Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-07-09
IrHE MAN WHO SHOT BOOTH.
Boston Corbett as Lecturer Was Not a
Success.


Success.
1t will be remembered that Boston
Corbett, the man who killed ]. Wilkes
Booth, lived for many years in Cloud
county, Kan. About ten years ago he
was elected doorkeeper Of tie Kansas
house of representatives, and while
holding that position went crazy and
was sent to the asylum. Later he was
released from custody and went off TO
Texas, where it is presumed he died.
The discussion now going on in the
periodicals over the death and burial OF
Booth recalls to the editor Of the Con-
cordia Empire that, something like a
dozen years ago, the ladies Of the Pres
byterian church in that town seized up
Oh the idea of having Corbett give a
lecture upon the killing of Booth, and
committee was appointed to wait up
on him. One of the committeeman was
the editor of The Empire, and he thus
describes what followed:
ave found him at home in his dug
out, kind of hole in the side Of steep
hill with brownstone front and roof
of brush, clay and clapboards. There
was but one room, and the furniture
was an old stove, table, chair,
homemade bed, trunk. a box or two,
well worn Bible and variety of fire.
arms Mr.. Corbett had 9'eived pen
sion of several hundred dollars short
time before and invested what he had
not given away to others that he thought
might be needing money in flock Of
sheep. A herd of antelopes would have
served him just as well-he had no
practical knowledge Of the use of sheep.
BE was very hospitable, told US much
Of his history, and readily consented to
deliver lecture on the capture OF
Booth and his experiences in Anderson
vile.
"a packed house greeted him Oh the
night set By way of introduction the
choir sang a song. Some sentiment OF
the song set him off on a regular sermon
Che was in the habit Of preaching occa-
sionally), and for nearly an hour he
talked, but failed to either capture
Booth or get to Andersonville. AT last
the pastor reminded him that he was to
talk Of Andersonville and Booth. He
apologized for his forgetfulness, and in
about dozen words told that he was
captured and landed safe inside the
walls Of Andersonville prison. The first
man he met was au old acquaintance,
who told him that over IN certain por-
ton Of the prison they were holding a
prayer meeting. He went directly to it.
Then he talked for half an hour about
the prayer meeting, which, as far as his
description went, might have been held
in Cloud county or the backwoods Of
Arkansas.
Being reminded again that he was
forgetting all about the capture Of
Booth, he apologized and said i'll sub
stance: We surrounded the barn in
which we found he had taken refuge
| We demanded that he surrender, but be
refused We then set fire to the barn.
By the light he saw one of our men and
raised his revolver to shoot him. | was
peeping through a crack, saw him raise
his arm, and to keep him from killing
one of our men | fred and killed him.
The bullet went into his head in nearly
the same course as his bullet had enter
ed Lincoln's head. This is as full his
tory as he saw fit TO give Of an incident
that had called forth many long articles
during the past 80 years and about
which none knew more than did our
neighbor, Boston CoIbett. kansas
City Journal.