Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-04-29
EASTERN DISPATCHES.
From the Virginia Union of this morning.l
Statement Of COFbetf, the man who
killed ROOGh.

From the Virginia Union of this morningl
Statement Of COFbeti, the man who
killed ROoth.
New YoRK, April 2S.-The following
is the statement of Sergeant Boston Cor.
bett, who shot Booth, ON Tuesday after
noon. My superior officer, Lieut.. Doherty
received information that two persons,
answering the description of Booth and
his aceomplice Harold, were concealed in
a barn on the place Of Henry Garrett,
thirteen miles from Port Royal. in the
direction of Bowling Green. Near the
latter place We captured a man named
Gelt, who ferried Booth and his compan-
ion across the Potomac. At first he de-
MED knowing anything about the matter !;
but when threatened with death II he did
not reveal the spot where the assassins
were secreted. he told US and piloted US to
the place. Booth and Harold reached
the barn about dusk, on Tuesday evening.
The barn was at once surrounded by our
cavalry. Some If our party then engaged
IN conversation with Booth from the out
side. He was commanded to surrender
! several times, but made no reply to the
demand. save, eff you want me, you must
take me-" When first asked to surrender
he asked: What do you take me for 80
and short time AFTER. in response to a
question as to whether there was anybody
else with him in the barn, he stated that
he was the only person in the building,
and that his companion. Harold, had
taken another direction and was beyond
the reach of capture. At three o'clock, or
little after. the barn was fred. Before
the flames were kindled Booth had the
advantage in respect to light. He could
see us, but we could not see him. The
flames appeared to confuse him, and he
made spring toward the door as if to at
tempt to force his way out. As he passed
BY one of the crevices in the barn, fred
at him. I aimed at his body, as did not
want to kill him. I took deliberate aim
at his shoulder, but my aim was too high.
The ball struck him in the head, Just be-
low the right ear, and passing through,
came out about an inch above the left ear.
| think he stopped to pick up something
just as fred. That may probably ac-
count for hisreceiving the ball in the head.
was not over eight or ten yards distant
when fired. After he was wounded /
went into the barn. He was lying in
reclining position on the floor. He was
then carried out of the burning building
into the open air. where he died about
two hours and half afterwards. About
an hour before he breathed his last, he
prayed to be shot through the heart and
end his misery. HIS suftring$ appeared
to be intense. Booth. although he could
have killed several Of our party, seemed
afraid TO FIRE. Mine was the only shot
fred. When he fell. he had in his hand
q six-barreled revolver, and at his feet
seven-shooter, which he dropped after be-
ing wounded; two other revolvers were
also near him. He declared that the arms
belonged to him. and that Harold had
nothing to do with the murder. He did
not talk much after receiving the wound.
When asked if he had anything to say, he
replied: Al die for my country" and
asked those standing by to tell his mother
so. He did not deny his crime.