John Wilkes Booth's Short Summary

On April 14, 1865 John Wilkes Booth carried out a plan to assassinate the President of the United States of America. On this night at around 9:00 pm, Booth waited outside of Ford's Theatre. He left His horse behind the theatre and went inside. The famous actor knew his way around the theatre and he also then the play that was being performed. He snuck his way to the back of the theatre and waited. He was waiting for a certain part of the performance when the audience would erupt in laughter and when only one actor was on stage. Surprisingly, no one was guarding the president's box,instead was Lincoln's servant Charles Forbes, who was sitting near the door but not in front of it. Booth showed Forbes something, probably a letter

Booth found the metal bar he had hidden there earlier, he lodged it between the door and the wall so that no one could enter behind him. Abraham Lincoln sat in the far left side of the box, closest to the door, Mary Lincoln sat beside him, and Clara Harris sat on her right, and finally Major Rathbone sat beside her. At around 10:00 pm Booth heard his cue, the dialogue of the play caused the audience to burst out with laughter. He pulled out his .44 caliber derringer pistol and his Rio Grande camping knife, he had one shot in his gun, if he missed then he wouldn't be able to fire again. He raised the gun and pulled the trigger. It was 10:13 pm. The bullet entered beneath Lincolns left ear. Major Rathbone jumped from his seat, he and Booth wrestled in the president's box. Booth stabbed Rathbone, but not fatally. Booth jumped from the box to the stage, but the spur on his booth got tangled in the flags hanging from the box. He broke a bone in his ankle. He raised his bloody dagger into the air and shouted “Sic semper tyrannis!” the Virginia state motto. Which is in latin and translates to “Thus always to tyrants”. Then he shouted” The south is avenged!”. Booth then ran through the wings slicing at anyone in his way. Booth escaped through the back door of the theatre and galloped away. Clara harris shouted from the president's box,” He has shot the