Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-05-04
Capture of Booth. the Assassin.

Sergeant Boston Corbett who shot
and killed Booth, makes the following
statement:
On Tuesday evening my superior
officer, Lieutenant Edward p. Dough.
erty, received information that two
persons answering to the description
of Booth and his accomplice Harold,
were concealed in barn on the place
of Henry Garrett, about three miles
from Port Royal, in the direction of
Bowling Green. There we captured a
man named Jett, who ferried Booth
and his companions across the Poto-
mac. At first he denied knowing any
thing about the matter, but when
threatened with death if he did not re-
veal the spot where the assassins were
secreted, he told us where they could
be found, 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, and some of our party en-
gagged in conversation with Booth
from the outside. He was command
cd to surrender several times, but
made no reply to the demand, save
that, /" If you want me, you must take
me-" When first asked to surrender
he asked "Who do you take me for "
A short time after, in response to the
question as to whether there was any.
body else with him in the barn, he sta.
ted he was the only person in the
building that his companion, Har.
rold, 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 OF
us in respect to light. He could see
us, but we could not see him. But af
ter that, the tables were turned
against him We could see him plain
ly, but could not be seen by him. The
flames appeared to confuse him, and
he made. spring toward the door, as
if to attempt to force his way out.
AS he passed by one of the crevices in
the barn, / fred at him. ! aimed at
his body. | did not want to kill him.
| took deliberate aim at his shoulder,
but my aim was too high. The ball
struck him in the head, just below the
right ear, and passing through came
out about an inch above the left ear.
think he stopped to pick up some
thing just as fired. That may prob
ably account for his, receiving the ball
in the head. / was not over eight or
ten yards distant from him when fir-
ed. / was afraid that if l did not
wound him, he would kill some of our
men,. After he was wounded, went
into the barn. Booth was lying in a
reclining position on the floor. ! ask.
ed him, where are you wounded!
He replied, in feeble voice, his eye
balls glaring with peculiar brilliancy,
In the head You have finished me.
He was then carried out of the burn
ing building into the open air, where
he died about two hours and half at
forwards. About an hour before he
breathed his last he prayed for us to
shoot him through the heart, and thus
end his misery. His suilerings appear
ed to be intense. Booth, although he
could have killed several of our party,
seemed to be afraid to fire. Nine was
the only shot fired on either side.
When he fell, he had in his hand six
barrel revolver, and at his feet was
lying seven-shooter, which ne drop.
ped after he was wounded. Two 9th.
er REVIEWERS were also near him. He
declared that the arms belonged to him
and that Harold had nothing to do
with the murder. We gave him bran
DIV, and four men went in search OF q
doctor, whom we found about four
miles from the scene of the occurrences
But when the doctor arrived, Booth
was dying. He did not talk much al
ter receiving bis wound. When ask
ed If he had anything to say, he re
piled III die for my country and ask
ed those standing by to tell his moth
er 50. He did not deny the crime, q
q 1t appears that Col. Baker. chief o
the Government detective force, SEP
Lieut.. Colonel Conger and Lieat. Bs
ker. of his detectives, with Lieutenan
Dougherty and his cavalry. in parsui
Of Booth. On reaching Gsrretps farm
they were told by q son Of Garrett
that two men were In the barn.. Thil
was little past midnight Lieut.. Ba
ker went forward aud called upon thu