Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-29
AHighly interesting Nara
tive Of the Capture Of
John Wilkes Booth, a.
the Assassin.
LIEUT.. l. B. BAKEps STATEMENT.
the Assassin

Colonel H. Q. BAKER, and belonging to his
detective force, will therefore be found sK-
cesdingly interesting at this time. It is but
justice 10 add that Lieut.. Gel CoSoER, De.
tsetiys officer, also detached for the same
service by Colonel BAKER, eouoboratss in
all particulars the statement Of Lieutenant
BAEER, who Is n gentleman Of intelligence,
close observer, and was with Booru con.
statly during his last hours:
The patty having arrived in the vicinity Of
Gnrretts house, moved cautiously up and
surrounded II. Tho old man Garrett came
out Of the kitchen door and asked, Whats
this 7" He was directed to light candle
and he would he told. He went in to obey
the order. Meantime Colonel CongeT sta
toned q smaH guard near the barn. Lieu
tenant Baker went into the house, and the
old man soon Joined him with a lighted can.
die. Baker caught him by the shoulder, and
holding pistol near the old mans head,
said, ''I want TO know where those two men
ars that were here this afternoon. The old
man said he did not know. Baker said,
They are here, and If you don't bring them
III blow your brains out " The old man
said tho men had gone to the woods in the
afternoon when the cavalry passed, Cmeaning
Bakers party.) Baker again threatened to
take GArrett's life unless he disclosed.
At this moment Conger returned, and at
the same instant CARROTS son, who appeared
10 have been listening outside, entered the
room, dressed In Confederate uniform. The
sou said, "Father, we had better toll thom
all q" Conger presented his pistol to young
CARROTS head, and threatened to shoot him
II he did not speak tho truth Young Oar
rott then offered to conduct the parties to the
barn, where he said they were concealed.
As they approached the barn they met an
other son Of Garrett, also dressed In COnfede-
| rate uniform. The whole cavalry force had
now surrounded the harm, mounted. Baker
| told young Garrett he must 60 In and bring
out the arms Of those men and deliver them
over. He hesitated, hut finally said he would
do II. He took the keys and unlocked the
door. The barn was an old-fashioned build
ing. 30 by 30 feet, nearly empty, had in II
some straw, hay, and farming utensils. Gar
rett went in, but soon returned, saying they
refused to give up their arms, had threatened
to shoot him, and he had therefore come out.
He locked the door and gave the keys to
Baker. Conger, Baker, and Doherty then
held conference, and concluded to make
Booth and Harold do one Of two things
either put their arms In the hands Of Garrett
| lin whose custody they were found, and sur
render, or they would fire the barn, and the
| thing would end in bonfire and shooting
match Baker was to make these PROPOSE.
tOns.
Bakor went up and addressed the parties
in the barn, stating what we had concluded
to do telling them that We had come TO take
them prisoners, and would treat them rs
prisoners, and would give them fve minutes
to consider.
E. II Il. "a, a..
found to be Booths, )-"WhO are you, and
what do you want Of me?'
BAEBR-"we want you, and intend TO take
you"
DoOTH.-"This is hard case. II may be
that am to be taken by my friends"
| Aftsr further conversation, he seemed to
bo convinced that he was surrounded and
said: "Givs mo a chance for my lifej am a
cripple, with but one leg. Withdraw your
men one hundred yards, and will come out
and 6ght you"
BAKER.-"we did not come to fight you,
but to take you prisoner. You must give up
your arms and surrender" "
Booth asked time to consider, which was
granted.
A low conversRtion was heard going on
between Booth and his companion, and thoy
could distinguish Booths voice saying: go
me now, will you-you damned coward
Whilst this was going on the cavalry were
dismOuntsd, and the horses taken out Of
reach Of the contemplated firing.
Booth then called out: Captain, who arc
you! l could have picked of half dozen Of
your men while we were talking and could
have had a half dozen good shots ut you"
| BAKER.-"Then give up your arms and
surrender; we have come here to take you,
and not to nght you"
BOOTH.-"I will never surrender shnll
never be taken alive"
BAKER.-"If you don't Immediately sur.
render wo will Immediately set fro to the
! barn
BoorH.-':woll, my brave boys, prepare
stretcher for me-"
A short pause ensued, and further low.
toned conversation was had inside Of the
barn.
BoorH directly said There is a man here
that wants to surrender"
BAKER Then lot him hand out his arms
and come out.
Another conversation inside, In which H. q.
old seemed to be trying to get his arms rom
| Booth who was heard TO say GO away
from me- don't want anything to do with
you.n
@lIarold then came to the door and asked
| to bo let out.
Baker went to the door and told him mo;
hand out your arms
Harold replied Il have no arms"
Baker said you have; you brought n
carbine in the ferry boat hand out the car.
bine and one pistol, and you can eomO out, 4"
BooTH,-"he has no arms they are all
mine. Upon my word, as a gentleman, he
has no arms; they NIL belong to me-
Baker opepod the door a short distance
aud Harold put out both hands. Baker
took hold Of them, brought Harold out, and
handed him over to Doherty, and Immediately
shut the door and looked Il.
Col. ,Conger then went to the side of the
barn, drawing small wisp Of hay from the
crack, set II on FIRE and thrust It back, and
Immediately tho hay and straw inside caught
and lighted up the barn us light as day
The first seen Of Booth he was standing
near the middle Of the barn, leaning on his
crutch, With carbine in hand. On seeing the
Are he immediately made towards II drop.
ping his crutoh) with apparent intention Of
oKtinguishing the fre, or shooting the person
who lighted Il. When be came near the flrs,
heSitAtsd, turned partly around, and his face
was seen distinctly by Col Conger, who says
Booths face was then n picture Of despair,
Ho then made towards the main door Of the
barn, with cRrbine In one hand and pistol In
the other, and when about the centre Of the
barn pistol shot was heard from near the
corner Of the barn. During this time Baker