Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-04-10

crime. between his disappearance in
the pines OF Maryland and his re-ap-
pearance in Virginia. where he was
killed, and this article (the informa-
ton OF which was supplied by Thos.
A. Jones, an actor in the escape) it
is believed closes this gap. Jones'
first encounter w,tI, the fugitives is
described as follows: "Booth and
Harold were sent into the short pines,
and there Jones found them. He
says that as he was advancing into
the pines he came upon bay mare
with black legs, mane and tail, and a
white star on the forehead; she was
saddled, and rowing around in a lit
tie cleared place as il trying to nib
BILE something TO eat. Jones took the
mare and tied her to a tree or stamp.
He then advanced and gave what he
calls the countersign, or whistle,
which he does not precisely remem-
ber now, though he thinks it was two
whistles in peculiar way. and
whistle after an interval. The first
person he saw was Harold. fully arm
ed, and with carbine in his hand,
coming out to see who it was. Jones
explained that he had been sent to
see them, and was then taken to
Booth, who was but a few rods farth-
er along.
Booth was lying on the ground,
wrapped up in blankets, with his foot
supported and bandaged, and a
crutch beside him. His rumpled
dress looked respectable for that
country, and says it was Of black
cloth. His face was pale at all times,
and never ceased to be 80 during the
several days that Jones saw him.
He was in great pain from his broken
ankle, which had suffered a fracture
of one Of the two bones in the leg,
down close to the foot. 1t would not
have given him any very great pain
but for the exertion Of his escape,
which irritated it by scraping the
ends of the broken bone perhaps in
the flesh; it was now highly irritat-
ed, and whichever way the man NOV
ed he expressed by q twitch Or 8
grean the pain he felt. Jones says
that this pain was more or less con-
tinuous, and was greatly aggravated
by the peril of Booths situation-un'
able to cross the river without assist
ance, and unable to walk any dis
tance whatever. Jones believes thai
Booth did not rise from the ground
at any time until be was finally pu
ON Jones's horse to be taken to th,
water-side some days afterward.
."Beoth's first solicitude seemed to
be to learn what mankind thought OF
the crime. That question heput almos
immediately to Jones, and continued
to ask what different classes of peo
Pile thought about it. Jones told hin
that it was gratifying news to most 0
the men Of Southern sympathies
He frankly says that he himself a
first regarded it as good news; bu
somewhat later, when he saw the i'm
furious consequences Of the crime b
the South, he changed his mind
Booth desired newspapers if the
could be had, which would convey t
him an idea of public feeling. Jone
soon obtained newspapers for him
and continued to send them in; an
Booth lay there, where the pine
were so thick that one could not Sc
more than thirty or forty feet int
them, reading what the world had t
say about his case. He seemed ne,
er tired Of information ON this on
subject, and the only thing beside
he was solicitous about was to g
across the river into Virginia.
"Jones says Booth admitted tbs
; he was the man who killed Lincoll
and expressed no regret for the &C
knowing all the consequences it il
volyed. He harped again and agai
upon the necessity Of his crossing I'll
river. He said il he could only e
to Virginia he could have medical a
tendance. Jones told him frankl
!, that he would receive no medical al
tendance in Maryland. Said he
3 The country is full of soldiers, an
! all that I can do for you is TO get yo
off, If I can, for Cox's protection an
my own, and for your own safet,
Tha: 1 will do for you, if there is an
way in the world to do 1t.
"When / received this accoul
, from Mr.. Jones, 1 asked him que
+ 'tion after question to see if coul
:. extract any information as to VIII
Booth inquired about while in tn
wilderness. l asked II he spoke j,
= his mother, of where he was goir
$ when he reached Virginia. of whet
er he meant to act on the sta.
again; whether he blamed himse
n for jumping from the theater DO,
: whether he expressed any apprehe
: sions for Mrs. Surrat or his friends
Washington. To these and TO maj
. other questions Jones uniformly +
h piled: NO, he did did not spe.
r about any Of these things. He wan
ed food, and to cross the river, ar
to know what was said about Il
ir deed Booth, he thinks, wore
If slouched hat. At first meeting Boo
d in the pines, he proved to he the q
n sassin by showing upon his wrist.
!, India ink, the initials J. w. b. +