The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-04-22

DIR. MUDD'S ACCOUNT OF BOOTH THE
d,,r.. ASSASSIN AT HIS HOUSE. r,-ls
A correspondent of the New York
Herald hunted up DR.. Mudd at his
home. in Maryland. The Doctor was
scared when told his visitor was re-
porter, and did mot want to say any
thing, but talked a little. We quote
the correspondence:
g" Above the middle height, with a
reddish mustache and chin whiskers,
high forehead and attenuated nose,
his appearance indicates man of calm
and slow reflection, gentle in manner,
and of a very domestic turn. He says
he was born within few miles of this
house, and has lived all his life in the
country. His whole desire now is to
be allowed to spend the balance of his
days quietly in the bosom of his fam
lily. In his sunken, lusterless eye, pal
lid lips, and cold, ashy complexion,
one can read the words DRY Tortu-
gas with a terrible significance. In
the prime of his years, looking pre-
maturely old and careworn, there are
few, indeed, who could gaze ON the
wreck and ravage in the face of this
man before them without feeling a
sentiment of sympathy and commits
Grafton. 4 have come home,' said
the Doctor, sorrowfully, to find moth
ing left me but my house and family.
Nolmoney, no provisions, no crops in
the ground, and no clear way before
me where to derive the means of sup
port in my present enfeebled condi-
ton There was no deception here.
In the scanty furniture of the house
in the pale sad countenance of the
speaker, there was evidence enough
of poor and altered fortune. 1t wa:
now evening, and growing rapidly
dark. A big fire blazed On the ample
hearth, and Mrs. Mudd, an Intelligent
and handsome lady, with one of her
children, joined the Doctor and our
selves in the conversation over the
events of that memorable April morn,
ing after the assassination. -:'". 80
Did you see Booth, Mrs. Mudd
we inquired, with a feeling OF in
tense interest to hear her reply.
ia" Yes" she replied, 1 saw himsel
and Harold after they entered thi
parlor. Booth stretched himself on
on that sofa there, and Harold stoop
ed down to whisper something tt
. him. -4Slbliaft hiig e.Esl-~ y q
"How did Booth look ?" l5
-" Every bad. He seemed as tliougl
he had been drinking very hard: hi
eyes were red and swollen, and hi
hair in disorder 7'ifio 5'ii 10 a1i'''.
. :" Did he appear to suffer much?'
-" Not after he laid down on the so
/ ia. In fact, it seemed as if hardl,
! any thing was wrong with him then
/ J" What kind of fracture di,
, Booth sustain?' we inquired, address
: ing the Doctor. f'''' t.'.'..
3 Xxx Well,' said he, after he was lai
/ down on that sofa and having told m
that his leg was fractured by his hors
!, falling on him during his journey u
D from Richmond, ! took q knife an
g split. the leg Of his boot down to. .th
] instep, slipped it off and the sock, wit
6 it; Ithen felt carefully with both hand
down along his leg, but at first copl
! discover nothing like crepitation III
s til, after a second investigation,
i found on the outside, near the ankl,
T. something that felt like indurate
Y flesh, and then for the first time l col
! cluded it was a direct and clean frat
e ture of the bone. ,fI l then tilnprovise
o out of pasteboard sort of boot thi
s adhered close enough to the leg I
e keep it Irigidlyo straight below I'll
It knee, without at all interfering wit
e the flexion of the leg. A low c,
}, shoe was substituted for the leath,
L n