Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22
j. WILKES BOOTH.
AnotheriGraphic Account OF His Capture
ny the Man fn Charge OF the Conn
mand which Captured Him.

ny the Man fn Charge OF the Com.
mand which Captured Him.
The Lansing (Mich.) Republican has
obtained full account of the exciting
capture of j. Wilkes Booth from the
lips of Lieutenant l.. b. Baker, who
commanded the escort of twenty-five
cavalrymen which was sent out in pur-
suit OF Booth after Lincoln's assassina-
tion. Col. Conger also accompanied the
party. Alter various adventures the
pursuers reached the Garrett mansion,
where Booth and Harold had taken
refuge. The narrative then proceeds:
The dash was made through the lane
in short order, and the house sur
rounded. Lieut.. Baker dismounted,
went on the piazza and thundered at the
door. The old man Garrett threw I'D a
window near and asked in frightened
tone, w hat is the matterP" Lieut..
Baker seized him by the arm, and or
dered him to unfasten the door and
strike light. This he did. and the
Lieutenant entered the hall. Mr. Garrett
soon appeared with a tallow candle.
The lieutenant took the candle and
asked: "Whei'e are the men who
are stopping with your" The old man
was very much excited, and he stam-
mered out that "they went to the
woods when the cavalry went by" The
lieutenant said: Don't you tell me
that again; they are here" The sight
of pistol brought young Garrett to the
front, who said: "Don't injure father
and III tell you all about it, they are
= bout this time Col. Conger came into
the hall. Lieut.. Baker took young
Garrett by the collar and led him out
on the piazza. while Conger formed the
! men to surround the barn. The lieu
tenant then ordered Garrett to lead the
/ way. Before reaching the barn Gar
rett said: have for cotton the key,
but my brother has it, who is sleeping
in the corn-crib. We would not let
those men sleep in the house, and were
afraid they would steal our horses and
with the key and delivered it TO Lieut..
Baker. The bayn was then surrounded.
and Lieut.. Baker unlocked the door.
Up to this time Booth and Harold
seemed TO be asleep. Col. Conger came
/ up, and rustling was heard inside the
building as If the inmates were rousing
up from sleep. Lieut.. Baker said TO
Conger: Garrett must go in. demand
their surrender. and bring out their
arms" To this Conger assented, but
Garrett was reluctant TO obey, saying,
"They are desperate fellows, and armed
to the teeth" Lieut.. Baker seized him,
opened the door, showed him in, and
then closed the door. The lieutenant
hailed the assassins and said: 1--WE
send this young man, in whose custody
we find you, and you must surrender
! your arms TO him, or we will set fire to
the barn, and have a bonfire and n
shooting match" A low conversation
took place inside the building. and
Booth was heart to say to Garrett
- yoI! you have betrayed me: get
out of here. or | will shoot you"
Carr EFT came back TO the door and
said: "L Let me out. captain. | will do
anything for you, but | can't risk my
life here" The door was opened, Gar
rett came out with a bound, and the
door was again closed. Lieut.. Baker
had the light in his hand, and Young
Garrett said: "I If you don't put out that
light he will shoot every one of YOU"
The light was placed at n short distance
from the door. but so as to light the
whole front of the building. which had
been once used rs q tobacco-house. The
| light was necessary in case the assassins
should make break for the door and
get out. The soldiers were dismounted.
but refused to stand in the light, and
they were allowed to seek safer posi-
tion. Lieut.. Baker again demanded their
surrender. Booth replied, in clear,
ringing tone, Captain, there is a man
here who wishes TO surrender very
much" At the same time conveIsa-
/ tion took place within, and Booth was
heard to say TO Harold, - you, leave
me, will you? Go, | don't wish you to
stay" and in few moments Harold
raped at the door, saying: "Let me
out; know nothing OF this man."
Lieut. Baker said: bring out the arm
and you can come" He replied: -
have no arms" The lieutenant said:
ou have a carbine and pistol; bring
them out and we will let you out"
Booth then said ]" He has no arms; they
are mine, and shall keep them"
While this parleying was going on,
Col: Conger was doing all in his power
TO keep the men aroused and on the
alert for they had become so exhausted
with >heir ride of two days and two
inghts without rest and with but one
meal, tIEt IL was almost impossible to
keep them awake. Strict orderz were
given not to fire, rs IL would endanger
the lives of the men who were surround
ing the building Harold begged and
entreated II he most piteous manner to
be let out, aid the lieutenant ordered
him to put his hands out of the door,
which was partly ajar. He stuck his
hands out, the lieutenant caught hold
of them, pulled him out, and immedi-
ately closed the door. Harold was
turned over TO two soldiers. He kept
/ making assertions that he knew moth
ing about Booth, and Col. Conger
threatened to tie him and gag him ifhe
did not stop his noise. This had quiet
ing effect. 1t had been decided TO fire
the building, so that Booth would be
driven TO the small door, where. il was
thought. he could he easily captured,
Another parIey ensued. Lieut.. Baker
again made the demand for his surren-
der. Booth said: who are you and
what do you want of meP It may be
that l am being taken by my friends"
The lieutenant said: THAT makes no
difference, we know who you are and
want you. We have fifty men armed
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