ɪnˈɪʃəli θˈɪŋkɪŋ lˈɪŋkən hɐdbɪn stˈæbd, hiː lˈeɪd hˌɪm ɔnðə flˈoːɹ ænd, wɪð bˈaɪstændɚ wˈɪljəm kˈɛnt, kˈʌt ˈɔf lˈɪŋkənz kˈɑːlɚ ænd ˈoʊpənd hɪz kˈoʊt ænd ʃˈɜːt ɪn sˈɜːtʃ ʌv wˈuːndz.
Initially thinking Lincoln had been stabbed, he laid him on the floor and, with bystander William Kent, cut off Lincoln's collar and opened his coat and shirt in search of wounds.