A murder’s far-reaching effect
With any tragedy comes the aftermath.
Abraham Lincoln was murdered on April 14, 1865, which coincidentally was on Good Friday. He was the first president of the United States to be murdered while in office. The Civil War had ended a few days before that infamous date, leaving the nation torn and tattered. Lincoln was determined to right the ship and bring the country together again. Historical photographs of Lincoln right after the war had ended showed a haggard, worn-down man.
Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd, who sensed his dread and wanted to see her husband happy and content, arranged for them to go to the theater in downtown Washington City, now known as the District of Columbia, to enjoy a relaxing evening with friends.
Her first choice for company that evening was General Ulysses Grant and his wife Julia. The Grants declined the invitation, saying they needed to go home to New Jersey to visit their children. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and his wife Ellen were invited, but they also sent their regrets. Washington City socialite Clara Harris, daughter of New York Senator Ira Harris, and her fiancé Major Henry Rathbone accepted Mary Todd’s invitation. Little did they know they would have the worst seat in the house that night.
The Lincoln party arrived at Ford’s Theater at about 8:30 p.m. The play, Our American Cousin, was already in progress. John Parker, Lincoln’s bodyguard, accompanied the presidential party as it entered the theater and went directly to the state box. The play abruptly stopped, and the orchestra welcomed the Lincoln party with “Hail to the Chief.” People turned their heads, stood and clapped. Once the party was seated, the play continued.
Almost two hours had passed when assassin John Wilkes Booth entered the state box, quietly approached Lincoln from behind, and shot him at close range. Theater patrons seemed confused. Some thought it was part of the play as slightly before they heard the gunshot, actor Harry Hawk, playing the role of uneducated country bumpkin Asa Trenchard who, visiting his English cousins, begins arguing with English matriarch Mrs. Mountchessington. Hilarity ensues when she discovers Asa is not wealthy but is an uncouth American. As she exits the stage, Asa shouts in her direction, “Don’t know the manners of good society, eh? Well I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal, you sockdologizing old man-trap!” The audience roared with laughter at that line, almost drowning out the sound of Booth’s derringer. Some have suggested Booth timed his entrance into the private box and pulled the trigger when that very line was spoken, as he was familiar with the play.
Seconds after the shot was fired, Lincoln, with his chin slumped down on his chest, looked like he had dozed off during the play. Eyes became focused on the box as a cloud of blue smoke could be seen rising. Mary Todd turned to her husband and realized he was unresponsive. Clara Harris and Major Rathbone were just as confused as anyone. When Rathbone sensed there was a man standing perhaps eight feet away, a loud bang, a puff of smoke, and laughter from the audience made the situation even more confusing.
Gathering his senses, Rathbone arose and began to grapple with the unknown intruder. Booth had dropped his single-shot derringer. He pulled out a dagger and began furiously slashing at Rathbone, who was trying to contain the assassin. Booth held his right arm high above his head while gripping the knife and with a quick downward motion, slashed Rathbone’s left arm deeply, which made Rathbone release his grip on Booth.
Booth then hurled himself over the balustrade onto the stage below, where he exited. Rathbone shouted, “Stop that man!” Twelve days later Booth would be cornered in a tobacco barn and shot.
While the nation mourned Lincoln, others directly or indirectly still suffered from that horrific event. Rathbone always blamed himself; he thought if he had noticed Booth coming into the vestibule he could have prevented Lincoln’s death.
Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris married two years later and had three children. Shortly after the assassination, Rathbone’s mental state began deteriorating. He suffered from hallucinations, believed he was being persecuted and tortured, and thought there was an apparatus in the wall pouring “injurious vapors” into his head, causing headaches. He believed he could hear people gliding suspiciously in the corridor outside his bedroom, and became suspicious that Clara was going to leave him and take their children.
President Chester Arthur appointed Rathbone consul to Hannover, Germany, in 1882. On Christmas eve morning in 1883, Rathbone went into his wife’s bedroom and shot her. He then attempted to harm his children, but an alert groundskeeper prevented the attack. Then Rathbone tried to commit suicide, stabbing himself several times in the chest.
Rathbone was charged with murder but was declared insane by doctors after blaming the murder on an intruder. He was convicted and committed to the Asylum for the Criminal Insane in Hildensheim, Germany, where he died on Aug. 14, 1911. The couple’s children were sent to live with their uncle William Harris in the United States.
A similar outcome awaited Secret Service Agent Clint Hill, who regretted he couldn’t prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas. After the first shot was fired, Agent Hill, on the running board of the Secret Service follow-up car, jumped off and tried in vain to shield the president. Agent Hill has written a couple of books about the JFK assassination where he’s expressed regret.
Tragic and historic events like these have far-reaching consequences that can alter one’s life forever. Some people profit from tragedy. Others do not.