The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-03-28
IGNORED 100000.


land, on Monday last, Thomas A.
Jones, at the age of "a. Jones held
a position in the Washington navy
yard, but was dismissed through the
influence of Congressman Mudd, of
Maryland, who had Informed the Sec
retary of the navy that Jones had
played prominent part In the escape
of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin
of President Lincoln.
"It's quite true," admitted Jones at
the time of his dismissal. "John
Wilkes Booth, with broken ankle,
sick and suffering the tortures of the
damned, was placed in my hands to
be spirited across the river, and the
100000 reward, or even $3,OOO,OOO,
would not have caused me to turn
traitor to the Southern confederacy,
the people I loved, and surrender a
man whose life was in my keeping,
even if I did know he had assassin
ated President Lincoln"
Jones afterwards told how Booth
came into his hands. 'It was on the
u tuO lOIu Ol ApII, u6
said, 'when friends of Samuel Cox
farm, Maryland, and told me that Cox
wanted to see me at once. I had
heard the evening before that Lin
coin had been killed. I had horse
saddled and rode over to Cox's, who
told me that Booth and David Herold
had been there and wanted assistance
to get across the river. l was told
where the men were-in q pine thick
ct about a mile and a half from the
house.
81 was given instructions how to
reach them without being shot-cer-
tain signs by whistling, etc. Upon
reaching the dense pines I met Her
old, to whom 1 explained that 1 was
sent by Cox. I was then piloted to
where Booth was. He lay on the
ground wrapped in pile of blankets,
and his face bore traces of pain.
Booth asked many questions as to
what people thought of the assassina-
tion. He appeared to be proud Of
what he had done. 1 at the time
great God! l soon saw that it was
the worst blow that ever struck the
South.
81 did the best could for the poor
fellow. carried him papers to read
and something to eat, and tried to
keep him in good spirits until l got
chance to send him across the river.
The country was full of soldiers and
detectives, and I did not know how
soon 1 could get him away.
Il think it was the following Tues
day 1 went up to Port Tobacco to
see how the land lay, and it was
there, in the barroom of Brawner's
hotel, that Capt. William Williams,
chief of the United States secret serv-
ice, said he would give 100000 to any
man who would tell where Booth
was.'
That's true" admitted Capt. Will
liams at the time of the above inter-
view, land he would have been Gen.
Jones instead of a discharged en-
ployee from the navyyard If he had
given the information"
II did the best I could for Booth
and Herold," continued Jones. II did
not know them, but when Cox put
them in my keeping nothing would
have tempted. me to betray them.
could have placed my hands on Booth,
but honor and truth were worth more
to me than the entire wealth Of the
government.
"At the expiration of the sixth day
I heard the officers give orders for
the cavalry to go down in st. Mary's
county-that the assassins were there.
That was my chance and made good
time to where Booth and Herold
were concealed. Booth was glad to
| know that his time to get into Vir-
ginia had come.
"The night was dark and Herold and
lifted Booth onto my horse. Our
progress was slow. We finally
reached my house and went in to
get them something to eat. We then
proceeded to the river. Booth was
| lifted into the boat and was placed
] in the stern, while Herold took the
( oars. I then lighted candle and
showed Booth by his compass how to
steer to get into Machodoc creek,
| and gave, him directions to Mrs.
| Duesenberry, who 1 thought would
take care of him. That was the last
| I saw of Booth.
"When notices were posted up that
| to furnish bread or water to Booth
meant DEATH" went on Jones, II felt
pretty shaky. / knew that Booth had
| hit the Virginia shore. 1 was arrest
| ed and taken to Washington, where
was held for seven weeks. Then I
was discharged because nobody be-