The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-23
DEATH OF j. WILKES BOOTH.
The True Story of the Event Told for the
First Time by an Eyewitness.
A Southern Version of the Days Succeeding
the ssassination-Present Devotion to
Booths Memory by Southern People.
Atlanta Constitution.

Atlanta Constitution.
The story of John Wilkes Booth and his tragic
death will ever be one of interest to the reader
There is something so mysterious connected with
1t that many refuse to believe in the assassin's
death, and stoutly maintain his existence. In a
talk with DR.. G. g. Roy, of this city, he fur
nished some particulars of Booths death not be-
fore known, and, what is more. these incidents
were narrated by the principal in rendering re-
lief to the dying man. Said the Doctor:
On visit to my daughter, Mrs. DR.. Webb of
Bowling Green. Caroline county. Virginia, last
Christmas, I was permitted an interview with
Miss H., who was residing at the Garrett home
stead, where Wilkes Booth stopped after the
assassination of President Lincoln, and where
he was captured and died from the rifle shot of
Boston Corbett. found Miss Fl. most inteli-
gent and interesting talker, a teacher by pro-
fession. She was deliberate and careful in her
conversation, and though demanding that her
name should not be published frankly answered
and enlarged upon every question propounded
to her; and of the veracity of her every state
ment have not the slightest doubt
The Garrett homestead is situated on the Rap
pahannock river, twenty miles south of Fred
ericksburg and two miles north of the village Of
Port Royal, on the same river. On theenorth
side of the river, opposite this village, is Port
Conway. To this place Booth came the Sunday
afternoon after the assassination. He sent
Harold across the river to Port Royal to know
IL there were any confederate officers there
Learning that there were. he and Harold went
across the river and were met by Lieutenant
10 Ia4k IL
that Harold was very confiding in his commu-
nications to these young men, and had informed
them who Booth was. This very much dis
pleased Booth, who very severely chided Harold
for his ndiscretion.
Miss a. said that about noon on Monday three
men came from the main road down the lane to
Mr.. Richard Henry CARROTS house. whore /
was residing IL the capacity of teacher. One
was riding alone and two were on one horse
These two proved to be Jett and Booth. Mr..
Garrett being out On the farm, they were met by
some of the ladies of the family, and Jett, speak
ing, requested permission to leave his friend Mr..
Boyd who had been wounded at the evacuation
Of Petersburg. and needed few days rest
They were invited to remain until Mr.. Garrett
reached the house. and they accepted. He soon
came. when Jett said: 'Mr. Garrett, let me in
troduce to you my friend, Mr.. Boyd who was
wounded at Petersburg, and whom we would
like for you to take care of for three
days, when we viii. come and take
ulu away. MT OaTT6tt SdlO. DUL WHO arc
you? You are all strangers to me, and, though
would like to accommodate any one in distress, l
Gm very poorly prepared to do so now" Jett
quickly said: MY name is Jett" Mr.. Garrett
said: "Are you a son of William Jett. of King
George county9" Jett replied: II am" Mr..
Garrett then said: "If that is so, your father is
an old friend of mine. We once did business
together. and. if you his son, dom. feel
willing to turn away your friend. who seems to
be hurt, as he is on crutches.s He then invited
sw41 J.; - Rnxy II liz
Booth, remained. The other two (Jett and Rug
gles) rode off, promising to be in often to see
after their friend. aud that, on Wednesday, they
would call and take HIM away They came late
conversation with him, and rode off again. A
Lieutenant cambridge was at Port Royal, and
was one of the party to meet Booth.
Miss 81. says: Harold came on Tuesday and
remained with Booth. Booth was an intensely
interesting talker. and as gentle and refined in
his department as lady. He got along very
well on crutches and when an offer was made
to dress his wound he refused, saying it did not
trouble him aud he did not mind it. None of
the Garrett family, up to this time. had heard of
the assassination of President Lincoln. On
Tuesday, the day after Booth came, two Of Mr..
CARROTS sons went fishing in the river. Then
they heard for the first time OF the assassina
ton. They returned by dinner, and at the
dinner table told what they had heard of the MUIR
der of the President Booth was present, and,
Miss Fl. says, was an intent listener without the
slightest emotion or any change of countenance
except that of great surprise, which pervaded all
seated at the table. Mir. Garrett ST., very
quickly remarked: ~ hope it is not SO. / be-
Nevs it would be one of the greatest calamities
that could befall U.S. Booth, up to this time
silent and without emotion, little excitedly
said: "Do you think thatp Mr.. Garrett re-
piled: Eyes, do" Booth said: ~ cannot
think so. rather believe, if it is so, that good
will come of it to the South" He asked one of
the young CARROTS if he heard any of the par
ticulars of the assassination, and if there was a
seward offered for the party doing IT, Young
Garrett replied that he had heard that $25, 900
reward was offered. Booth remarked that he
thought that rather pitiful reward for the
slayer of the President
Miss r. saws that after Harold came he en-
Booth would walk and sit together, and seemed
very much engaged in conversation. She no.
ticed that they watched the main road very vigil
lantly, and. when they would see a dust, as if
there was some one passing along, they would
hurry to the house and come inside, but never
was the suspicion of single member of the fam.
lily aroused as to their being other than confed-
crate soldiers trying to get home.
On Wednesday there was big dust in the
road as If there might be passing bodies of
troops. Booth seemed somewhat excited. and
asked one of the ladies': please be so kind as
to step up to my room and get my pistol" which
was hanging on the head of his bed. She went
and brought it to him, and, in raising his
coat to buckle it around his. waist. she
noticed that he had on three Others
making four, each carrying six loaded chambers
Jett and Rugeles called this day "Wednesday,
Rnd Mr.. Garrett wanted to know when they
were going to take their friend Boyd away This
they promised to do that afternoon but they
did not return. They had quite a lengthy talk
with Booth and Harold before they left after
which they both seemed to be nervous and rest
less.
Night approaching. Booth asked if there was not
vacant clubhouse that he and his friend could
stay in during the night. This aroused the anxiety
of the family, aud Mr. Garrett propounded some
very critical questions suggested by this request
He told them ne was afraid there was something
wrong about them and he mad been imposed
upon. Booth assured him he was mistaken. They
were gentlemen, and had not done anything
of which they were ashamed. He told them if
they wanted to hide out they had better go to
the woods down to the marsh. They were
the places for runaways. He finally consented