Ohio History Journal


OHIO

OHIO

Archaeological and Historical

PUBLICATIONS

 

ASSASSINATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

 

BY HONORABLE JAMES R. MORRIS.

[Some years ago Judge James R. Morris, at the request of

Honorable M. B. Archer, now serving his second term in the Ohio

State Senate, wrote on parchment his recollections of the as-

sassination of Abraham Lincoln. This manuscript, appropriately

framed, Senator Archer later presented to the Ohio State

Archaeological and Historical Society, in whose museum and

library building it is now on exhibition. It is believed that the

readers of the QUARTERLY will be interested in the account of

that tragic event from the pen of one who was an eye witness

and former congressman from Ohio.-EDITOR.]

WOODSFIELD, OHIO, July 26, 1897.

HON. M. B. ARCHER - DEAR SIR: - In compliance

with your request I herewith give you my personal recol-

lections of that astounding and ever memorable tragedy,

the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, - one of the

most remarkable men of this, or any other age, or coun-

try - a tragedy that shocked and amazed the civilized

world.

I was not, on the 14th of April, 1865, a member of

Congress as you have thought. My second term, as a

member of that body, expired on the fourth day of the

preceding month. I had gone to Washington with a

friend, Captain W. M. Kerr, on some business of his

connected with his service in the army. On Friday,

April 14th, we had successfully concluded the business

of our trip and decided to visit Ford's theater.

(1)