Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-05-01
Statement OF the Man who ShOl
HOOth.

Db@spnAGhe thC A0h WMV S1Ve
Booth.
The following is the statement of Ser
geant Boston Corbett, the soldier who
shot the assassin Booth, on Tuesday af-
ternoon:
"My superior officer, Lieut.. Edward P.
Dougherty, received information that
two persons answering to the description
of Booth and his accomplice, Harold,
were concealed in q barn on the place of
Henry Garrett, about three miles from
Port Royal, in the direction Of Bowling
Green. There we captured man named
Jett, who ferried Booth and his compan-
ion across the Potomac. At first be de-
nied knowing an ythinR about the matter,
but when threatened with death if he did
not reveal the spot where the assassins
were seoreted, he told US where they
could be found and pi.oted as 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 engaged
ia conversation with Rooth from the out
side.
HE was commanded several times to
surrender, but made no reply to the de-
mand, save that, IF you want me you
must take me- When first asked 10 sur
render be asked, Who do you take me
forf A short time aftarwArd, in re-
sponse to the question as to whether
there was anybody else with him in the
barn, he stated that he was the only per-
son in the building-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 Cred. 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 after that
the tables were turned against him--we
could see him plainly, but could not be
seen by him. The flames appeared to
confuse him, and he made a spring to-
ward the door, as if to attempt to force
bis way out As he passed by one of
the crevioes of the barn, fred at him.
/ aimed at his body; did not want to
kill him; l took deliberate aim at his
shoulder, but my aim was too high. The
ball struck him in the head, just below
the right esr, and, passing through, came
out about one inch above the left ear. /
think he stopped to pick mp something
| lust as fred. That may probably ac-
count for the fact of his receiving the
ball in the head. / was not over eight
or ten yards distant from him when
fred. / was afraid If didn't wound him
he would kill some of our men. After
he was wounded / went into the barn.
Booth was lying in reclining position
on the floor. I asked him, where are
YOU woundedT He replied in very
feeble voice, his eyeballs glaring with q
| peculiar brilliancy, In the head-you
| have finished me. He was then carried
out of the burning building into the open
air, where be died about two hours and
half afterwards.
"About an hour before he bresthed
his last he prayed for US to shoot him
through the head and thus end his mis-
cry. His sufferings appeared to be in
tense Booth, although he could have
killed several Of our party, seemed to
be afraid to FIRE. Mine was the only
shot fred on eithar side. When be fell
he had in bis hand six.barrel revolver
and at his feet was lying seyen-shooser
which be dropped after be was wounded.
Two other revolvers were also near him
He declared that the arms belonged tC
him, and that Harold had nothing TO dc
with the murder. We gave him brandy
and four of our men went to search foi
a doctor, whom we found about foul
miles from the scene of the occurrence
but when the doctor arrived, Booth wal
} DYING. He did not talk much after re
ceivinR his wound. When asked if h
had anything to say he replied: 81 di,
for nay country" and asked those stand
: ing round to tell his mother so. H
: didn't deny his crime"
!. Sergeant Corbett, the soldier who sho
Booth, the assassin, belongs to Co. /
, 10th New York cavalry he was bori
in London, England, in 1892, and cam
o to this country at seven years Of age
j: | He has lived in Troy, n. Y, where b
/ learned his trade as hat fnisher, an
, subsequently worked in Albany, Boston
!, Richmond and New York, and enliste
% in the latter city. Corbett is regula
!. Cromwellian, and q devout Christian
a About seven years sgo he became coi
vertsd, and joined the Methodist EpiscS
y nal Church in Boston. Never havin
been OADklSE0 ne SIS AG was - . W.
sr what name to adopt, and be therefol
L made il subject of prayer, when b
believed himself instructed to take th
70 name of Boston, the place of bis conve
T. sion. he was accordingly haptised, upc
IN Joining the church, Boston" and h
n. name stands upon the muster-roll Of Z
company a. Boston Corhett. His rel
eious faith, in the present age, would Q
most be called fanatieism. On Frids
night he visited McKendree Chapel, a
prayed with great earnestness that Gs
would not lay innocent blood to o.
RS charge, but bring the guilty 10 punis
of ment He feels assured that Booth "
ID, delivered into his hands in answer
nd his prayers. He appears very intel
on gent young man, and, aside from a mo
est reserve, converses With much intel
or gence and interest
he Last June detachment of the 10
To- was sent 10 the vicinity of Culpeppa
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