Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-09-06
A SECOND ATTEMPT TO ARREST BOOTH, THE
FUGITIVE

FUGITIVE.
Tie Mlwaukc News of the West" of the 29th,
gives an account OF the second attempt Of the United
states Marshal TO arrest Booth the fugitive. He, with
six men, TO the house Of Mr.. Pickett, where he
supposed Booth had been secreted Pckets house was
surrounded by the officers and Pickett, as he
saw the officer, attempted to strike him.
Mr. McCatty, United States Marshal, then asked the
man his name but iOstead Of replying he made another
effort to strike the officer who suddenly caught him and
held him fast McCarty then again demanded his name,
and asked him why be cndeGvOred 10 assa his visitor
without ptovocaliOn. lie replied that his name
Pickett The Marshal then asked him if Booth was
creted in his house. and informed him that he hal
rant for his arrest Pickett replied that he had been
there hut had gone away At this time Pickett shouted
Help for Gods sake :" when a terrible commoton be-
gan TO be heard in the house, aud thirteen other men,
armed with guns, pistols and pchiorks came from the
interior Of the dwelling and surrounded the officers,
threatening their lives they did not leave the premes
These demonstrations aroused the suspicious Of the
officers who now began TO doubt the truth OF Pekets
assertion that Booth had left the house. They pro-
ceedirg 70 search the house. when Pickett desired that
he might be permitted to put on some clothing
aud upon being released seized horn hanging near aud
gave one blast upon i. IL Immediately taken from
him but was answered in dozen different directions
aud men coming from all quarters, armed with
guns and piichforks. They Immediately added them
selves to the force already collected and commenced
threa euing the lives Of the officers and aiming their guns
at their breasts
Very soon after armed men began to arrive in wagons
and in the short space Of hour and ha sixtytwO
men had gathered together, thus outnumbeng the Off
cers nearly twelve to one Some twenty-five men then
ranged themselves in ORDER and pointing their guns at
NcCarty and his men, ordered them to leave One of
them had his gun cooked, and became so much excited
that he discharged IT, the ball entering barn by
The mob then demanded Of McCarty what he intend
ed to dol He boldly and emphatcaly replied that "he
came there take Booth aud that if he could get sight
of him. he should accomplish his purpose or die in the
attempt That the men who with him were deter
mped uien and If violence offered it must be done
at their peril" Mr. McCarty then asked them their pur
nose They replied that Booth should never be taken,
except over their bodies That they defed the govern
ment and that no power earth could get him from
them Again they demanded that the Marshal should de-
pat but he coolly informed them that he not yet
readv and asked them their names. large number i'm
melaey stepped up and gave them together with their
places Of residence coupled with the assertions that they
would lynch shoot and quarter every government Off
Ger who attempted to accomplish Booths arrest McCar
y did no. deem advisable rk the lives of six against
twelve times that number and not knowing that Booth
was in the house did desire peril the lives against
such fearful Odds render himself liable if the fugitive
was not there secfeted He sent Rpon for reinforce
ments but informed the crowd that if Booth
they would admit his whereabouts he would take him
perish lie waited until after eleven O'clock having been
there in the face of loaded rifles and desperate men,
some hours when assistance not arriving, himself
aud men quietly departed