Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-12
RSDAY EVENING. DECEMBER p. 1867.
,osed A. the time that Conger shot him,

posed at the time that Conger shot him,
and said, "What on earth did you shoot
him forf" said he, 81 didn't shoot him,
then tho idea flashed across my mind
that il he did, il had better not be
known; turned again and said, "Aii
right" said he, 81 did not shoot him :
"Well," said l, "the man who did goes
back under arrest All this took place
very quickly.
Ipicked up the carbine which Booth
had dropped. The pistol he grasped in
one hand so tightly that had to twist TO
get it out; / took the pistol Captain
Doherty came in aud took the carbine
and knife out of Booths belt; at that
time Garrett rushed in and said, " Boys,
let me extinguish this fire !" the soldiers
ran and threw furniture aud stuff on the
fre, but it was too late; then Colonel
Conger, myself and two soldiers carried
Booth out of the barn and laid him by a
tree; had cupi in my pocket, and took
it out and called for some water; took
Booths he.i ON my knee and threw some
water in his face his mouth being open,
poured some in his mouth; he blew it
out and opened his eyes | gave him some
more water, and he made his lips 60 as
though he would say something; Conger
was there, and put his ear to Booths
lips; he said, "Tell mother" and then
he swooned away again; was washing his
face all this time; he said, in whisper,
"Tell my mother die for my country"
Then / saw his wound that was the
first time saw it; saw that he was shot
in the neck; the wound did not bleed,
and / did not know the nature of IT. the
fire was then burning rapidly, and it be-
came so warm that we had to take him
away; we carried him to the piazza Of
the house, and called for some water and
ice in cup, and some cloths; Colonel
Conger tore open Booths collar aud
took diamond pin out of his undershirt,
and fixed him SO that / could wash him
| then saw that the ball had passed
through his neck; | washed the wound
and washed his face he opened his eyes
and seemed to realize what was going
on; the first words he uttered were:
Kill me, oh kill me | " said, " No,
Booth" when l said " Booth " he
seemed surprised, opened his eyes and
looked about; it had begun to be day
light then.
The sun was rising. said, mo,
Booth, we do not wish to kill you !" that
we hoped his wound was not mortal, and
that he might yet live. He repeated the
request that / should kill him. Then
Conger came He was kneeliug down
on one side of him and l on the other
side. l spoke to Conger in reference to
Captain Jett, from whom we got the in-
formation at Bowling Green, fifteen
miles beyond, that he had piloted Booth
and Harold over the river. When
mentioned Jett's name Booth opened his
eyes and said, did Jett betray me p
Then saw that l was making unneces.
sary developments, and l said, 70, never
mind anything about Jet. He seemed
to be paralyzed below the wouHd. His
hands lay by his sides. He said, my
hands" / took up one of his hands and
washed it in ice water. He looked at it
and said, "Uuseless, useless" and he
dropped it,
The first thing he said after we got
him on the piazza was to repeat the
request that we should tell his mother
he died for his country, and that he had
done what he thought was for the best.
This he said in low whisper. Booth
died leaning against mattress which
the girls at the Garrett House got and
laid on the piazza was not sworn on
the trial. My testimony has never been
taken, except before Judge Holt, and
that has been disposed of; it cannot be
found. / was summoned as witness,
but was informed after i got here that
was not wanted. In regard to one leaf
of the diary that was absent, found it
in Virginia about ten days after the
| caDture,