Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-05
THE ASsAsSIN,S HORSE.
The Steed that Bore Booth Away
the Night He Murdered Lincoln

the Night He Murdered LineoIs
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 rear of Ford's theater and rode to
the ower part of Maryland, acconpan-
led in his fight by the young man
Harolds'
AT the time the tragedy was enacted
by Booth he had for some time pre-
vious been a guest at the National
hotel. In the rear of the hotel, on G
street, and upon the opposite side is d
large livery stable, OF which, in 1865,
Mr. James w. Pumphrey was and, is
at the present time, the proprietor
Mr.. PGmphrey, in conversation
with a Washington Republican re
porter gave the following interesting
particulars concerning the hiring OF
the animal which Booth rode on Good
Friday, 1865, the night of the assas-
sination.
Said Mr. Humphrey: Booth had
been taking rides for SIX months prior
to the day preceding the night of the
assassination. He generally came to
the stable in the morning, but some
times in the afternoon. On Good Fri
day he came TO the stable at about l 80
p. M, and ASKED me for his horse. His
favorite horse was a large sorrel. l
told him the sorrel was hired out. but
that | could let him have a small bay
mare then standing in a stall. He
said all right, and asked me if l
would go and have drink with him,
which | declined. While the animal
was being saddled and bridled, Booth,
who always wore spurs when riding,
stopped down and commenced putting
on the spurs. which had been handed
him, right uear pool of muddy water,
made by the washing of carriages. l
demonstrated with him for doing so,
and asked him why he didn't put his
foot upon a box. Oh it doesn't make
any difference. he 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 SLOUGH hat of
color to match saw him mount
and leave the stable, but have never
seen that mare since. She was a mare
that could make very gcoi speed, and
as horses were high at the time, | val
ued her at $3.50"
what do you suppose became of
the animal2'
"All | know about it is this; Dur
ing the trial was told by Harold that
before Booth and he crossed over to
the Virginia side of the Potomac
they destroyed the horses that they
rode.
Continuing, Mr.. Humphrey said
"At the time of the assassination, the
police headquarters were on Tenth
street, where a military court of in
auiry had been established Upon
going to police headquarters / was
shown a spur, which l 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 / could tell the spur was
the one usually worn by Booths Be
cause. replied, it is a fine steel spur
and as | nave handled it so often l
ought 10 know it.. l was then asked
to select from 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 por-
ton OF the decorations of the box at
Fords theater from which Booth
leaped on the night of the assassiHa-
ton. 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 for
the loss of the mare.
On the night Of the assassination
several Of the government detectives
came to my stable and was the first
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 Surratls mother, on II street,
and then to Surrattsrille. The result
of this clew is, of course, familiar to
everybody.