The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-11

not the exception. Il was a O'Clock on az April
morning, In the year 1865, when Booth and Har-
old, with their guilty souls stepped in the blsokest
infamy and eternal despair staring them 10 the
face, rode their horses up here and bent their
fatal steps to the doomed domicil of Mudd. In
the meantime we can tell our own story. Guess.
Ing, 10 the absence OF reliable Information. that
the white frame house standing over in the fields
was the one We were In quest Of, we drove across,
and having hitched the horses to o fence took Q
leisureIy survey Of the ground. noting especially
the beauty and seclusion of the situation. There
were several outhouses. one barn, the other q
, stable. standing at distance Of few hundred
feet from the dwelling. A garden In which nothing
appeared to be growing, semicircular area In
front Of the house planted 10 low wide spreading
cedsrs, an extensive strip on one aide Of rolling
meadow land, and on the other long. irregular
line OF pine trees constituted the chief features OF
the scene.
We Knocked for sdmission at the same door
that Booth did after his six hours rideit took us
and serious looking gentleman, who, 10 answer 70
our Inquiry II he we're DR.. Mudd, replied, "Thats
my name" twas gratifying after SO long sjour.
ney to find the man you sought directly on hand
and apparently prepared to furnish you with the
smplest stores OF information rsa-.si-s e -
Decton with Booth sc n asydpf .is an interest
Ia learning some particulars Of his experience In
the Dry fortueas and his recollections OF the as
ssssinstion conspirators-his face grew extremely
serious, and he answered that OF all things he
ply because nothing was ever printed 10 connec.
ton with his name that did not misrepresent him.
"a burned child breads the tre," he exclaimed,
"and have reason 70 be suspicious OF every one.
twas In this way Booth came TO my house, repre-
senting himself ss being on journey from Rich
mond to Washington, and that his horse fell on
him. fractHring his leg and otherwise injurng him.
Fix months or 30 from now, when my mind ia
more settled, and when understand what changes
have taken place In public opinion regarding me,
shall be prepared to speak freely and faliy on
thsoe matters you are anxious TO know about At
present, for the reason stated, would rather not
ssy anything t-a
Having, however, convinced the doctor that II
was with no motive TO misrepresent bis statements
that we paid him this visit and that between
Booths case and ours there was no analogy, he
invited us to pass the evening at his house aud
postpone our return to Washington till the morn,
ing. Left alone for while In the parlor-an am
pie, square apartment, with folding doors separat-
ing II from the dining began to feel an
irresistible inclination to imagine two strangers on
horseback riding up TO the door In the dim gray
of en- April morning. the younger OF tho two lift
ing the other from bis saddle and both, Ike evil
stars, crossing the threshold OF an Innocent and
happy household, TO blast lite peace forever. DR..
Mndd's return disturbed our reveries. Z
The doctor says be IL thirty-five years of age,
married In 1850, built the house In which he now
lives after his marriage, owned well stocked
farm OF about thirty acres, and was In the enjoy.
ment Of q pretty excessive practice mp to the
time Of his arrest in 1865. The world went we'll
and smoothly with him previous 70 that unhappy
event. His house was furnished with all the DOM.
forts OF q country gentleman's residence. He had
his horses and hounds, and in the sporting season
was foremost at every fox hunt and at every man
IL o1tdoor sport. De hsd robust health and O
vigorous, athletic frame In those days, but II il
very different with him now. Above the middle
height. with reddish mustsche and chin whisker
q high forehead and attenusted nose, his appear
ence indicates man of calm and slow reflection,
n
He says be was born within q few miles Of this
house, and has lived all his life IN the country.
His whole desire now Is 70 be allowed 70 spend
the balance OF his days quietly In the bosom OF
bis family. In his sunken, lusterless eye, paid
lips and cold, sshy complexion one can read the
words DRY Tortugss" with terrible significance.
In the prime OF his years, looking prematurely old
ssss on tSs v,ssk ana An ss. Zee. Of srs
man before them without feeling q sentiment Of
sympathy and COMMUNICATION. al have come
home" said the doctor. sorrovfully, Ito find
nothing left me but my house aud family. No
money, no provisions, no crops in the ground and
no clear way before me where 70 derive the
means OF support IN my present enfeebled condi'
tion." There was no deception here. In the
scsnty furniture Of the house and In the pale, sad
countenance Of the speaker there was evidence
enough Of poor and altered fcrtune. II was now
evening and growing rapidly dark. big fire
blazed on the ample hearth, and Mrs. Mudd. al
intelligent and handsome lady, with one OF her
conversation over the events Of that memorable
April morning after the assassination. 90
Ibid you see Booth, Mrs. Muddw we inquired,
with feeling Of intense interest 10 hear her reply.
Yes" che replied. 81 saw himself and Harold
sitter they entered this perlor. Booth stretched
himself out on that sofa there. and Harold stopped
down 70 whisper something to him."
"How did Booth look,"
every bad. He seemed "a though he had best
drinking very hard his eyes were red and swollen
and his hair in disorder"
Ibid he appear to suffer muchm /
"Not after he laid down on the sofa. In fact Il
seemed as IL hardly anything was wrong with hin
then" ......... ......-.. ..--.E ~ :.
"what kind OF a fracture did Booth sustain, y
we inquired addressing the Doctor.
:. "Well,n said be, latter he was laid down on
that sofa and having told me his leg fractured
by bis horse falling him during his journey ~
from Richmond. took knife snd split the leg o.
his boot down to the instep. slipped Il on and thu
| sock with 10; then felt carefully with both hand
down along his leg, but at first could discover
nothing like crepitation till after second invest
cation found on the outside, near the ankle, some
thing that felt like indurated flesh, and then fo
the first time concluded II was direct and eleaI
| fracture Of the bone. then improyised out 0
| pastebosrd q sort Of boot that adhered clos
enough TO the leg to keep it rigidly straight belos
the knee. without at ell interfering with the fe !
ure Of the leg. A low cut shoe was substitutes
| for the leather boot, and between five and eli
| O'Clock In the morning Booth aud his companion
started of for point on the river below" 4
How did Booths horse look after this lonI
ride ?' we inquired.
1.-THE boy after putting him up IN the stable,
the doctor replied, reported that his back under
meath the forward part Of the saddle was raw an
bloody. This circumstance tailed with Booth
account that be had been riding sll day previou
from Richmond, and no suspicion arose IN N,
mind for one instant that the man whose leg
was attending to was anything more than what b
represented himself"
"You knew Booth before, doctor!'
eyes" replied the doctor. Is was first intro
duced TO Booth in November. 1864, at the chure
yonder, spoke few words to him ard never "a,
him afterwards until little while before Chris
mas, when l happened to be In Washington MAX
ing few purchases and waiting for some friend
from Baltimore who promised to meet me at ID
Pennsylvania House and Gene out here 70 spen
the holidays. / was walking past the Nations
Hotel at the time, when person tapped me D.
the shoulder and, on turning round, I discovere
II was the gentleman was introduced 10 at tn
church about six weeks previously. he sske
- me aside for moment and said he desired an intro
eucton TO John.H. Surratt, with whom he presun
ed was acquainted. said that was. Surrstt an
| became almost necessarily acquainted from ID