Who did John Wilkes Booth look to for help in assassinating Lincoln ?
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 " .