The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-10-11
J. Wilkes Boot. /. csptor.

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Captain Edward P. Doherty, who com.
manded the detachment Of New York
cavalry which pursued and captured
John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin.
is now city contractor at New Orleans
He says that the stories about Booths
being still alive are all bosh. for b.
knew Booth personally, saw him die, and
knows that, four years after Booths
body was buried in penitentiary cell At;
Washington Arsenal, it was delivered to
his relatives, and now hes in the family
vault near BALTIMORE. Captain Dohersy
has given reporter of the New Orleans
Picayune graphic description of Booths
capture. which he accomplished with
force OF twenty-five cavalrymen and two
citizen detectives. The Captains COM
mand was stationed at Germantown
Virgins, at the time, and he was ;n.
formed that Booth and his associates were
IN the neighborh0od Of Fredricksburo.
where no troops had been stationed for
some time. But Capt. Doherty learned
after he had started that regiment of
Union cavalry had already gone TO Fred
ericksburg, and he ut once made for the
south side of the Rappahannoek. The
captain and an orderly proceeded ahead of
the command to Port Conway ferry,
where they showed Mrs. Rollins, the
ferryman's wife, the photograph of
Booth, Harold and Surrat, representing
them as rebel friends who were still una
ware of Lees surrender. Mrs. Rollins
said that Booth and Harold had hired
her husband to take them to Orange
Courthouse the evening before, Lieuten-
ants Burbridge, Ruggles and jet Of
Mosby's command going with them. The
woman said that one of the party (Boothl
was wounded in the leg, and as Jet was
courting the daughter of hotel-keeper
Goldman at Bowling Green, IS miles dis
tant, all hands had probably gone there.
Captain Doherty at once sent the orderly
after his command, and, after the last
load of horses had been ferried across. he
arrested Ferryman Rollins and got him
to guide them to Bowling Green. sur
rounding him with guard with drawn
pistols, that his neighbors might think
that he was forced to do it.
The party rode directly to Bowling
Green, passing the house of one Garret
on the way, where Booth and Harold
were STOPPING, and took to the woods I'M
noticed But Captain Doherty and his
men found Lieutenant Jet at GoIdman's
Hotel, and making him believe that he
knew all about his movements for the
last three days, and threatening to hang
him II he lied, the Captain got him to
own mp that Booth had stopped at Car
rett's. jet was forced to guide the COM
mand back, and when they got within
quarter of mile of the house the Can
tain went on ahead to survey the prem-
ises, placed six men as a patrol in the
rear OF the house and stables and sur
rounded the house with the rest. Gar
rett said that Booth and 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. Sergeant Boston Corbett
was at once ordered to dismount the
force, detail few to watch the house.
and surround the barn with the rest.
The barn was locked, but one Of the Gar
rett boys was found hiding in the
orchard with the keys IN his pocket, and
Captain Doherty called on those inside
to come out and surrender.
At first there was no reply, but when
the threat was made to burn the barn.
Booth called ont, "What do you take us
for 2 Captain Doherty replied, ct
don't make any difference what / take
You for, I'm going to arrest you" Booth
answered, Boys, fetch me stretcher:
another stain in our glorious banner
Captain Doherty heard whispered con-
yersation between Booth and Harold
from the inside, after which Booth said
aloud. II am crippled and alone, give
me chance for my life; draw your men
up at twenty-five PAGES and viii come
out. Captain Doherty replied, "I
didn't come here to fight, but to capture
you. I have fifty men here and can do
it. After dead silence of about five
minutes, Booth said In very sarcastic
tone, "Oh, Captain. there's q man here
that wants to surrender awful bad. .
Captain Doherty replied, You had bet
ter do the same and come out Booth
No have not made up my mind.
Captain Doherty, patty opening the
door-"Let him hand out his arms. .
Booth He has no arms. Captain
Doherty-"I know exactly what you've
got. Booth-sI own all the arms, and
may have to use them on you gentle
men, Harold had approached the
door, when Captain Doherty said TO him,
Let me see your hands. Harold put
both hands out through tie door, and
seizing them, the Captain handed him
over to the CORPORAL
While Captain Doherty was taking
Harold ont of the front door the barn
had been fred in the rear. The flames
burst out suddenly, and Booth took q
position in the center of the barn facing
the door. He pointed his carbine in the
direction of Harold and Captain Doherty,
when Sergeant Corbett, who was sta
toned at one of the opening In the barn
to the left of Booth, observing the move
ment, ieveled large-sized Celts re-
volyer 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. Captain Doherty
supposed that Booth had shot himself
rather than surrender, and the officers
rushed into the barn. Booth stood with
the carbine between his legs, and one OF
his crutches having dropped, and as he
was about falling forward, Captain
Doherty caught him around the body
and carried him outside of the barn.
The heat becoming too intense, Captain
Doherty ordered him removed under the
yeranda of the Garrett mansion. Sol
diers were then dispatched in different
directions for doctors, but only enc, DIR.
Urquart, could be found. He arrived
about A. NJ, and after probing the
wound, pronounced it fatal, the ball hay-
ing ranged upward, cutting q vital part.
From the time Booth was shot, at !
O'Clock, until heexpired, two hours later
he spoke but once, and that was to Cap
tain Doherty shortly before 9 o'clock
when he said, Hands, Captain
Doherty lifted up his hands, Boot
, | looked at them for an instant, an
shaking bis head, exclaimed, Useless
, useless" A short time after he becaan'
unconscious and 30 remained until
. died.
J The government had offered &lV0,u ,uU
for Booths capture, and Baltimore an
Washington $50, 900 more. Washing
, tons offered reward is now in htlgatlo'
before the Supreme Court. the Dlstrlc
Court having decided against the claim
on the ground that the city had no an
: thority to offer the reward Baltimor
5 refused to pay her reward point blank
!: and the claim against her has lapsed 3
] limitation. The government paid q
/. 600 Of its reward, Captain Dohefty n
! aeiving $500, the fuo citizen detective
! 5000 each, SerReants Boston, Corbed
!, and Wandell 5000 each, Chief Defectfv
u ~. 49, =