Anonymous letter sent to John T. Ford

The government temporarily seized Ford's Theatre while they investigated the assassination. John T. Ford regained control of his theatre after the co-conspirators’ executions on July 7, 1865. He tried to maintain operation, but citizens threatened to burn the building to the ground if he desecrated the site of Lincoln’s death by holding performances. Consequently, on July 10, the government ordered soldiers to close the theatre to prevent violence.