Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-11-21
AIDED WILKES BOOTH
THOMAS JONES, THE MAN WHO
SHIELDED LlNCOLN'S MURDERER.


Nept Him In Hiding Six Days and Helped
Him to Reach virsinia-The Reward of
100000 offered by the Government
Had Not TIC Power to Move Him.
There died in Charles county, Md,
not long ago Thomas A. Jones, at the
age of II. Jones held a 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 a prominent part in
tho escape Of John Wilkes Booth, the
assassin Of President Lincoln.
Its quito trnc, admitted Jones at
Tie 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, 600 re-
ward, or oven $1,000, 900, would not
Eavc caused ne to turn traitor to the
southern ConfedC-acy, the people l
loved, and surrender a man whose life
was in my keeping, even if | did know
he had assassinatcd President Lincoln.
Jones afterward told how Booth came
into his hands. "It was on 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. | had a
horse sadded 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-ln pine
thickot about mile and half from
the house.
II 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 pilotod to where Booth was.
He lay on 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 Il good act, but, great God, |
soon saw that it was the worst blow
ever struck for tho south!
81 did the best | coald" for the poor
fellow. carried him papers to read and
something to eat and tried to keep him
III good spirits until got 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.
IL think it was the following Tuesday
| went up to Port Tobacco to see how
the land lay and it was there in the
barroom of HraWner's hotel, that Cap
tain William Williams, chief of the
would give $500, 900 to any man who
would tell where Booth was. -
That's true" admitted Captain
Williams at the time Of the above inter
view, land he would have been General
Jones instead of a discharged employee
from the navy yard if he had given the
information. "
81 did the best | could for Booth and
Hcrold, " continued Jones. Il did not
know them, but when Cox put them in
my keeping nothing would have tempt
cd me to botray 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 l
heard the officers give orders for the
cavalry to go down i'll st. Mary's coun-
ty; that the assassins were there. That
was my chance, and made good time
to where Booth and Herold We're con-
cealed. Booth was glad to know that his
time to get into Virginia had come.
"The night was dark, and Hcrold and
lifted Booth on to my horse. Our prog
ress was SLOW. We finally reached my
house, and went in to get them some-
thing to eat We then proceeded to the
river. Booth was lifted into the boat
and was placed i'll the stern, while Her
old took the oars. | then lighted a cam
die and showed Booth by his compass
how to steer to get into Machodoc creek
and gave him directions to Mrs. Quesen-
berrys, who. | thought, would take
care of him, That was the last saw of
Booth
when notices were posted up that
to furnish bread or water to Booth
meant DEATH" went On Jones, 81 felt
pretty shaly knew that Booth had
Int the Virginia shore was arrested
and taken to Washington, where | was
held for seven weeks Then was dis
charged became nobody believed knew
anything New York World