Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-05-05

/ HUI well lOI Liz hOALd LAdE dll OnC AOCaNN
should grow overwhelmingly great. Such
strength and the consciousness of it leads
generally to Its abuse. We believe this Is
a breaking down also of the past theory
and practice of democratic governments
in America, that it must needs lead to g
continuance, for a considerable time al
least, of that centralized despotic military
power by means of which ambitious States
are rendered more aggressive and more
capable of aggression, while individual
liberty of speech and action is diminished
and local and municipal authority perma-
nently lessened."
THE CAPTURE OF BooTH.-The papers
have peer burthened with lengthy details
of the capture and death of Booth the
assassin. 1t appears that in his leap from
the box occupied by the President to the
stage he broke his leg, which fact led to
his discovery, the information coming
through a negro. After leaving the thea
ter he started South, arrangements for his
fight having been previously perfected
After being concealed for several days
among the traitors of Southern Maryland
he succeeded in getting across the Poto-
mac into Virginia, when he was soon after
traced to the barn where he was taken.
The circumstances of the capture, as de-
tailed by Sergeant Corbett, who fred the
shot that killed him, are as follows:
On Tuesday T. NJ, my superior officer,
Lieut.. Edward P. Dougherty, received in
formation that two persons answering to
the description of Booth and his accom-
plice, Harold, were concealed in a 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 Jet, who ferried Booth and
his companion across the Potomac. At
first he denied knowing anything about the
matter but when threatened with death
if he did not reveal 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 cav
airy, and some of our party engaged IN
conversation with Booth from the outside.
He was commanded to surrender several
times, but made no reply to the demand,
and said that if you want me you must
take me. When first asked to surrender,
he asked, who do you take me for? Il
short time after, IN response to the Ques-
ton as to whether there was anybody else
with him in the barn, he stated that he
was the only person in the building, that
his companion, Harold, had taken anoth-
er direction, and was beyond the reach of
capture. AT three clock. or a little after.
the barn was fired. Before the flames
were kindled, Booth had the advantage of
US in respect to the light. He could see
US, but we could not see him but after
that, the tables were turned against him
could see him plainly, but could not be
by him. The flames appeared to
confuse him, and he made a spring toward
the door, as if to attempt to force his way
out. As he passed by one of the c~revices
In the barn, [ fired at him. I 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
and came out about an inch above the left
ear. L think he stopped to pick up some
just as | fred. That may account
for his receiving the ball in the head. I
not over eight or ten yards distant
from him when [ fred. [ was afraid that
if l did not wound him, he would kill
some of our men.
After he was wounded I went into the
barn. Booth was lying in a reclining po-
on the floor. | asked him where
he was wounded? He replied in a feeble |
tS1OO1 II CJC-Bd14o SAdllnB Will Il peculiar 1
brilliancy: I'm the head-you have finish /
ed me" He was then carried out of the
burning building into the open air, where
he died about two hours and a half after
wards. About an hour before he breath
his last he prayed for us to shoot him
through the heart, and thus end his mise
ry: His suferings appeared to be intense.
Booth, although he could have killed
several of our party, seemed to be afraid
to fire. Mine was the only shot fred on
side. When he fell, he had in his
hand a six-barrelled revolver and at his
feet was lying a seven-shooter, which he
dropped after he was wounded. Two
other revOlvers were also near him. He
declared that the arms belonged to him,
that Harold had nothing to do with
.he murder. We gave him brandy, and
our men wentin search of a doctor, whom
we found about four miles from the scene
IF the occurrence but when the doctor
Booth was dying. He did not talk
much after receiving his wound. When
if he had anything to say, he replied:
| die for my country, and asked those
standing by to tell his mother SO. He
lid not deny his crime.