The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-02
The Supreme Tragedy of the
War.
Continued from last aceek.)

sDOOtn 1lrSt SOllcltude seemed 10 be
to learn what mankind thought of the
crime. That question he put almost
immediately to Jones, and continued to
ask what different classes of people
thought about it. Jones told him that
it was gratifying news to most OF the
men ofSouthern sympathies. He frank
| " saws that he himself at first regarded
| it as good news; but somewhat later,
when he saw the injurious consequences
of the crime to the South. he changed
his mind. Booth desired newspapers il
they could be had. which would convey
to him an idea of public feeling. Jones
soon obtained newspapers for him, and
continued to send them in; and Booth
Lay there, where the pines were so thick
that one could not see more than thirty
or forty feet into them, reading what
the world had to say about his case.
He seemed never tired OF information
on this one subject, and the only thing
besides he was solicitous about was to
get across the river into Virginia.
Jones says Booth admitted that he
was the man who killed Lincoln, acd
expressed no regret for the act. He
said if he could only get to Virginia he
could have medical attention. Jones
told him frankly that he would receive
no medical attention in Maryland. said
he: THE country is full of soldiers, and
all that | can do for you is to get you
off "
Mr.. Jones went up to Port Tobacco
in day or two and heard detective
there from Alexandria say: Il will
give one hundred thousand dollars anc
guarantee it to the man who can tel.
where Booth isl When we consider
that the end of the war had come, anC
all the Confederate hopes were blasteC
and every man. slaves set free, we may
reflect upon the fidelity Of this poor
man, whose land was not his own, anC
with inevitable poverty before him per-
haps for the rest of his days, when the
next morning he was told that to hin
alone would be intru>te that man toI
whom the Government had offered {
/ fortune. and was increasing the reward
! Mr.. Jones says it never occurred tC
him tor one moment that it would be 9
good thing to have that money. Or
the contrary. his sympathies were en-
listed for the pale-taced young man.
Said he to Booth : y You must remain
right here, however long, and wait til
| can see some way to get you out anC
[ do not believe | can get you away
from here until this hue and cry is some
what over. Meantime L will see tha
YOU are fed" He then continued t.
visit them daily, generally about tel
O'Clock in the morning. He alway:
went alone, taking with him such fooC
as the country had ham, whisky
bread, fish, and coffee. Part Of the wa,
Jones had to 90 by the public road, bu
he generally worked into the pines a
quickly as possible. His intercourse a
each visit with the fugitives was short
because he was in great personal DANCE
himself was not inquisitive, and wa
wholly intent on keeping bis faith will
his old friend and the new ones. ii,
says that Herold had nothing to say 0
the least importance, and was nothln:
but a pilot for Booth Not improbabl.
Cox sent his own ovcrseer into the pine
sometimes to sec these men or to CIV
them something, but he took no active
part in their escape The blankets the,
possessed came either from Co1's or from
DR.. Mudd's.
Booth, as has been said. rode smal
bay mare from the rear of Ford's Theate
to Cox's ines. Herold rode horse 0
another color. These horses were hire,
at different livery stables in Washington
Jones is not conversant with all the fact
about the shooting of these horses, bu
the testimony Of Cox before he died wa
nearly as follows After Booth entere,
the pines he distinctly heard, the mex
day or the day following. band of cavalr
going along the road at DO great distance
and the neighing OF their horses. II
, said to Her 1l4 If we can hear thos
horses. they can certainly hear the neigh
ing of ours. when are uneasy from wan
Of food and stabing.' When Jones 0
, Sunday morning came through the wool
, and found one of the horses loose, he tol