Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12
THE ASSASSIN'S HORSE.
Tht Steed that Bore Booth Away
theNi@ht He Murdered Lincoln.


Much has been written about the
movements of John Wilkes Booth
after he had assassinated President
Lincoln, but the question has often
been asked, "What became of the
horse that he mounted in the alley IN
the lear of Ford's theater and rode to
the bwer part of Maryland, acconpan-
led n his flight by the young man
Harold?p
Atthe time the tragedy was enacted
by Both he had for some time pre-
vlous been a guest at the National
hOtel. In the rear of the hotel, on c
street, and upon the opposite side is a
large livery stable, of which, in 1865,
Mr.. James w. Pamphrey was and, is
at the present time, the proprietor.
Mr. Pumphrey, ina conversation
with Washington Republican re-
porter, gave the following interestin g
particulars concerning the hiring of
the animal which Booth rode on Good
Friday 1865, the night of the assas-
sinatiol.
Said Mr.. Humphrey: Booth had
been taxing rides for six months prior
to the Gay preceding the night of the
assassination. He generally came to
the stable in the morning, but some
times il the afternoon. On Good Fri
day hecameto the stable at about 80
p. M, snd asked me for his horse. His
favorits horse was large sorrel. /
told hin the sorrel was hired out. but
that | GOULD let him have a small bay
mare then standing in a stall. He
said al right, and asked me if ]
would go and have a drink with him,
which ] declined. While the animal
was being saddled and bridled, Booth,
who always wore spurs when riding,
stoopeddown and commenced putting
on the spurs, which had been handed
him, right near a pool of muddy water,
made by the washing of carriages. ]
reconstructed with him for doing so,
and asked him why he didn't put his
foot upon box. oh! it doesn't make
any difference ne replied. He show
ed the same affable and pleasant man
ner so characteristic of him when
coming to the stable, and apparently
had nothing special upon his mind
He always wore one suit when riding.
a dark blue suit with a slouch hat ot
color to match. l saw him mount
and leave the stable, but have never
seen that mare since. She was a mare
that could make very good speed, anc
as horses were high at the time, | val
ued her at $3.50"
"What do you suppose became OF
the animal?"
''All [ know about it is this: Dur
ing the trial [ was told by Harold thai
before Booth and he crossed over tC
the Virginia side of the Potomac
they destroyed the horses that they
rode"
Continuing, Mr.. Humphrey said
CAT the time of the assassination, the
police headquarters were on Tenth
street, where a military court of in
quiry had been established. Upor
going to police headquarters was
shown a spur, which [ swore to having
been worn by Booth, was requested
to be very careful Ia my testimony
and was asked how or by what par
ticular mark I could tell the spur was
the one usually worn by Booth? BE
cause, [ replied, it is fine steel spur
and as I have handled it so often ]
ought to know it. [ was then asked
to select from a number of hats shown
me the one that Booth wore on the
day he hired the mare, and after tumb
ling over several of them [ selected
the one which I have referred to-
The spur was found sticking in a por
ton OF the decorations of the box a
Ford's theater from which Bootl
leaped on the night Of the assassina
ton. l cannot say where the hat was
found, whether in the theater or the
alley where he mounted and rode off
l never received any compensation fo1
the loss of the mare"
On the night of the assassination
several of the government detective:
came to my stable, and [ was the frs
one to give them a clew to the where
abouts Of Payne, Booth, and Harold
told them to 90 first to the residence
Of John Surratt's mother, on FL street
and then to Surrattsville. The result
OF this cIew is, of course. familiar tc