Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-01-20
REFUSED A FORTUNE.
Story OF Thomas Jones' Loyahy TO Il
South Macy Years Ago.


traitor to the South by giving him up,
even if l bad known at the time that he
bad killed Lincoln" SO said Thomas
A. Jones, a recently discharged laborer
of the Navy Yard, to Detective Captain
VIM. Williams to day. Jones discharge
Was through the influences of Congressman
Hudd, of Maryland, and by direct order
of the Secretary of the Navy, who had
learned the part that Jones played in the
escape of Booth. Captain Williams, at
the time OF the murder, was in the secret
service at Washington, and in the hunt
for the assassin at that time suspected
Jones and tried unsuccessfnlly to pump
him, and that these men should meet
seain to-day for the first time
since the occurrence was to
say the least, remarkable. Said
Williams: "The fist stop our search
party made was at Surrattville, where
Mrs Surrat had lef. field glass and two
carbines in Lloyd's tavern fer Booth and
Herold. From there we went to Bryan
town, where l met you and can never
forget the ssnctimonlous face you wore,
and you got it on to-day. If you had told
me where Booth was, you would have been
living on Fifth avenue to-day"
Yes, and | would have had soul as
black as purgstory," said Jones, "and the
hatred of the Slutb?"
"Who placed him in your hsnds?r
Samuel Ccx, Sunday morning, April
is. He told me that Booth snd HerOld
we're hid in pine thicket a mile and u
half from the house, and intrusted me
how to resch them without being shot,
by whistling in certain way. Herold
met me 10 the thicket, and piloted
me to Booth, who, wrsppsd in two
blankets, lay on the ground. Booth ssked
what the people thought of his deed, ard
he appeared To be proud OF it. carried
him something to eat, papers TO read, and
tried to keep him in good spirits until a
chance would offer to get him across the
river. The country was full Of soldiers
and detectives Ga the following Tuesday
went up to Port Tobacco 10 see how the
land lay, and it was there, in the bar Of
Bfawner's Hotel, you said you would give
$500, 600 to any man who would tell where
Both was"
"Yes, and if you rad told me, you
would have been General Jones to-day in-
.teld of discharged navy yard lsbOrer." !"
That may be true, but honor was
worth more TO me than all the wealth Of
the Government. A. the End of the sixth
day chance came 10 help the men, and |
went into the thicket with nv horse. The
night wss dark, and we lifted Booth up on
the horse. | went in advance. and Herold
walked by Booths ride. Reaching my
nleca | msda the ..,~- -'~J Ia. the Oicnard
While / went in and got them something to
eat.
Booth begged piteously to be helped of
the horse into the house, but refused be-
cause there were too many colered men
around. Bringing out some supper we
stopped there long enough to eat it and
went down 10 the river, where my colored
man, Henry Woodland, had boat in
readiness. Helping the crippled man from
the horse into the boat, ! told HeIold low
10 lay his course 50 ss 10 get into Machoc.
dec Creek, where on stepping on shore
they would be in Virginia. Booth thank
ed me over and over again, aud gave me
few dollars for my boat say few because
il was all that would take of the big sum
he offered me- That wes the last saw of
Booth. | heard the pext day of Booths
safe arrival on the Virginia ehore, and
then, do you remember, you posted bills
ordering everybody 10 help search for
Booths and Threatening with death any
body who furnished him with bread or
waie,? | was then arrested and sent TO
Washington in charge OF Detec i've Frank
lin, Of PbiladelphiS, who tried get me
drunk to tell what | knew. When he
found how badly be failed he took it ont
in cnrsipg. remsireh several weeks in
Carroll Prison, hat Was not used as a
witness because nobody found out that ]
knew anything"
1--WE were reasonably sure," said the
Captain, "that you were in the secret serv
ice Of the Confeieracy."
Il wss chief signal sgent of The Ounfed-
eracy north Of the Potomac, ard had
charge of ell rebel msil aud the boats along
the river; and | seldom missed getting the
malls irto Richmond On time. | took
great chances of being killed, ard when
Richmond was evacuated ! VAS there TO
collect what was due me, amounting to
g. 500 but didn't get a cent of it. Re
pretty tough on me now, in my old age, to
BE- poor, bat don't regret il "
After Jones left, Captain Williams said:
81 have dealt with and sized up many
man in my time but that man Jones beats
them all. This is the first time have
seen him since we met at Port Tobacco
and Bryan'own, yet | remember every
feature The night made that $500, 600
offer in the saloon he was standing next
TO ME at the bar, and | could not detect
the sligh,est change ia HE face. Some
thing told me that he knew where Booth
was. hut c0uldn't work him. He
has free like stone II he bad only told
me where Booth was, Boston Corbett would
never have had the chance to shoot Booth.
We wanted him alive. Mrs. Surratf,
Psype, Atzsrodt and HerOld we're hanged.
Dr.. Mudd, O'Lsughlin and Arnold we're
senterced for life, Spangler got six years,
Corbett is in an insane asylum and Jones
is here TO tell more tnsn was ever known
before"