The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18
WILKES BOOTHS DEATH.
DESCRIBED By 4 WOMAN WHO VAS
WITH HIM At THE LAST.

~ "uI uCSh v " NSOhbs N
number Of days had passed since the tragedy In
Washington had been enacted. The perpetrator
had made good bis escape from the capital, and
his place OF refuge was unknown. But as yet
the intelligence of tho calamity had failed TO
reach a largo portion of eastern Virginia.
Such was the condition of affairs when, on
Monday. April "a, 1865, at about noon. a boat
containing fvo mon crossed over from Port
Conway to Port Royal, Va, two villages on tho
banks Of the Rappahannock, opposite each other.
Three of tho men proved 10 be tho fcrrymen.
William Rollins, Mr.. Green. and a negro, Rich
ard Wilson, but the others were strangers.
Upon landing one of the strangers inquired Of
tho bystanders for u Confederate officer. No
sooner was his inquiry made known than young
William Jctt, dressed in "A Confederate Captains
uniform, introduced himself rs Capt. Jctt of
Mosby's command. Thcrcupon the stranger en-.
gagged him in close conversation for several
minutes, after which. being Joined by his com.
panion, he said TO him in the presence of the
pretended officer:
81 have told this officer who wo are and what
we have DONE" To this his companion replied:
" Ididn't intend TO tell any one that"
The three men converscd quite earnestly for
some time, after which. young Jet leading tho
way. they left tho village In company with two
Confederate officers. Jicuts. cambridge and
Ruggles. following tho road leading in the dlrec-
ton of Bowling Green. which is q small Court
House town In Carolina county.
They had not proceeded more than three miles
when they stopped at the outer gate OF q private
road leading TO n large, frame prison house. a
short distance from the main road. Hero one of
the unknown men--the one who inquired for tho
officer at Port Royal, was left, while tho others
rode on to the house.
On arriving they were met by Richard II.
Garrett, who was the owner of the house. Jctt
addressed him: This is Mr.. Garrett. I pre-.
sume.' On receiving an affirmative answer, he
introduced to him the second stranger as his
friend. John William Boyd, "a Confederate
soldier who had boon wounded in the battles
around Richmond near Petersburg" at the
Same time requesting Mr.. Garrett to take care of
until Wednesday morning. Mt which time he
would call for him. Mr.. Garrett consented to
receive tho so-called friend and to entertain him.
1t was now about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Nothing Of consequence occurred until Tues
day at dinner time. when Jnck Garrett. the
eldest son. returned from Port Royal bearing
the news OF President Lincoln's death. The
tragic affair was commented upon by all present,
each expressing his opinion as to the motive
which prompted the deed and its effects upon
the public welfare.
Boyd remained silent at first, but on hearing
one Of the daughters remark that she supposed
the perpetrator had been well paid he turned to
her with n smile and said: DO you think so,
miss : BY whom do you suppose he was paid T.
"Oh." replied she. - suppose by both the
North and South"
1T is my opinion" rcjoincd he, "he wasn't
paid a cent. but did it for notoricty''s sake"
Soon after they arose from the table, and as he
started out Mrs. Garrett Tiny sister, asked II he
would like to have his wound dressed. He re-
piled that it did not give him the slightest pain
ing a fpii view Of the public rohd, and sat down
some time when Bainhridge. Jett. and Herold
rode up to the gate. Hcrold was seen to dis.
VAR. tho house, While R,inbridsee and Jett rode
on. 1t was then that Boyd asked Jack Garrett
TO @b go b upstairs W ! sn q get ret his sn;5 5e{ ba ,,;o When zen asked sa;ed
prosshins. to which he replied: "oh, that rs Is
why, one OF those who crossed over with
about midway between the gate and the house.
where they remained in close conversation for
fully half an hour. after which they both came
Not long afterward Jett and Bainbridge rode
feesse eH' how his y friend anS h Boyd 70 Was see sc # zeal ald n5e.
at the sam. telling him that he and Herold had
better make good their escape, for he understood
Port Conway to Port ROYAL: then he galloncd
of. Jett going in the direction Of Port Royal to
meet. as 1t is conjectured. the troops who were
coming in answer to his summons.
About ar hour before shutdown the Federal
direction Of BowlinT Green. While they We're
passing. Boyd and Herold hid themselves in the
house, and did not emerge until after the sol.
diers had passed. Upon being asked why they,
ex.Confcdcrate soldiers. should hide themselves.
now mat the war was over, Boyd replied that he
did not care about meeting any OF them.
Failing, to comprehend the action OF these two
yestigation. Upon inquiry he learned that tho
Federal troops were in pursuit of two Confed-
the descriptions which they gave corresponded
exactly with those OF the two men at his home.
got into any trouble. saying: "You know what
you have done. Now, II You have got into any
Siihfn Hty you 70 b must leave at ,S Snce: for do not
father" To which Boyd REPLIED 1iat they had
hid a little brush over in Maryland. but 1t was
porch lH .G Ro SSe a n ! Is tth G,r we're 81 sit ti%s S or tho ho
that he had heard there was a Confederate
which hadn't disbanded. and II he could reach
that he would be safe. Jack told him tina, no
SO sSa tho mot next t"k @o @1% mat sivi Gyen as Els BUT reason wSnld th a9
gave him the $40 in. advance.
When the hour had arrived to retire, Boyd
asked Jack II there was an clubhouse in which
he could sleep that night. in order that he need
10 ssfe gut o %' bbsRia,sa told d that hat t fSsHsF w nSs no
pp",o Nhith w cpuil ID Lnhuc COWIOTthDle, no
replied that any place would do. Then he and
Herold wore conducted to n large tobacco house.
In which was stored n lot of valuable furniture
belonging to the people Of Port Royal. COW
cred with hay and other provender: Aftor they
had entered Jack Garrett locked tho door and
took the key to the house and gave it to me,
that he would leave 1t In my care and
that must not let any ono have it. rs It wns his
opinion they intended trying TO steal the horses
ana, escape Then, arming themselves, he and
his brother Willie went out into n shed opposite
the tobacco, house to spend tho night.
About O'Clock tho next morning Wednesday,
tho family was aroused from sleep by the loud
barking OF dogs, tho clanking of arms, and tho
heavy tread OF sentinels pacing up and down the
Soon II was discovered that n sentinel
had been placed ut every door and window and
that the whole yard was full OF soldiers. All Mt
once there was heard n rush for the porch at tho
end of the house. followed by u violent battering
the door. with demands that It be opened.
Hearing the racket Mr.. Garrett arose, par
TALLY dressed himself. and FASTENED to tho door
10 inquire tho cause Of the tumult. Instantly
he was seized and asked what he meant by har-
boring Booth, tho murderer OF the Presidents;
upon which, no, withstanding, tho entreatics OF
his wife and little twO-ycar-old daughter. he was
by force from the house. lulf-clad. and