WASHINGTON, District of Columbia (CNN) -- The family of President Lincoln said today they were sorry for what John Wilkes Booth and his family have "had to go through" after Booth shot the President in last weekend's incident at Ford's Theatre. The men were gathered to watch a performance of "Our American Cousin" starring actor Harry Hawk.
Mary Todd Lincoln, speaking for the family, met briefly with reporters but took no questions.
Booth sprayed Lincoln with a bullet in the back of the head at point-blank range in Friday's incident. Onstage, Hawk was declaiming, "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 mantrap!" The President died when the bullet migrated to his brain.
"We all assume certain risks in whatever we do," Mrs. Lincoln said. "Whatever activities we pursue and regardless of how experienced, careful and dedicated we are, assassinations do and will happen. And that's what happened last Friday.
"My family and I are deeply sorry for all that the Booth family have had to go through this week," she said, adding, "We send our love and respect to the Booths as they deal with situations that are much more serious than what we have had this week. We hope that Mr. Booth will continue to come to the theatre and seek the relaxation he deserves.''
In an interview, Booth termed the event "one of the worst days of my life." He later stated that it had been "a long week."
Reached backstage at Ford's Theatre, centrally located at 511 10th Street NW, Hawk referred all inquiries to his publicist.
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