Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-06

irLIn HE SIokf OF Ills IURstIT AND
DEATH AFTER LINCoLN's ASSASSINATION.
Capt Edward p. Dorherty, who COM
manded the detachment of the New York
cavalry which pursued and captured John
Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin is now
Il city contractor at New Orleans. He saws
that the stories about Booths being still
alive are all bosh. for he knew Booth per-
sonnally, saw him die, and knows that,
four years after Booths body was buried
in a penitentiary cell at Washington
arsenal, it was delivered to his relatives
and nows lies in the family vault near Bal
timore. Capt. Dorherty mas given a re-
porter of the New Orleans Picayune u
graphic description of Booths capture,
which he accomplished with twenty-five
cavalrymen and two citizen detectives.
The captains command was stationed ut
Germantown, Va, at the time, and he was
informed that Booth and his associates
were in the neighborhood of Fredericks-
burg, where no troops had been stationed
for some time. But Cap. Dorherty learned
after he started that a regiment of Union
cavalry had already gone to Fredericks-
burg, and he ut 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 photographs
of Booth. Harold and Surratt, represent
ing 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 Court
House the evening before, Lieuts. Bur-
bridge, Rugges and Jett of Mosbys COM
| al osasA
that one of the party (Booth) was wounded
in the leg, and as Jett was courting the
daughter Of hotel keeper Goldman at Bow
ling Green, Is miles distant, all hands had
probably gone there. Capt Dohertv at
once sent the orderly after his command,
and after the last load of horses had been
ierred across, he arrested ferryman Rol-
lins and got him to guide them to Bowling
Green, surrounding him with guard with
drawn pistols, that his neighbOrs might
think that he was forced to it.
The party rode directly to Bowling
Green, passing the house of one Garrett
on the way, where Booth and Harold
were stopping, and took to the woods un-
noticed. But Captain Doherty and his
men found Lieut.. Jett at Goldman's hotel,
and, making him believe that he knew all
about his movements for the last three
days, and threatened to hang him if he
lied, the captain got him to own up that
Booth had stopped at CARROTS. Jett was
forced to guide the command back, and
when they got within quarter OF 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 surrounded the house with the rest :.
Garrett 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 dsmount the force, de-
tail few to watch the house, and 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 Capt. 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 out, "Who do you take us
for?" Capt Doherty replied, 1T don't
make any difference who | take you for,
I'm going to arrest you" Booth answered,
Boys, fetch me stretcher, another stain
in our glorious banner" Capt. Doherty
heard whispered conversation between
, Booth and Harold from the inside. after
which Booth said aloud, IL am crippled
and alone, give me chance for my life ;
draw your men up at 20 PAGES, and l will
come OUT Capt. Doherty replied, IL
didn't come here to fight, but to capture
you. have 30 men here, and can doit." "
After dead silence for about five min
utes, Booth said in a very sarcastic tone,
'.Oh, captain, there's a man here that
wants to surrender awful bad" Capt.
Doherty replied, '.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-"He
has no arms" Capt. Doherty-''I know
exactly what you've GOT Booth-'I
own all the arms, and may have to use
them on you gentlemen. Harold had
approached the door, when Capt. Doherty
said to him, ''Let me see your hands. "
Harold put both hands outside the door,
and sezing them. the captain handed him
over to the corporal.
While Capt Doherty was taking Harold
out OF the front door, the barn had been
| fired in the rear. The flames burst out
suddenly, and Booth took u position in the
centre of the barn facing the door. lie
l
t Harold and Capt. Doherty, when Sergt
Corbett, who was stationed at one of the
Openings in the barn to the left of Booth
observing the movement, levelled 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. Captain
=, Doherty supposed that Booth had sho'
himself rather than surrender, and the
officers rushed into the barn. Booth stood
with the carbine between his legs, one o
his erutches having dropped, and, as hs
was about falling forward, Capt: Dohertl
d caught him around the body and carried
him outside of the barn. The heat be,
coming too intense, Capt. Doherty ordered
him removed under the veranda OF the
y Garret mansion. Soldiers were then dis
patched in different directions for doctors
but only one, DR.. Urquhart, could be found
He arrived about six O'Clock A. NJ, and
4. after probing the wound. pronounced !
fatal, the ball having ranged upward, cut