The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-03-27
LINCOLN'S ASSASSIN.
FACTS NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED
CONCERNING j. WILKES BOOTH.
A Graphite Description Of tho Pursuit
and Capture-Dangerous Journey with
the Corpse - Disposition of the Re-


and Capture-Dangerous Journey with
the Corpse - Disposition of the Re-
mains.
LANSING (MIcH.l coRREsPoSDENcE.l
Before clerks desk I'm the Office OF the Au-
ditor General OF Michigan sits the who
commanded the handful Of cavalry that captur-
ed J. Wilkes Booth, saw the assassin shot down
I'm the old Virginia barn, heard the last words he
ever uttered, and lowered the body into its
grave
Rather below medium height, but still straight
ga an arrow, ne Is now gray-haired and gray
bearded. In the museum of the State Agrcul-
tural College. three miles from here is the figure
of the war-horse he rode during the pursuit
LANSING. children for years and when he died
recentlyful of years the college faculty request
eel 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 10 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 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 n squad of cavalry and tersely directed
him 10 run Booth 10 earth. There were twenty
five cavalry1nen in tho party, and to these at
the Lieutenant's request was added as assistant
and counselor his friend, Col. Conger, n brother
of the eX-United States Senator from Michigan.
gunboat conveyed the party down the river
20 Belle Plain that night, and the squad secured
the surrounding country until daybreak, Baker
and Conger, dressed as civilians, riding some
sdistance in advance and representing To n sleepy
but sympathetic population that they had been
pursued by "Yanks" and had become separated
from two comrades whom they Were now trying
to find No clew was obtained and ut daylight
irving at Port Conway late in the afternoon.
Here the faded men dropped out of the saddle,
but their rest was OF Il decidedly feeting nature.
The restless little Lieutenant soon found fish
ernan 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 10 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 IL was deemed advisable 10 waste no
time in pursuit, but 10 head straight for Bowl
ing Green. And those two men" said Lieut..
Baker with queer sriInace at the recollection,
were Harold and cambridge, as we afterwards
learned, and Booth was only half mile away at
the farmhouse OF tho 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 10 find revolver thrust in
his face. He promised to tell all he knew of the
matter il shielded from the charge of completely,
and informed the Lieutenant that Booth had
stopped at the Garrett place. He shortly
ordered Ia get out his horse and accompany the
party and the men were directed in his hearing
10 shoot him down without halting il he at
tempted u dash for liberty. Back toward the
Rappahannock painted the tired horses, with
their riders Worn out, half asleep, and nearly
chokcd by the thick, sluggish clouds Of dust
which the intense darkness made IL impossible
10 avoid. AZ 331 they at the Garrett place,
Jett and Rawlins placed under guard, and the
house surrounded. When old man Garrett
opened the door few inches in response 10 a
knock Baker stepped inside and demanded:
Where are the men who have been staying
with you during the last day or two?'
The revolver was handy weapon for Lieut..
Baker that night. This time IL leveled at
Garrett, and the old man stammered: They
have gone TO the woods"
Don't you tell me that They arc herer and
the revolver moved "a few inches closer
Young Garrett appeared just then and begged
the detective not 10 shoot his father lie
planned that the men went 10 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 10
have them in the house again, but finally gave
them permission 10 remain night in the
old tobacco warehouse, used as u barn. They
had been locked in TO prevent their stealing any
thing. young Garrett explained, and his brother
was staying i'm the courthouse to watch them.
Tho command was posted silently about the
old barn. There was no drOw siness now,
WEAKNESS. The mir was strangely still for even
n 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 by his side, he said:
we find these men in your custody. You
must 20 into the barn and induce them TO give
themselves up. We don't wish to shoot if il can
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 n rustling among the corn leaves
and n moments low conversation. Then the
voice OF Booth rose sharply:
Oh you, sir, you have betrayed met Get
out of here or L will shoot youl"
I'VE have sent in this young man in whose
custody we find YOU" said Baker through the
door, his words sounding with startling distinct
ness in the ears of the watching cayalrymen.
give him your arms and surrender, or we shall
burn the barn, have BONFIRE and shooting
match.
The command was useless, and moment
later a badly frightened young man was
out. Lieutenant Baker still holding the
candle in his hand when Garrett, with a
face pale with terror stepped outside. Put
that ont, he said, hurriedly, cor he will shoot
you by the sight of it,"
The officer set down his candle n trihe back,
but SO that its flame still cast fantastic light
fugitives TO surrender.
"Ihore is one man here, Booth replied clearly,
"who wishes much 10 surrender" And Baker
heard the assassin say TO Harold Leave me,
will you? Col don't wish you TO stay"
Harold raped on the door as soon this per.
mission was given and said: Let me out 1
know nothing of this man in here"
Bring out your arms and you can come" re-
piled Baker.
Il have no arms
"You have, insisted the officer. "You brought
carbine and pistol across the river. Bring
them out"
Captain" interrupted Booth, calmly "tho
arms mine and shall keep them
Harold was n 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 20 guard.
Then the officer turned his attention TO Booth
again. You, too, had better come out and sur
render" he said.
CLEAN OF hope came 10 the murderer TELL
me who you are and what you want of me, " ne
called eagerly. 1T may be am being taken by
my friends"
1T makes no difference who we are. We have
fifty well-armed men around this barn and you
cannot escape"
There was momentary pause, and then
Booth said despondently. Captain, this hard
case, swear am lame Give me n chance
Draw up your men twenty yards from the door
and i will come md fight vOur vyhole com.