Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-09-12
The story Of the Capture Of J. wilkes

Booth,
As RE-ToLD by HIS CAPTION
Capt Edward p. Doherty, who command
ed the detachment of New York cavalry
which pursued and captured John Wilkes
Booth, Lincolns assassin is now q city con-
tractor at New Orleans. He says that the stor-
les about Booths being still alive are all bosh,
for he knew Booth personally, saw him die,
and knows that four years after Booths body
was buried in penitentiary cell at Washing
ton arsenal it was delivered to his relatives
and now lies in the family vault near Balti-
more Captain Doherty has given reporter
of the New Orleans Picayune graphic de-
scription of Booths capture, which he ac-
complished with force of % cavalrymen
and two citizen detectives. The captains
command was stationed at Germantown, Va,
at the time and he was informed that Booth
and his associates were in the neighborhood
Of fredericksburg, where no troops had been
stationed for some time. But Captain Doh
erty learned after he started that a regiment
of Union cavalry had already gone to Fred
ericksburg, aud he at once made for the south
side Of the Rappahannock. The captain and
an orderly proceeded ahead of the command
to Port Conway ferry, where they showed
Mrs. Rollins, the ferryman's wife, the photo
graphs Of Booth, Harold and Surrat repre-
senting them as rebel friends who were still
unaware of Lees surrender. Mrs. Rollins
said that Booth and Harold had hired her
husband to take them to Orange Courthouse
the evening before, Leuts. Burbridge, Rug
giles and Jctt of Mosby's command going with
them. The woman said that one of the par
ty (I}ooth) was wounded in the leg and as
Jett was cOurtng the daughter of lIotel-keep-
er Goldman at Bowling Green, IL miles dis.
tant, all hands had probably gone there.
Capt. Doherty at once sent the orderly after
his command, aud after the last load of hors-
es had been ferried across, he arrested Ferry
man Rollins and got him to guide them to
Bowling Green, surrounding him with
guard with drawn pistols, that his neghbors
might think that he was forced TO do it,
The party rode dir city to Bowling Green,
passing the house Of one Garrett ON the way
where Booth and Harold were stopping and
took to the woods unnotced. But Captain
Doherty and his men found Lieut.. Jett Mt
Goldnau's hotel, and, making him believe
that he knew all about his movements for the
last three days, aud threatening to hang him
if he lied, the captain got him to own up that
Booth had stopped ut CARROTS. Jrtt was
forced to guide the command back. and when
they got within quarter of a mile Of the
house the captain went on ahead to survey
the premises, placed six men as patrol in
the rear Of the house and stables and sur
rounded the house with the rest. Garrett
snid that Booth aud Harold went to the
woods the afternoon before, but one OF the
Sons was finally forced to confess that they
had returned and Were hidden in the barn.
Sergt Boston Curbett was at once ordered TO
dsmouut the force, detail few to watch the
house aud surround the barn with the rest
The barn was locked, but one of the Garrett
boys was found hiding in the orchard with
the key in his pocket, and Captain Doherty
called on those inside to come out aud surren-
der.
At first there was no reply, but when the
threat was maia TO burn the barn. Booth
called out, who do you take us for:" Capt
Doherty replied, at don't make any differ
ence who take you for, I'm going TO arrest
YOU" Booth answered Boys fetch me a
stretchrr, auoth r stain in our glorious bau-
ner" Capt Duherty heard whispered con
versaiion between Booth and Harold from
the inside, after which Booth said aloud: Il
am crippled and alone, give me a chance for
my life; draw your men up at twenty five
PAGES aud will come out" Capt. Doherty
replied II didu't come here to fight, but to
capture you. | have 30 men here, and can
do it," After dead silence for about five
minutes, Booth said in very sarcastic tone
"Oh captain, there's a man here that wants
to surrender awful bad" Capt Doh rty re-
piled, You had better DO the same, and
come out" Booth-'No, | have not made
up my mind" Capt Doherty, partly opening
the door-"Let him hand out his arms"
Booth lie has no arms Capt. Doherty-
Il know exactly what you've got" Booth
Il own all the arms, aud may have to use
them on you gentlemen" Harold had ap-
preached the door when Capt. Doherty said
to him, Let me see your hands" Harold
put both hands out through the door, and
ssizing them, he handed him over to the cor
poral.
While Capt Doher.y was taking Harold
out Of the front door, the barn had been fired
in the rear. The flames burst out suddenly.
and Booth took a position in the centre of
the barn facing the door, He pointed his
carbinc in the direction of Harold and Capt.
Doherty, when Sergeant Corbett, who was
stationed Mt one Of the openings in the barn
to the left of Booth, observing the movement,
l.ycled a large sized Colts revolver at Booth
and fired He intended to hit Booth in the
arm to disable him. but the ball entered his
neck about one inch from the same place
where Booth shot President Lincoln. Capt
Doherty supposed that Booth had shot him
self rather than surrender, and the officers
rushed into the barn. Booth stood with the
carbine between his legs, one of his crutches
having dropped, and as be was about falling
forward, Capt Doherty caught him around
the body and carried him outside of the barn.
The heat becoming too intense, Capt Doher-
ty ordered him removed under the veranda
of the Garrett mansion. Soldiers were then
dispatched in different directions for doctors,
but only one, DR.. Urquart, could be found.
He arrived about A, NJ, and, after probing
the wound pronounced it fatal, the ball hav-
ing ranged upward cutting a vital part.
From the time Booth was shot, at > o'clock,
until he expired, two hours later, he spoke
but once, and that was to Capt. Doherty
shortly before o'clock, when he said,
Hands" Capt. Doherty lifted up his hands,
Booth looked Mt them for an instant, and,
less" A short time after he became uncon-
scious and so remained until he died.
The government had offered 800, 900 for
Booths capture, and Baltimore and Washing
ton 500, 900 more. Washington's offered re-
ward is now in litigation before the supreme
court the district court having decided
against the claim, on the ground that the city
had no right to offer the reward. Baltimore
. refused TO pay her reward point blank, and
the claim against her has lapsed by limitation.
The government paid S75, 900 of its reward,
Capt. Doherty receiving $500, the two oiti-
zen detectives $4,000 each, Sergeants Boston
Corhett and Wandell 5000 each. Chief De-
tective Lafayette G.. Baker of the war depart
memt $3.50 and the cavalrymen the rest of
the S75, ,OOO pro rata.
An ExTENUATING PLEA FOR BENEDICT AR
NoLn.-Isaac n. Arnold of Chicago, well
known rs the intimate friend of Abraham
I 4. -t,, ,FI