 On April 12 , 1865 , after hearing the news that Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox Court House , Booth told Louis J. Weichmann , a friend of John Surratt , and a boarder at Mary Surratt 's house , that he was done with the stage and that the only play he wanted to present henceforth was Venice Preserv 'd . Weichmann did not understand the reference : Venice Preserv 'd is about an assassination plot . With the Union Army 's capture of Richmond and Lee 's surrender , Booth 's scheme to kidnap Lincoln was no longer feasible , and he changed his goal to assassination . 
