Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-23
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND. MORNING. JANUARY % 1880
J. WILKES BOOTHS DEATH.
From the Lancing (lNich.) Republican.

From the Lancing (Mich) Republican.
In a recent number of the New Orleans
I'icdyane appears statement purporting to
come from Captain Edward p. Dorhertv,
now street contractor in New Orleans, in
which are detailed some of the incidents rel
alive to the capture and killing of John
| Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lin
coin. There are so many glazing inaccura-
cies in the article, so many statements that
are not substantiated by facts and by the
record of the War Department, that we have
obtained history of the exciting event from
the lips of Lieut.. l.. B. Baker, now a clerk in
the auditor generals Office, but who had com
mand of the party who captured the mur-
derer
| At the time when Booth shot President
Lincoln-April IA, 1865, in Fords Theatre
General l.. c. Baker, chief of the detective
force of the War Department, and Lieutcn-
ant l.. b. Baker, were in New York city look
ing for bounty Jumpers. Secretary Stanton
telegraphed these two officers to come to
Washington Immediately They arrived in
Washington in the morning of the third
day after the terrible deed was committed
Cavalry had secured the country in every
direction for miles around Washington,
and kilograms were sent over all the lines
General Baker gained all the information
he could in regard to the route Booth and
his accompices would probably take, and
concluded that they would go down the Pa
tomac, takingin Surrattsville, cross the river
and make their way to Richmond. lie sent
telegraph operator and detective down
the river by boat to Port Tobacco and vcn-
ity, with orders to tap the wires and lot him
know if there was any trace of the escaping
iugitives. Near Chappella Point the detec-
tive found Il negro whom he brought to
Washington, and who stated that he was
positive he saw Booth and Harold whom he
knew well, crossing the river in fishing
boat At first the General discredlted his
statement, but on showing him several like
nesses ofthe assassins and others the colored
man pointed out Booth and Harold as tho
men whom he saw.
An escort of twenty five cayalrymen, I'M !
der Captain Dorherty were placed at Llell-
tenant Bakers command, who had orders |
to bring Booth, dead or alive" AT the re-
quest of Lieutenant Baker, Lieutenant Col
onel Il. j. Conger, a brother Of Congressman
O. d. Conger, an experienced cavalry officer
who had just been mustered out of the U.
s. service, was added TO the party. Colonel
Conger had raided the country in every d.
recton, and was valuable on account OF his
familiarity with the roads and for his un-
1aunted courage and bravery. The plrtS
vent on board the tug }. s. Ide, aud steanieh I
ao'Ep--tp Bel.c PLATA, near the mouth III
at night, and CONTINGENCIES, -i..,,,, ,.,,, ,,t,e Il
tenant Baker and Colonel Conger wougf 7
leave the escort at a short distance bell I'D
them, and call at the various farm houses,
to belong to Booths party, but
from whom they had been separated in cross
ing the river. They found many sympa-
thizers who were ready to aid them, but
could find no one who had seen Booth The
night was spent in making such inquiries.
The next morning the party left the Freder-
icksburg road, where they had been search
ing, and turned their horses heads across
the country towards the Rappahannock, and
about noon reached the river at Port Con-
way. The horses being jaded and the men
exhausted, Il rest was made here, and most
oc the men went to slepD
Lieutenant Baker told Colonel Conger
that he would ride down the river 10 the
ferry, about half mile away, and see what
he could find. Accompanied by an orderly
he rode to the ferry, where he met fisher
man by the name of Rollins The Lieuten-
ant asked him il party Of men, one Of
them lame, 0or Booth had broken his leg In
jumping from the theatre box TO the stage,)
had crossed the river within day or two.
Rollins said they had the day before, and on
being shown the likeness of Booth aud Har-
old, he at once recognized them. Lieuten
ant Baker Immediately sent the orderly to
Colonel Conger, asking him TO bring the cs-
cort 10 the ferry at once. The ferry boat
was crazy affair, and the afternoon was
consumed in getting the men and horses
across the river Rollins pretended 20 be II
Union man, and was willing 10 go ~ a
guide, but feared persecution from his neigh
bors unless under arrest This was done
Rollins said that Booth was accompanied by
a Captain Jet, one Of Mosby's command,
who frequently went 10 Bowling Green,
about eighteen miles distant, TO see his sweet
heart Her parents kept hotel, and he
thought The whole party had gone there
Just about dusk the whole party had set out
for Bowling Green. They had not gone far
before they discovered twamen mounted on
horses, At the fork Of the fredericksburg
and Bowling Green roads, who seemed 10
he watching the movements Of the party
Lieutenant Baker and Colonel Conger gave
chase, and the latter being mounted on a
swim horse gained 80 rapidly on the pursued
that they turned their horses into the timber
and escaped One Of these hoisemen proved
10 be Harold, the place Of pursuit
being only one and Il half miles from the
Garrett place where Booth was then secret
ed. Bowling Green was reached about mid
night, when the party dismounted and sur
rounded the hotel where Jett's sweetheart
was supposed 10 reside. She was there, and
20 was Jett but Booth and his accompice
were not 10 be found,
When the building was surrounded and
every avenue Of escape guarded, Lieutenant
Baker raped ON the hall door with the butt
Of his pistol. The mother and daughter
soon appeared with the light, and Informed
them that there was no one In the house ex-
cept her son and friend of his, Capt Jcit
Lieutenant Baker and Colonel Conger re-
quested 10 be shown 10 their room where
they found them asleep. On being aroused
Jet said "What do You want with usY"
ConOnel Conger .aid 1--WE know all about
Won. Won pil0fed Booth across the river |