Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-29
THE CAPTURE OF BOOTH !
HIS REFUSAL TO BE TAKEN ALIVE.
DEFIANT BRArAbo OF THE ASSASSIN
he Is KIILrD BY SERGEANT cosBErT, or TIE lGrH
INV YosK o.vALRY

Through the courtesy of Mr.. D. F. Webster, of
the Adams Express, we received last night copy
of the Washington Republican Of Thursday even
ing containing interesting particulars of the cap
ture of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Presi-
dent Lincoln, and one of his accomplices in the
murder, David g. Harold.
II had been ascertained that Booth and Harold
crossed the Potomac river at or near Aqua Creek.
Early Wednesday morning squad of men belong
ing to the 10th New York cavalry discovered the
fugitives in a barn on the road leading from Port
ROYAL to Bowling Green, in Caroline county, Va
What ensued is described by the Republican as fol.
lows
eve have had an interview with two ofthe cav
alrvmen engaged in the capture Of the assaSsins.-
From them we ! q n that the whole party consisted
of twenty eight, including two detectives.
The first information respecting Booths crossing
the river, and his probable whereabouts, was OBJ
ned from disbanded rebel soldiers who were met
with in all directions in that part Of the country.s
From one and another of these the clue TO
Booths movements was gathered and. held, until
lust at daybreak they came Cpon the barn where he
! and Harold we're secreted.
! A parley was held, and Booth manfestsg the
most desperate def mnaton not TO be taken alive,
and to take as many Of the lives Of the party as
possiole, Lieut. Edward p Doherty, who command
ed the scouting Pa4tyi UStSlun'hSu :" H4"N' oHOA
! work OF him.
| When Harold saw the preparations for firing the
barn. he declared his willingness TO surrender, and
said he wouldn't fight if they would let him out.
Booth, on the contrary, was impudently defiant,
offering at first, to fight the whole squad at one
hundred Yards, and subsequently at fifty yards
| He was hobbng on crutches, apparently very lane.
/ He swore he would die like man, etc.
! Harold having been secured, as soon as the burn
ing hay lighted the interior of the barn sufficiently
to render the scowlng face of Booth the assassin,
visible, Sergeant Boston Corbett fired upon him,
and he fell.
The ball passedthrough his neck. He was pulled
out of the barn. and one Of his crutches and carbne
and revolvers secured.
The wretch lived about two hours, whispering
blasphemies against the Government and messages
to his mother desiring her to be informed that he
died for his country.
! At the time Booth was shot he was leaning upon
one crutch and preparing to shoot his >captors.-
Only one shot was fired in the entire affair, that
which killed the assassin.
! Lieut. Doherty is one Of the bravest fellows in
the cavalry service, having distinguished himself
in 4 sharp affair az Culpeper Court House and on
| other occasions.
| The l6th New York cavalry is commanded by
Col Nelson Sweitzer, and has been doing duty in
Fairfax county. This regiment formed part of the
cavalry escort on the day Of the PRESIDENTS OBJ
sequies in Washington.
| The body of Booth, and the assassin's accom-
plice, Harold, were placed on board the Ida and
sent to Washington, arriving here about o'clock
! this morning.
The Atlanta papers have received information of Mr..
Lncolns assassination but mase no comments upon it.
J uI NEnn hN