The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1895-04-19
AIDED WILKES BOOTH
THOMAS JONES, THE MAN WHO
SHIELDED LINCOLN'S MURDERER.

Mept Him In Hiding Six Days and Helped
Him to RcacL, virginia-The Reward OF
100000 offered by the Government
Had Not the Power to Move Him.
There died III Charles county, Nd,
not long ago Thomas A. Jones, at the
age of "a Jones held position in the
Washington navy yard, but was dis
missed through the influence of Con-
gresham Mudd of Maryland, who had
informed the secretary of the navy that
Jones had played prominent part in
the escape of John Wilkes Booth, the
assassin of President Lincoln.
Its 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 $500, 900 re-
ward or even $3,00O,O0O would not
have caused me to turn traitor to the
southern Confederacy, the people l
loved, and surrender man whose life
was in my keeping, even if / did know
he had assassinated President Lincoln. :"
Jones atterward told how Booth came
into his hands. cit was Oh the morning
of the 10th of April,' he said, when
friends Of Samuel Cox came to my
house on Huckleberry farm, Maryland,
and tcld NE that Cox wanted to see me
at once. had heard the evening before
that Lincoln had been killed. I had a
horse saddled and rode over to Cox's,
who told me that Booth and David
Herold had been there and wanted as
sistance to get across the river / was
told where the men were-in pine
thickot about mile and half from
the house.
81 was given instructions how to
reach them without being shot-certain
signs by whistling, etc Upon reaching
the dense pines ! met Herold, to whom
explained that | was sent by Cox. /
was then piloted to where Booth was.
He lay OH the ground wrapped in a pile
Of blankets, and his face bore traces of
pain. Booth asked many questions as to
what people thought of the assassina-
ton He appeared to be proud of what
he had done. | at the time thought he
had done good act, but, great God, l
soon saw that it WAS the worst blow
ever struck for the south!
81 die the best l 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 a chance to
send him across the river. The country
was full of soldiers and detectives, and
did not know how soon | could get him
away.
81 think it was the following Tuesday
I went up to Port Tobacco to see how
the land lay, and it was there, in the
| barroom Of Brawner's hotel, that Cap.
tain William Williams, chief of the
United States secret service. said he
would give $500, 900 to any man who
would tell where Booth was.
''Thats true admitted Captain
Williams at the time of the above inter
view, land he would have been Genera
Jones instead Of a discharged employee
from the navy yard if he had given til.
information.
''I did the best could for Booth ani
Herold," continued Jones. 81 did no
know them. but when Cox put them il
my keeping nothing would have tempt
cd me to betray them. l could have
placed my hands on Booth, but honor
and truth We're worth more to me thai
the entire wealth of the government.
''At the expiration of the sixth day
heard the officers give orders for th'
cavalry to go down III st. Mary's coun
ty; that the assassins We're there. Tha
was my chance and | made good TIM
to where Booth and Herold We're con
cealed. Booth was glad to know that hi
time to get into Virginia had come.
''The night was dark, and Herold an.
lifted Booth Oh to my horse. Our prog
ress was slow We finally reached N.
house, and l went in to get them some
thing to eat. We then proceeded to tn
river. Booth was lifted into the boa
and was placed in the stern, while Her
Old took the oars. then lighted can
die and showed Booth by his compass
how to steer to get into Machodoc cree
and gave him directions to Mrs. Quesen
berry's, who, | thought, would tax
care of him That was the last saw Q
Booth.
"When notices We're posted up tina
to furnish bread or water to Boot
meant death, " went on Jones, II fel
pretty shaky. knew that Booth ha
hit the Virginia shore. was arreste
, and taken to Washington, where l wa
held for seven weeks Then l was dis
charged because nobody believed l kne,
anything New York World.
rrl.,