Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-04
THE EASsAssIN BOOTH SHOT
HAROLD TAKEN 4!
Special Dispatch to the N. Y. Tribune.

Sergt. Boston COrbett, OF Co. l., 10Th New
York Cavalry, the full particulars of his
capture of Booth, and the circumstances
which compelled him to shoot him.
Corbett resides in New York in Attorney
street, next door to the Protestant NJ. Z.
church, of which he is member. His reg
iment has been stationed at Vienna, and
been more or less in the pursuit of Booth
and different persons suspected of being
connected with the gang of assassns.
The regiment were i'll the city, and did
guard and escort duty on the occasion of
the Presidents funeral
A detachment of 26 men, under command
of Lieut.. Doherty with two Of Col. Bakers
detectives, viz: Lieut-Col. Gonger and
Lieut. Baker, both late of Bakers District
of Columbia Cavalry, proceeded to Port
Royal in pursuit of Booth and Harold,
they having received trustworthy informa-
ton of their whereabouts from the negroes,
and some contirmatory information from
certain paroled Confederate soldiers
They crossed the Rappahannock in a
scow fcrry-boat at Port Royal Oh Tuesday
night, and had proceeded about three miles
beyond that place when they ascertained
that Booth was secreted upon the place of
stated he had been there, but had been no.
titled by Rebel cavalry that our cavalry
were crossing the river and that he must
leave and secrcte himself. Mr. G. seemed
to give all the information he could, and his
son, who accompanied the party here, was
especially active in helping ferret him out.
He was supposed to have fled to the
woods, but upon approaching the barn he
was discovered secreted therein.
| When challenged to come out and sur
render, he, in very wild and excited tone,
demanded to know who they supposed him
to be, and by what authority desiring to
know of what crime he was charged, and
evincing the greatest excitement, and talk
ing very incoherently.
The officers demanded that he should
come forth and give himself up He re-
| fused to do so, and threatened to shoot
whoever should approach. He said he was
there alone, but would never surrender.
COrbett was stationed at corner of the
barn. where there was a board off and
where he was particularly exposed to
Booths fire he expressed desire to go in
and try and secure him, saying he was
willing to venture his life in the encounter,
and had much rather go in and attack him,
than to stand in his exposed position but
it was so evident that Booth meant to sell
his life as dearly as possible, that Lieut..
| Doherty would not permit him to enter.
The officers then gave Booth five minutes
to surrender, or else the barn would be
! fired. Nearly half hour was consumed
set to the barn. During the progress of
! a. l, ,l,a44
ing his Spencer carbine at one of the men.
Corbett who is deeply religious man, says
he prayed fervently for Booth and that God
would have mercy upon his soul, and feel
ing that he was justified in shooting him to
prevent the possible loss of the life another
innocent man, approached the crack in the
barn. leveled his revolver and fired
His shot, by strange coincidence, en-
tered his head in almost precisely the same
spot that President Lincoln was shot the
ball, however, passed through and out of
the upper part Of his neck on the opposite
side
Booth instantly fell, and his carbine
dropped heavily with him he was stand
ing at the time supported by crutch his
body was instantly removed from the burn
ing barn this was just at daybreak yes
terday, and he lived till about ! o'clock
! In his leather belt which he wore was
the " Sic Semper Tyrannis" dirk, he so
tragically brandished upon the stage, with
clotted blood dried upon its blade This
knife, his carbine and two revoIvers, which
he also had upon his person, holding one in
his left hand at the time of being shot, and
while aiming his carbine, were all brought
to the Tribune building here and exhibited
at 2 o'clock, this a. m
Booths confederate and companion, Har-
rold came out of the barn at the first in an
excited state of fright and professed con
triton, with his arms appraised He also
audibly besought Booth to surrender, with
out avail however.
Booth, in his forced hauteur, shouted out
just before Harold left him. I" Here, Cap
tain, is one man who wants to surrender
mighty bad" He had but a moment pre-
viously insisted that no one was in the barn
with him.
Harold is pronounced mean, cowardIy
boy. He says he wishes Wilkes Booth had
been dead before he had ever seen him, and
then remarked with silly tone and action,
He always liked Mr.. Lincoln, and was
very fond of his jokes"
Harold has been brought to this city
and confined as are the other prisoners
Booth, before he died. was apparently ra-
tional, but talked at random and contradic-
ted himself as he had done throughout, and
he said Tell my mother have died for
my country. You, gentlemen, have spoiled
my fun in Mexico" He seemed conscious
of near approach of DEATH but died as friv-
Olously and hardened as he had lived.
His body was fully identified by his in
itials on his hand in India ink, his memo
randum books and other papers, and by the
personal recognition before and after death
of the detective officers who knew him.
| He had his moustache shaved off, and
had unshorn beard of four or five days.
| lie wore a gray woolen shirt had on
dark cashmere pants one cavalry, or the
ater, top boot, which drew up above the
knees, but was turned down when cap
tured. On the other foot he had an old
shoe. His leg was bandaged where it was
broken.
Harold says by his spur catching in the
fog festooning the Presidents box, and
tripping in his leap upon the stage. He
suffered excruciating pain from this wound,
the splmtered end of the bone piercing the
| flesh