frederick Seward Badly Hurt. ESCAPE OF THE ASSASSINS. Intense Excitement in Washington. Scene at the Deathbed of Mr. Lincoln. J. Wilkes Booth, the Actor, the Alleged Assassin of the President."

"Major General Dix, New York:-
This evening at about 9:30 P.M., at Ford's Theatre, the President, while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Harris and Major Rathburn, was shot by an assassin, who suddenly entered the box and approached behind the President. The assassin then leaped upon the stage, brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape in the roar of the theatre. The pistol ball entered the back of the President's bead and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal. The President has been insensible ever since it was inflicted, and is now dying. About the same hour an assassin, wheahter the same or not, entered Mr. Seward's apartments, and under pretense of having a prescription, was shown to the Secretary's sick chamber. The assassin immediately rushed to the bed and inflicted two or three stabs on the throat and two on the face. It is hoped the wounds may not be mortal. My _______ is that they will prove fatal. ___a nurse alarmed Mr. Frederick Seward, who was in an adjoining room, and he hastened to the door of his father's room, when he met the assassin, who inflicted upon him one or more dangerous wounds. The recovery of Frederick Seward is doubtful. It is not probable that the President will live through the night. General Grant and wife were advertised to be at the theatre this evening, but he started to Burlington at six o'clock this evening. At a Cabinet meeting, at which General Grant was present, the subject of the state of the country and the prospect of a speedy peace were discussed. The President was very cheerful and hopeful, and spoke very kindly of General Lee and others of the confederacy, and of the establishment of government in Virginia. All the members of the Cabinet except Mr. Seward, are now in attendance upon the President. I have seen Mr. Seward, but he and Frederick were both unconscious.- Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War."

"POSTSCRIPT. DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT!! Condition of Secretary Seward. Ten Thousand Dollars Reward Offered for the Arrest of the Assassins. J. Wilkes Booth Identified as the Murderer of the President."

"To Major General Dix:-
The President continues insensible and is sinking. Secretary Seward remains without change. Fredrick Seward's skill is fractured in two places, besides a severe cut upon the head. The attendant is still alive but hopeless. Major Seward's wounds not dangerous. It is now ascertained with reasonable certainty that two assassins were engaged in the horrible crime, Wilkes Booth being the one that shot the President, and the other a companion of his whose name is not known, but whose description is so clear that he can hardly escape. It appears from a letter found in Booth's trunk that the murder was planned before the 4th of March, but fell through then because the accomplice backed out until "Richmond could be heard from." Booth and his accomplice were at the livery ____ at six o'clock last evening, and left there with their horses about ten o'clock, or shortly before that hour. It would appear that they had for several days been seeking their chance,but for some unknown reason it was not carried into effect until last night. One of them has evidently made his way to Baltimore-the other has not yet been traced.---Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War."

"To Major General Dix, New York:-
Abraham Lincoln died this morning at twenty-two minutes after seven o'clock.---Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War."

"Our Special Washington Despatch. Washington, April 15-8 A.M.
The President died at half-past seven o'clock this morning. The bells throughout the city are tolling. The public departments and most of the places of business are closed. Secretary Seward is pretty comfortable this morning, the wounds inflicted upon him not being dangerous in themselves, but serious for his advanced age and previously weak-condition. Mr. Frederick Seward is very dangerously wounded, his skull having been fractured by a blow from the butt of a pistol in the hand of the assassin. The most profound sensation prevails here and the deepest realization of the irreparable loss which the nation has sustained pervades the minds of the people."

Source

Montgomery County Historical Society

Rights

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Tags

• transcribed

• grief

• mourning

Cite this Item

U.S. Department of War, Washington D.C.. "New York Herald 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed November 21, 2024. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/839

Item Type

Newspaper

Creator

U.S. Department of War, Washington D.C.

Date

April 15, 1865