Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-05
a second Attempt 10 Arrest B"Oth-The
Fugitive Protected by an Armed Band

"A
Fugitive Protected by an Armed band
The Milwaukee, Wis., Ne1s, Of Wednesday, has
full particulars from reliable source, OF the second
unsuccessful attempt to arrest BOOM deputy
MAJ shall McCarty having been informed last sunday
that Booth was hidden in the house of j. IT, flcket
residing near Oshkosh. Immediately obtained posse
of six persons and started in the night tor the place
of concealment. which they reached before day
break Monday morning. They lmmedlateiy sur
rounded the house and one of the deputies knocked
at the door, The knock was replied to by man IN
deb0bjle who Opened Il e Ior, and as soon as the
deputy passed the threshold, struck Vi,lsnt blow
at him. which was parriei by the officer Having
secured the gentleman in short clothes the oncer as
politely as possible stated his errand Whereupon
the man who turned out to be Mr.. Pickett, raised
the alarm which was at responded TO by a
hand of thirteen men, who came from the interior
of the house. armed with pistols, guns, and pitch
forks These surrounded the officers and threaten
ed their lives if they did not leave the premises
Deputy McCarty instructed his posse to offer no
violence and at the same time told the men OF the
house that they had ccme there IN the discharge OF
their duty and that if they were molested IL Woulu
he done at their peril The officer then being ABOUT
to proceed 10 search the house, Pickett requested
To he released for a moment that he might put on
| some additional clothing His request being com
| nlied with he seized at once horn that was hang
| ing against the wall. and gave tremendous blast
! upon il. 1t was Immediately taken from him, cut
the one blast already given seems to have aroused
the whole neighborhood, for soon people began to
collect from all quarters armed with guns and pltcl
| forks In short time near hundred persons thus
| armed had arrived, who began at once to threaten
/ the lives of the six officers and several OF them
pointed their gins at them, and one of them, more
| excited than the others, discharged his gun, the
/ load entering door near by.
The mob then demanded of McCarty what ne IN
tended TO do He boldly and emphatically replied
that .the came there to take Booth, and that If he
conld get sight of rim he should accomplish his pur-
| pose or die in the attempt. That men who were
| with him were determined men, and if violence was
offered it must be done at their peril Mr. McCarty
then asked them their purpose They replied that
| Booth should never be taken except over their
! bodies That they defed the Government, and that
no power on earth could get him from them. Again
they demanded that tine Marshal should depart, but
he coolly informed them that he was not yet ready
and asked their names. A large number immediate
iv steIped up and gave them, together with their
| places of residence coupled with assertions that
they would lynch. shoot, and quarter" every Goy'
eminent officer who attempted to accomplish Booth
arrest McCarty did not deem it advisable to rlsR
the lives of six against twelve times that number
and not knowing that Booth in the house, did
not desire to peril their lives against such fearful
odda or render himself liable if the fugitive was
rot there.
he sent to Ripon for reinforcements, but Uniformed
the crowd that If Booth was seep. or they would
admit his whereabouts he would take him or perish
He waited until after eleven o'clock, having been
there in the face of loaded rifles and desperate men
sOnes even hours, when assistance not arriving Nun
self and men quietly departed. His horse was seized
several times but upon his assurance that he would
shoot any one who endeavored to modest him, the
men released their hold Pistols and guns were
pointed at his breast and haunting epIthets used re-
peatedlv, and the Government defed again and
! again Our informant is of opinion that force OF
| four hundred men has been organized, who can be
collected in few hours noFiee TO defend the ~
gItive.
Shortly after the departure of the Marshal, Gov
Horner, of Rpou, arrived at the house. when the
villains seized him and put upon his neck yoke,
with which they took him to Ripon and there again
exhibited tainted and nsulted him. and otherwise
moested this old man, sixty eight years of age, be-
cause he was Democrat! There is not 8 man IN
that section of the State respected and beloved
than Governor Horner, and yet these armed desper
ADDE'S these blackhearted scOundrels, and law defy
ing and cowardly villains sought to wreak theiI
vengeance upon an unarmed, aged man, and an IN
offensive ctizel! 4 greater set Of dastardy and
villanous scoundres never went unhQng, and never
more richly deserved the halter, sol