Anactor，veryhandsome，aByronicsort，bothinbeautyandtemperament，withadashperhapsofinsanity，JohnWilkesBooth，hadlongmeditatedkillingthePresident。Aviolentsecessionist，hismorbidimaginationhadmadeofLincolnanotherCaesar。TheoccasioncalledforaBrutus。WhileLincolnwasplanninghispeacefulwarwiththeVindictives，scheminghowtokeepthemfromgrindingtheprostrateSouthbeneaththeirheels，devisingmodesofrestoringhappinesstotheconqueredregion，Booth，atanobscureboarding-houseinWashington，wasgatheringabouthimabandofadventurers，someofwhomatleast，likehimself，wereunbalanced。TheymeditatedageneralassassinationoftheCabinet。TheunexpectedtheatrepartyonthefourteenthgaveBoothasuddenopportunity。HekneweverypassageofFord’sTheatre。Heknew，also，thatLincolnseldomsurroundedhimselfwithguards。
Duringtheafternoon，hemadehiswayunobservedintothetheatreandboredaholeinthedoorofthepresidentialbox，sothathemightfirethroughitshouldtherebeanydifficultyingettingthedooropen。
Aboutteno’clockthatnight，theaudiencewaslaughingattheabsurdplay；thePresident’spartywereasmuchamusedasany。
Suddenly，therewasapistolshot。Amomentmoreandawoman’svoicerangoutinasharpcry。Aninstantsenseofdisasterbroughttheaudiencestartledtotheirfeet。TwomenwereglimpsedstrugglingtowardthefrontofthePresident’sbox。
Onebrokeaway，leapeddownontothestage，flourishedaknifeandshouted，“Sicsempertyrannis!“Thenhevanishedthroughtheflies。ItwasBooth，whoseplanshadbeencompletelysuccessful。HehadmadehiswaywithoutinterruptiontowithinafewfeetofLincoln。Atpoint-blankdistance，hehadshothimfrombehind，throughthehead。Intheconfusionwhichensued，heescapedfromthetheatre；fledfromthecity；waspursued；andwashimselfshotandkilledafewdayslater。