The curtain rose for the play Our American Cousin.

In the audience was a Captain in the Union army, sitting next to him was his wife, Rose.

“We were lucky to get such good seats, weren’t we darling?”, said Rose Herzog.

“Yes we certainly were my dear, and I heard it’s supposed to be quite an uproarious comedy”, whispered the Captain.

“And get this , THE president is going to show up tonight”

“Well don’t that beat all!”, replied Capt. Herzog.

On stage the actor Harry Hawk was emoting: ”....you sockdologizing old man trap.”

The audience quaked with laughter. They didn’t hear the shot. They did see the dark haired mustachioed man jump from the balcony, ripping the American flag, run off yelling ,”Sic Semper tyrannis”, and limp offstage.

“Was that part of the show darling?” asked Rose Herzog,” If it was it was not very funny.”

“The presidents been shot”, people screamed.

” It looks like we picked a bad night to come to the theatre”.

“I imagine Abe would agree with you dear.”