The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-03-28
LINCOLN'S ASSASSIN.
FACTS NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED
CONCERNING j. WILKES BOOTH.
A Graphic Description of the Pursuit
and Capture-DangerOus Journey with
the Corpse - Disposition of the Re-

the Corpse - Disposition of the Re-
mains.
[LANsING (DrICH.) CORRESPONDENCE
Before clerks desk in the office of the Au-
ditor General of Michigan sits the man who
commanded the handful of cavalry that captur-
ed j. Wilkes Booth saw the assassin shot down
in the old Virginia barn, heard the last words he
ever uttered, and lowered the body into it's
grave.
Rather below medium height but still STRAIGHT
as an arrow, he is now gray-haired and grav-
bearded. In the museum of the State AgricuI-
tural College, three miles from here is the figure
of the war-horse he rode during the pursuit
The sturdy old horse the playmate of
Lansing. children for years. and when he died
recentlyful of years the college faculty request
ed permission TO have the skin mounted and
placed in the museum.
The Lieutenant tells the story of Booths cap
ture modestly, and as he was with the murderer
from his death to his burial his narrative con-
tains great deal of valuable matter that has
never before been published.
At the time of the assassination Lieut. Baker
was in the employ of the War Departments
detective bureau, at the head of which was his
cousin Gen. L. c. Baker. Ten days later. when
word was wired from lower Maryland that the
first definite trace of the murderer had been
fOund-a negro stating that two men answering
the description of Booth and the man Harold
had crossed the Potomac the Saturday night be-
fore-the chief detective placed under his COM
mand squad of cavalry and terselv directed
him to run Booth to earth. There We're twenty
five cavalrymen in the party, and to these at
the Lieutenant's request, was added as assistant
and counselor his friend, Col. Conger, q brother
of the ex-TTnited States Senator from Michigan
gunboat conveyed the party down the river
to Belle Plain that night, and the squad secured
the surrounding country until daybreak, Baker
and COnger, dressed as civilians, riding some
distance in advance and representing to sleepy
but sympathetic population that they had been
pursued by "Yanks" and had become separated
from two comrades whom they were now irving
to find No clew obtained and at daylight
the party struck directly across the country ar
irving at Port Conway late in the afternoon
Here the faded men dropped out of the saddle
but their rest WAS of q decidedly fleeting nature
The restless little Lieutenant soon found fish
er1nan named Rawlins who had seen Booth and
Harold in company with Capt. Jett and Lieut.
Bainbridge, two rebel officers Just mustered out
of Mosbys cavalry, cross the Rappahannock
the night before Did he know where they
went? He imagined they would push straight
on to Bowling Green, twenty-five miles south
west. Rawlins agreed to guide the party to
Bowling Green, but at his own suggestion was
placed under arrest to convey the impression
that his service was compulsory. AS they
crossed the river two mounted men watched
them interestedly from the brow of the hill
above. The cavalrymen galloped up the slope in
pursuit, but the two made a dash into the pine
woods and it was deemed advisable to waste no
time in pursuit. but to head straight for Bowl
ing Green. And those two men," said Lieut..
Baker, with queer srimace at the recollection,
"Were Harold and Bainbridge as we afterwards
learned, and Booth was only half mile away at
the farmhouse of the Garrett brothers.
Midnight and the party had reached Bowling
Green. The hotel to which RaWlins believed
Capt. Jett would take his friends was Quietly
surrounded, and Capt Jett himself was reused
from his slumbers to find revolver thrust in
his face. He promised to tell oil he knew of the
matter if shielded from the charge of completely
and informed the Lieutenant that Booth had
stopped at the Garrett place He was shortly
ordered to get out his horse and accompany the
party, and the men were directed i'll his hearing
to shoot him down without halting if he at
tempted dash for liberty. Back toward the
Rappahannock painted the tired horses, with
their riders worn out, half asleep, and nearly
choked by the thick, sluggish clouds of dust
which the intense darkness made it impossible
to avoid. At $50 they were at the Garrett place.
Jett and Rawlins placed under guard, and the
house surrounded. When old man Garrett
opened the door q few inches in response to a,
knock Baker stepped inside and demanded:
where the men who have been staying
with you during the last day or two?'
The revolver handy weapon for Lieut..
Baker that night. This time it was leveled at
Garrett and the old man stammered: "They
have gone to the woods"
Don't YOU tell me that. They are here" and
the revolver moved q few inches closer.
Young Garrett appeared just then and begged
the detective not to shoot his father. He eX-
planned that the men went to the woods after
the cavalry went by, but soon came back. The
suspicious Of the family, however, had been
aroused by their actions, and they refused to
have them in the house again, but finally gave
them permission to remain over night in the
old tobacco warehouse, used as @ barn They
had been locked in to prevent their stealing any
thing young Garrett explained, and his brother
was staying i'll the courthouse to watch them.
The command was posted silently about the
old barn. There was no drowsiness now, no
WEAKNESS. The air was strangely still for even
q Southern night. The candle which Lieut..
Baker carried in his hand as he walked toward
the barn did not flicker in the least. To young
Garrett, who was by his side, he said:
1--WE find these men in your custody. You
must 60 into the barn and induce them to give
mn don't
be avoided but we want them, dead or alive, and
must have them"
Garrett demurred, but the revolver again
proved potent argument. The officer unlocked
the door, and the young man stepped inside.
Baker heard q rustling among the corn-leaves
and q moments low conversation. Then the
voice of Booth rose sharply:
Oh you, sir, you have betrayed me! Get
out of here or will shoot you'll"
1--WE have sent in this young man in whose
custody we find you," said Baker through the
ness in the ears Of the watching caValrymen.
Give him your arms and surrender, Or we shall
burn the barn, have bonfire, and O. shooting
match"
later a badly frightened young
pounding on the door and begging to be let
out. Lieutenant Baker was still holding the
candle in his hand when Garrett, with q
face pale with terror, stepped outside. Put
that out, he said, hurriedly, "or he will shoot
you by the sight of it,"
X
but SO that its flame still cast fantastic light
on the barn front, and again called upon The
fugitives to surrender.
"There is one man here, Booth replied clearly,
"who wishes much to surrender" And Baker
heard the assassin say to Harold: Leave me,
will you? Go! / don't wish you to stay"
Harold raped On the door as soon as this per-
mission was given, and said: Let me out; I
know nothing of this man in here"
Bring out your arms and you can come" re-
piled Baker.
Il have arms"
"You have" insisted the officer "You brought
a carbine and q pistol across the river Bring
them out"
Captain" interrupted Booth, calmly, @the
arms are mine and l shall keep them"
Harold was a coward at heart, and he fairly
prayed to be let out When the door was opened
he put out his hands at command, was pulled
out by Lieut.. Baker, and turned over to guard.
Then the officer turned his attention to Booth
again. you, too, had better come out and sur
render" he said.
A CLEAN of hope came to the murderer. "Te1l
me who you are and what you want of me, he
called eagerly. ut may be l am being taken by
my friends"
ut makes no difference who we are. We have
cannot escape"
There was O. momentarv pause and then
Booth said despondently. Captain, this hard
case, l sweari l am lame. Give me g. chance.
Draw up your men twenty yards from the door
! and | will come out and fight your whole COM
nland."
"We are not here to fight" replied Baker, "but
to take you. You are now free to surrender"
Give me little time to consider, urged