The Crime Book

307

See also: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy 316–21 ■ The Abduction of Aldo Moro 322–23

Confederate capital, Richmond,

Virginia. Their plan was foiled on

9 Apri 1865, when Confederate

General Robert E. Lee surrendered

what was left of his army to Union

forces led by Ulysses S. Grant and

effectively ended the Civil War.

Booth heard the news of the

Confederacy’s collapse three days

later and was filled with a burning

desire to destroy the president.

Death at the theatre

On the morning of 14 April, Booth

found out that Lincoln would be

attending a performance of the

comedy Our American Cousin

that evening at Ford’s Theatre.

Rounding up his co-conspirators,

he told them about his audacious

plan to create chaos at the heart

of government: the simultaneous

assassination of Lincoln, Vice

President Andrew Johnson, and

Secretary of State William Seward.

Booth himself would deal with the

president and two of his associates

would kill the other politicians.

That evening at Ford’s Theatre,

Booth made his way to the private

box above the stage, where Lincoln

ASSASSINATIONS AND POLITICAL PLOTS

Motives for Assassination

The term assassination refers

to the murder of a person (often

a public figure) by a surprise

attack. When political leaders

are assassinated, the motive is

their removal from power, so

assassins often act in response

to tyrannical rule.

Assassinations therefore

often occur in societies with

deep social and ideological rifts,

with lone assassins rising up

from the populace to violently

express their dissatisfaction

with the status quo.

While many assassins work

alone, others operate within

insurgent groups with the

intention of causing disorder.

Some assassins target high-

profile figures whose beliefs they

disagree with. James Earl Ray

had racist motives for shooting

civil rights activist Dr Martin

Luther King Jr in 1968. Others,

however do not have a personal

or ideological vendetta: they are

simply guns for hire, paid by

powerful individuals or groups

to eliminate their enemies.

Armed with a derringer pistol and

a hunting knife, Booth arrived at Ford’s

Theatre at about 9:30 p.m. He had

a drink in a nearby saloon and then

fatally shot the president.

and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln,

were watching the play with two

guests. He found it unprotected –

John F. Parker of the Washington

police had escorted Lincoln to the

venue, but he was not standing

guard when Booth arrived. Some

accounts suggest that Parker may

have slipped off for a drink. At

about 10:15pm, Booth went into the

box and barred the door. ❯❯

The ballot is stronger

than the bullet.

Abraham Lincoln

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