The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-01
THE MURDER OF LINCOLN.
The Last Days OF John Wilkes Booth
His Purpose I'm Escaping to Virginia-
Interesting Narrative.

| The Last Days OF John Wilkes Booth
His Purpose I'm Escaping to virginis-
Interesting Narrative.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
saw 1t stated in Washington paper, upon the
presentation OF my petition by Hon. John I. Lewis
to Congress for payment for my losses sustained in
the burning OF my tobacco house and contents by
the orders Of Colonel Conger who commanded the
forces that were endeavoring to capture J. Wilkes
Booth and d. G. Harold, in April, 1865, "that it
would be recollected that Booth and Harold were
concealed in this house, and 1t had to be burned to
capture them," leaving the inference 1t appears to
me, that Booth and Harold were concealed in this
house by me or some OF my family. II this infer
ence Is intended to be made by the editor of said
paper there Is nothing more erroneous, and to set
the matter right and to show that neither nor any
OF my family intended IN any way to conceal them
or was at all appraised or had any suspicion Of who
these men were, will make true statement OF the
whole transaction from the time that Booth was
brought to my house to the time OF his being shot
by one OF the soldiers when the house was on fire.
On Monday, the cath Of April, 1865, about four
O'Clock p. NJ, three men rode up to my yard, and
when went out to them found they were all
strangers to me- The one in front introduced him.
self as Captain Scott; he then introduced the two
others TO income as Lieutenant Ruggles and the
other as his friend, Mr.. Boyd He stated that Mr..
Boyd was q wounded Confederate soldier: that he
belonged to the former command OF General A.
r. Hill, and that he was wounded before Petersburg
just before the close of the war; that he and Lieu
tenant Ruggles were going las he expressed t) on
little scout towards Richmond, and asked me to
keep and take of his friend Boyd until the next
Wednesday morning, as he was suffering too much
to travel with them, and that they would call for
him at that time.
As it had always been one principle OF my re-
gIon ITO entertain strangers, especially any that
seemed to be SUFFERING" consented that he should
remain, and that would take as good care OF him
as could. did not promise this because he was
Confederate soldier, but because he seemed to be
suffering. I had before this administered to the
wants Of about twelve wounded federal soldiers,
borhood In suffering state and 1t was comforting
to my feelings to see the gratitude expressed by
them to me, and to feel that had helped TO relieve
the wants of some OF my fellow creatures Never
shall forget this circumstances 1t il craven deep
upon my heart This man, whom and all my fam
lily looked upon as Mr.. Boyd, wounded Confed-
crate soldier, was taken at once into my house he
supped with my family, and slept that night In one
OF my upper rooms. in which my sons, John M.
and William H., and two smaller children slept. He
breakfasted with my family the next morning and
remained in the house and yard most OF the time
reclining upon the grass In the yard, my little
to say and seemed TO be suffering VIC thought, from
his wound. After breakfast that morning my eldest
son, John NJ, rode TO shoemakers, about one
mile from my house, to have his boots repaired
aud while there he met with gentleman OF the
neighborhood who had gotten by private means q
newspaper from Richmond there being no mails to
our secton) and this paper had In II an advertise
ment Offering large reward 100000, thinkl for
the capture of Booth, the murderer OF President
Lincoln After my sons return, and while at the
dinner table. he spoke OF having seen this paper
containing the advertisement. This man, who was
at the table, remarked that he would not have been
surprised II 100000 had been offered, but that he
had heard that the man that committed the act had
been arrested between Baltimore and Philadelphia
and was now In Washington. He having before
this told me that he was q native Of Maryland,
then asked him II he had ever seen the man Booth
who was charged with the offence. He said he had
seen him once He saw him In Richmond about
tue time Of the John Brown raid asked him II he
was an old or young man he said he was rather u
young man.
had never heard OF but one Booth as an actor,
ana thought II was Mr.. Edwin Booth. My younger
son, who was mere youth, remarked III wish
ne would come this way, so that might catch
him and get this rcward.u He turned to him and
SAID, III he were 70 come out would you inform
against nmf" My son, laughing, said he would like
w nave the money. The nian talked all this cooy,
Snd HhQwed nothing like excitement up0n the occa.