 Not all were grief @-@ stricken , however . In New York City , a man was attacked by an enraged crowd when he shouted , " It served Old Abe right ! " after hearing the news of Lincoln 's death . Elsewhere in the South , Lincoln was hated in death as in life , and Booth was viewed as a hero as many rejoiced at news of his deed . Other Southerners feared that a vengeful North would exact a terrible retribution upon the defeated former Confederate states . " Instead of being a great Southern hero , his deed was considered the worst possible tragedy that could have befallen the South as well as the North , " wrote Kunhardt . 
