april american stage actor assassinated president abraham_lincoln washington april booth member prominent 19th century booth theatrical family maryland 1860s known actor confederate lincoln strongly opposed abolition slavery united_states booth group conspirators originally plotted kidnap lincoln later planned kill vice president secretary state bid help confederacy cause surrendered days earlier booth believed american_civil_war confederate general army fighting union_army conspirators booth completely successful carrying plot booth shot lincoln head president died morning severely wounded recovered vice president johnson attacked following assassination booth fled horseback southern maryland eventually making way farm rural northern virginia days later tracked booth companion gave booth refused shot union soldier barn hiding set conspirators suspects tried convicted hanged shortly background early life booth parents noted british actor mistress moved united_states england june purchased acre farm near maryland born room log house ninth children named english radical politician distant relative wife adelaide booth granted divorce grounds adultery holmes legally youth 13th birthday book thoughts bloody recounts shame ambition illegitimate actor sons eventually spur rivals achievement acclaim assassin abraham_lincoln year booth father married holmes built tudor hall property family summer home maintaining winter residence exeter street baltimore 1840s 1850s boy booth athletic popular skilled fencing indifferent student attended described intelligence advantage educational opportunities offered day rode forth farm school taking interest happened way reaching classes time attended run boys located sparks maryland episcopal military academy maryland beginning years old school students recited classical works authors students wore military uniforms subject daily formation drills strict discipline booth left school father death attending booth met gypsy fortune read palm pronounced grim destiny telling booth grand short life doomed die young meeting bad end sister recalled booth wrote palm reader prediction showed family discussed moments melancholy later years recounted editor introduction memoir booth sister church booth household childhood booth mother father described free spirit open great teachings religions january year old booth baptized protestant episcopal church booth family traditionally stated booth roman catholic convert later life historian declared booth religion head wrote paper insights john booth sister asia correspondence published quoted letter booth sister wrote brother roman catholic booth clarke memoir published death college history professor leading authority booth life stated asia booth clarke memoir brother recognized single important document available understanding personality assassin president abraham_lincoln outsider insights turbulent booth childhood share unique personal knowledge gifted actor testimony given trial showed death booth catholic medal person court evidence showed attending roman catholic church service occasions like sister asia received education school established official catholic_church lincoln assassin seen life death roman catholic stated case certain booth conversion lifetime reasonable cause connect booth religious preference mad act knew conversion decided assassination good church best mention secret remained guarded anti catholic writers tried depict assassination lincoln jesuit plot seemingly accurate information age booth interested theatre politics delegate rally anti immigrant party candidate congress elections aspiring follow footsteps father actor brothers booth began practicing daily woods tudor hall studying shakespeare theatrical career 1850s age booth stage debut august supporting role earl richmond baltimore audience inexperienced actor missed lines began acting baltimore owned performed frequently booth joined stock company philadelphia pennsylvania played season request billed pseudonym meant avoid comparison members famous family author wrote booth developed outrageous scene played parts heightened enthusiasm audiences february played opening night experienced stage line instead introducing saying madame madame pat causing audience laughter later year booth played american indian play staged virginia stock company actor virginia increasingly popular audiences energetic performances october booth played hamlet alongside older brother title role afterward led younger booth theatre said audience think don response audience applauded loudly cried yes yes booth performed plays having theme killing overthrow ruler booth said characters favorite role slayer critics called booth man america natural genius noted having astonishing memory mixed acting stood feet inches tall jet black hair lean athletic noted civil war reporter described muscular perfect man hair like capital booth stage performances characterized contemporaries intensely physical stage passion excellent fellow actor recalled booth occasionally cut sword historian wrote booth won celebrity theater romantic personal attraction hard study brilliant talents failed development author gene smith wrote booth acting precise brother handsome appearance women 1850s drew close booth wealthy actor earning year equivalent today 1860s finishing theatre season richmond virginia booth embarked national tour leading actor engaged philadelphia attorney serve agent playing cities new_york boston chicago cleveland columbus georgia montgomery alabama new_orleans poet journalist said booth acting flashes passages thought real genius drama critic said having brother culture grace booth far action life inclined think natural genius civil war began april booth starring albany new_york outspoken admiration south publicly calling heroic enraged local citizens demanded banning stage making statements albany drama critics giving rave reviews called genius praising acting fail ing delight impressions civil war divided land booth appeared union border states january played title role chicago debut march acting appearance new_york_city boston debut playing nightly romeo juliet hamlet stranger lady following performance review day called booth promising young actor american stage starting january returned series plays including role villain duke won acclaim audiences critics washington april played title roles hamlet favorites billed pride american people star magnitude critics equally enthusiastic national republican drama critic said booth took hearts audience storm termed performance complete triumph beginning july booth finished acting season cleveland pennsylvania september november booth played schedule northeast appearing boston providence rhode_island connecticut day received fan mail women family friend opened seat ford theatre november washington booth leading men appear playing marble heart play booth portrayed greek sculptor costume making marble statues come life lincoln watched play box point performance booth said shaken finger lincoln direction delivered line dialogue lincoln sister law sitting presidential box later slain turned said lincoln looks meant president replied look pretty sharp doesn occasion lincoln son saw booth perform said actor thrilled prompting booth president youngest son rose booth ignored invitation visit lincoln acts november booth performed time brothers single engagement production new_york played brother larger role performance acclaimed greatest theatrical event new_york history proceeds went statue william_shakespeare stands today january acted shakespeare romeo juliet washington garnering rave reviews national booth romeo satisfactory fine character especially praising death scene booth final appearance acting career ford march played duke business ventures booth invested growing wealth enterprises early 1860s including land speculation boston bay section started business partnership manager friend develop oil wells northwestern pennsylvania oil boom started august following discovery oil initially calling venture later renaming partners invested acre site franklin pennsylvania late drilling early producing foot deep oil named wife yielding barrels crude oil daily considered good yield selling shares featuring known actor celebrity status successful intelligent operator oil lands said partners increase output attempted use explosives wrecked ended production booth growing obsessed south situation civil war angered lincoln election withdrew oil business november substantial loss dollars investment civil war years strongly opposed sought end slavery booth attended hanging december abolitionist leader executed leading raid federal ferry present day west_virginia booth richmond theatre abruptly decided join volunteer militia men travelling brown hanging guard attempt rescue brown force brown hanged incident booth stood uniform near expressed great satisfaction brown fate admired condemned man bravery facing death lincoln elected president november following month booth drafted long speech apparently northern clear strong support south institution slavery april civil war began eventually southern states union booth native maryland portion population favored joining threatened maryland leave federal capital washington confederacy lincoln suspended writ corpus imposed martial law baltimore portions state ordering imprisonment pro maryland political leaders federal troops baltimore maryland remained union newspaper editorials including booth agreed judge decision lincoln actions unconstitutional popular actor 1860s continued travel extensively perform north south far west new_orleans louisiana according sister asia booth position south travels helping confederacy obtain needed drug despite northern blockade booth pro confederate family like divided outspoken love south equally outspoken hatred lincoln civil war went booth increasingly brother declined stage appearances south refused listen fiercely partisan north lincoln early booth arrested theatre tour heard saying wished president damned government hell charged making remarks government released took oath allegiance union paid substantial fine february booth daughter senator new_hampshire secretly engaged booth received mother blessing marriage plans dead love mother booth letter assured truly devoted booth composed valentine card fiancée february expressing unaware booth deep president lincoln plot kidnap lincoln presidential election drew near confederacy prospects victory tide war increasingly favored north likelihood lincoln election filled booth rage president booth blamed war south troubles booth promised mother outbreak war enlist soldier increasingly fighting south writing letter begun existence began plans kidnap lincoln summer residence miles white_house richmond confederate hands lincoln exchanged release prisoners war held captive northern prisons booth reasoned bring war end opposition war north forcing union recognition confederate government civil war confederacy maintained network underground operators southern maryland particularly counties smuggling recruits virginia messages confederate agents far north canada booth recruited friends met house known confederate baltimore met known confederate boston october booth unexplained trip montreal known center clandestine confederate activity spent days city staying time lawrence hall rendezvous meeting confederate agents conclusive proof linked booth kidnapping assassination plots conspiracy involving leadership confederate government historians said clear lower levels southern secret service abduction union president consideration concluded booth entered spy writers exploring possible connections booth planning confederate agents include come retribution lincoln landslide election early november platform advocating passage 13th amendment constitution abolish slavery altogether booth devoted increasing energy money kidnap plot assembled loose band southern including known rebel agent began meet routinely boarding house mother time booth arguing older brother lincoln war finally told longer welcome new_york home booth lincoln conversations sister asia saying man appearance pedigree coarse low jokes anecdotes vulgar policy disgrace seat holds tool north crush slavery confederacy defeat certain booth end slavery lincoln election second term making king actor wild sister recalled booth attended lincoln second inauguration march invited guest secret fiancée crowd attempt assassinate lincoln inauguration later booth remarked excellent chance kill president wished march booth learned lincoln attending performance play waters run deep hospital near booth assembled team stretch road near attempt kidnap lincoln route hospital president appear booth later learned lincoln changed plans moment attend reception washington coincidentally booth staying assassination lincoln april hearing news surrendered booth told friend house stage play wanted present henceforth understand reference assassination plot union_army capture richmond lee surrender booth scheme kidnap lincoln longer feasible changed goal assassination previous day booth crowd outside white house lincoln gave impromptu speech window lincoln stated favor granting suffrage slaves booth declared speech lincoln morning good friday april booth went mail told brother president lincoln accompanied attending play american cousin evening immediately set making plans assassination included making arrangements stable owner horse escape route booth informed intention kill lincoln assigned assassinate secretary state assassinate vice president assist escape virginia targeting lincoln immediate successors presidency booth intended union government throw state panic confusion possibility union_army commanding general grant declined theatre invitation wife insistence instead grants departed washington train evening visit relatives new_jersey booth hoped create sufficient chaos union confederate government continue war confederate army remained field failing avenge south defeat analysis lincoln assassination wrote elements booth nature came hatred love liberty passion stage sense drama lifelong quest immortal famous popular actor frequently performed known owner booth free access parts theater having mail sent boring door presidential box earlier day assassin check intended victim play observe box occupants evening play progressed slipped lincoln box shot head caliber booth escape thwarted major present presidential box booth stabbed officer fiancée present box booth jumped president box stage raised knife shouted sic latin attributed assassination virginia state motto said added south accounts state booth injured leg spur decorative flag stage historian questioned legend book writing eyewitness accounts booth stage exit unlikely leg broken contends booth injured later night flight escape horse fell calling booth claim contrary portray actions heroic booth assassins succeed able stab result earlier carriage accident badly wounded survived lost nerve spent evening drinking alcohol attempt kill johnson reaction pursuit ensuing inside ford fled stage door alley horse held owner horse warned booth horse high spirited break left booth left horse arranged hold horse fleeing assassin southern maryland accompanied having planned escape route advantage sparsely settled area lack railroads predominantly confederate sympathies thought area dense forests terrain ideal escape route rural virginia midnight booth arrived pike miles washington stored guns equipment earlier year kidnap plot continued southward stopping dawn april home miles washington treatment booth injured leg later said booth told injury occurred horse fell day booth arrived home hid woods nearby cox contacted foster brother confederate agent charge spy operations southern maryland area order secretary war advertised reward million usd information leading arrest booth federal troops dispatched search southern maryland extensively following tips reported federal intelligence agents col federal troops rural area woods swamps booth days following assassination nation experienced grief april waited seven abreast mile long line outside white house public viewing slain president open black cross head roses covered coffin lower half thousands arriving special trains jammed washington day funeral sleeping hotel floors blankets spread outdoors capitol lawn prominent abolitionist leader called assassination african americans great directed booth assassin identity nation newspapers called devil monster historian wrote family kept photograph album table owned likeness famous booth family actors assassination slid booth card albums threw away burned angrily south sorrow expressed quarters savannah georgia mayor city council addressed vast outdoor gathering express crowd confederate called booth act disgrace age expressed regret lincoln death booth hand grief stricken new_york_city man attacked enraged crowd shouted served old right hearing news lincoln death south lincoln hated death life booth viewed hero news deed feared north exact terrible retribution defeated confederate states instead great southern hero deed considered worst possible tragedy south north wrote hiding maryland woods waited opportunity cross virginia booth read accounts national mourning reported newspapers brought jones day april aware conspirators arrested arnold booth surprised find little public sympathy action especially newspapers previously president life news assassination reached far corners nation aroused lincoln critics blamed encouraging booth act san_francisco_chronicle booth simply carried politicians journalists years expressing words denounced president hinted virtually recommended booth wrote dismay journal entry april awaited nightfall crossing virginia map months worked capture cause lost decisive great struck papers hated kill day car funeral train bearing lincoln body departed washington baltimore arriving baltimore stop day journey springfield illinois final destination funeral train slowly way westward seven states stopping route philadelphia new_york albany buffalo cleveland columbus ohio cincinnati indianapolis following days million people lined railroad tracks mile route holding aloft signs legends loss lives hearts people hour history cities train stopped million people viewed lincoln coffin aboard train president said sped rails night scene witnessed crossroads illuminated population kneeling ground called funeral train journey national grief world seen viewing lincoln remains funeral train steamed booth provided boat compass jones cross night april instead reaching virginia mistakenly bend broad coming ashore maryland april year old knew area having frequently hunted recognized nearby farm belonging confederate farmer led son law col provided food hideout nightfall second attempt row river virginia booth wrote diary man hand despair honored striking greater knew looked common pair finally reached virginia shore near dawn april contact booth previously brought kidnapping plot took booth confederate agent area supplied horses lincoln funeral train new_york_city april lieutenant dispatched washington detachment union soldiers 16th new york cavalry regiment capture booth virginia accompanied lieutenant colonel intelligence officer assigned detachment steamed miles boat landing virginia crossed tracked booth farm south port royal virginia booth led farm april private 9th met crossing unaware lincoln assassination booth introduced confederate soldier told wounded battle returning home year old son richard eyewitness later years baptist minister widely events booth demise family farm lecture published according account booth arrived farm located road monday afternoon confederate mail delivery ceased collapse confederate government explained unaware lincoln assassination having dinner evening booth learned surrender army confederate armed force size capitulation meant civil war booth attempt save confederacy lincoln assassination failed finally learned lincoln death substantial reward booth capture booth said displayed reaction ask family turn fugitive opportunity aware guest true identity older sons needed money day booth told intended reach mexico drawing route map theirs biographer said account written testified respect farm taken face value knows exactly booth said death tracked interrogated learning booth location farm dawn april soldiers caught hiding tobacco barn surrendered booth refused demand surrender saying prefer come fight soldiers set barn fire booth moved inside barn shot according later account fired booth fugitive raised pistol shoot report stated shot booth order pretext excuse recommended punished orders booth alive booth fatally wounded neck dragged barn porch farmhouse died hours later aged bullet pierced partially severed spinal cord dying moments reportedly tell mother died country asking hands raised face booth words useless useless died dawn breaking booth pockets found compass pictures women actresses booth fiancée diary written lincoln death country owed troubles god simply instrument punishment shortly booth death brother wrote sister asia think brother dead soon world imagine boy loved better spirit world asia possession sealed letter booth given january opened death letter booth written know shall deemed undertaking step friends happy insane god judge love justice country fame wealth booth letter seized family papers asia house federal troops published new_york_times underway explained reasons plotting lincoln said held south right nomination abraham_lincoln years ago spoke war southern rights institutions institution african slavery written greatest god bestowed favored nation lincoln policy total aftermath booth body blanket tied old farm wagon trip corpse taken aboard ironclad uss brought identification autopsy body identified booth people knew identifying features sure man killed booth tattoo left hand initials distinct neck fourth fifth removed autopsy allow access bullet bones display washington body buried storage room old later moved warehouse october remains identified released booth family buried family plot green mount cemetery baltimore burial ceremony conducted minister christ presence people wrote scholar visiting homes confederate states hatred lincoln words great printed borders drawing rooms implicated lincoln assassination tried military tribunal washington found guilty june hanged old arsenal july sentenced life imprisonment fort jefferson florida dry given year term prison died yellow fever epidemic eventually pardoned february president years later centenary lincoln birth celebrated border state official reflected booth assassination lincoln confederate veterans held public services gave public expression sentiment lincoln lived days reconstruction era good feeling earlier majority viewed booth monster murdered union south cursed booth bringing harsh revenge north instead reconciliation promised lincoln century later concluded millions people particularly south decades impact lincoln assassination began release terrible hold lives theories booth motivation author years old time lincoln assassination wrote booth book terrible deed committed thought monetary gain self sacrificing albeit wholly devotion cause thought supreme seen motives shame ambition sibling rivalry achievement fame theories booth escape wrote escape suicide john booth booth look alike mistakenly killed farm booth booth said assumed pseudonym settled near texas later moved texas falling ill making deathbed confession fugitive assassin recovered fled eventually committing suicide oklahoma alias copies book sold exhibited body carnival response published account baltimore mayor viewed booth remains arrival funeral home baltimore february burial green mount cemetery known booth young man submitted sworn statement body seen booth positively identifying body booth funeral home included booth mother brother sister baltimore acquaintances earlier new_york_times published account reporter detailing burial booth body cemetery witnesses rumor periodically revived 1920s corpse advertised man shot lincoln exhibited national tour carnival promoter according article saturday evening post said obtained corpse widow lincoln conspiracy book published contended government plot conceal booth escape reviving interest story prompting display body chicago year book sold million copies feature film called lincoln conspiracy theatrically released book curse story john booth contended booth escaped sought refuge japan eventually returned united_states historians descendants sought court order booth body green mount cemetery according lawyer intended prove longstanding theories booth escape conducting photo analysis application blocked judge cited things convincing escape cover theory major factor decision upheld ruling marks precise location booth buried family december descendants reported obtained permission actor body obtain dna samples spokesperson mount auburn cemetery cambridge massachusetts buried refuted reports family contacted requested body family hopes obtain dna samples artifacts belonging remains stored maryland march museum spokesperson announced family request extract dna rejected popular culture film film prince players biography played played wagon train episode john story based premise booth survived moved west character played twilight zone episode booth portrayed booth portrayed film plays booth main character plays booth flashback cameo comedy plays booth opening scenes adventure sequel national treasure book secrets film line fire presidential assassin played asks called booth phone calls agent played literature novel lincoln deception people try discover true motive booth plot stage productions booth featured central character musical assassins assassination lincoln depicted musical number called ballad booth television wagon train episode john story based premise booth survived moved west character played twilight zone episode booth portrayed beginning episode season day thanks bbc america series copper booth brothers interact elizabeth new_york_city particularly taken elizabeth helping raise funds brothers benefit performance winter garden theatre bones main protagonist direct descendant younger readers good brother bad brother new_york isbn
John Wilkes Booth