Eighteen Pages

John Wilkes Booth, an actor and patriot for the Southern Cause, found himself in a difficult situation. For months he had planned to kidnap the tyrant Lincoln and, with Lee's surrender at Appomattox, the time to act was running short. He only had more shot to accomplish his purpose: Good Friday, April 14th, 1865, and at a location he was familiar with, Ford's Theater.

In the audience that evening, in the packed house, was a young reporter, Donald Etheridge. He was not fond of the theater but...