Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-12-17
BOOTHS CAPTURE.
Lieutenant Doherty Tells How Ho Ran
Down President Llncoln's Assassin.

Down President Lincoln's Assassin.
Edward P. Doherty. who captured
John Wilkes Booth in Virginia on the
morning of April 26, 1865, was Mt the
Fifth Avenue Hotel recently. Ilo is
now United States indian trader, sta
toned on the Cheyenne river, Dakota
Territory. lie is little above the aver
age height, has broad shoulders, dark
hair, slreaked with gray, and Il face in
dicativc of great de,crm nation. In
conversat on he speaks in low, meas
ured but decisive tone. He gave the
following graphic description of the
capture and death of Booth 10 re-
Iorter:
Booth was hiding IN pine forest not
far from Bowling Green, on the Kappa
hammock river. was Lieutenant
then, and had command of twenty-six
men, vigorously prosecuting the search.
On April % 1 passed Booth hiding
place and knew nothing of it cap
tureI n young man who had been with
Booth. He told me Booth would cross
the Rappahannock that nigh! with Har-
rold aud sleep on the premises of Mr..
Garrett. | was some distance from Mr..
CARROTS, but resolved 10 surround the
house. It seemed incredible that |
should have missed Booth. My COM
pany secured that whole country
and kept posted on the move
ments Of all stragglers. Booth
was in the habit of crossing the river on
horseback aud then seeking shelter dur
ing the day in the forest of pines. Al
four o clock on the morning of April 26
| silently surrounded the premises OF
Mr.. Garrett. Booth was concealed in
mn out-housc-a barn or tobacco house.
When we found him there we called up
an him to surrender; he refused. Har-
rold. who was his companion, came to
the door of the barn and surrendered to
me. Booth, who was in reel ming po-
s.ton on account of his broken leg,
ra scd his carb ne to shoot other HRr-
rold or myself Corbett, one of my SOL
diers, quickly drew bead and fired up
on Booth. The ball entered two inches
below the very spot where Pres dent
Lincoln was shot. | handed Harold
over to n soldier and sprang to Boo.h,
,lasp;ng him around the body. The
barn wis on fire, and carried him out.
He looked with unutterablc scorn II
Hnrro.d. and waving his right ii nd 4
little. sad Just one word-"Useless. y
gave HIN brandy and attempted in
every way 10 revive hm sufficient y t.
speak, but the word "usele's'' was the
only one he uttered after Corbett fir, d.
In two minut he b came ir! at ona
and in two hours expired. Every
thing possible was done for him.
We had no surgeon present, ant
carried him to Port Royal. He was no
mut lated. When he died sewed hii
body up in my blanket and it was car
r:ed to Washington At Washington
his body was identified by three or foul
persons without doubt. He had {
scar or rising on the back of his neck
The landlady at whose house he boarde'
recognized him. II sremains were frs
Inferred, privately, in the penitent ar
at Washington. The bottom of Gel
was removed and the body placed un
derneath. Some time afterward it wa
was removed to Baltimore and les il
Oakland Cemetery in that city. Fo
eighteen months | was not allowed t
, say word about the shooting, eycoT'
to the proper authorities. The rcsul
, was that many erroneous accounts wer
! given of the capture. Booth had
r diary or passbook upon HIM at the TIM
: ha was shot That book WI come int
my possession as soon as | call for it 4
: Washington. All those wildcat storie
o about there being doubt whether tn
/. man killed was Booth or moi, amo1ntt
q nothing in view of the fact that the al
: lhorities at Washington were duly cor
v vinced and paid the reward of S75,0O(
p The detective who assisted us in placln
n the locality received half tho above sun
|, received $1,000, and the rest of III
L reward was distributed among m
/ twenty-six men.-M. Y Mail and b,
Ii press.