The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-09
THE STORY TOLD AGAIN
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE FLIGHT
OF JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
Adventures of LincOIn's Assassin as
Cleaned from Official Sources
His Death and Capture.
CFIRST PAPER.N

NSAy Jul dIlGI the uEdll Oh MI. LItI-
coin it became known to the government
authorities that Booth and Herold had
made their escape into lower Maryland,
and, therefore, the best skill and efforts of
the most experienced detectives were con-
centrated in that direction. Booth crossed
the navy-yard bridge over Anacostia creek
at about 1920 o'clock on the night of the
murder. To the sentry who hailed him and
demanded his name, he replied, Booth. -
He stated hat he was from the city; that
he resided in Beantown, in Charles coun-
ty, and that he was On his way home. The
sentry asked him if he did not know that
it was the rule to allow no persons to pass
after 8 o'clock at night. Booth responded
that he did not. Thereupon the guard,
thinking him a proper person allowed him
to depart.
In a few minutes a second horseman
came galloping along who gave his name
as Smith. He, too, was on his way home,
and stated that he lived at White Plains.
He rode a medium-sized roam horse, but
was not moving so rapidly as the first
horseman. TIL sentry also allowed this
man, David E. Herold, to pass.
Just at what point on the road after
crossing the bridge Herold joined Booth is
not known, but one Polk Gardiner, who
was coming to Washington, testified that
at about II o'clock, when he was on Good
Hope hill, about three miles from the city,
he met two horsemen, one about half a
mile behind the other; both were riding
very fast. AS the second horseman rode
up, a party of teamsters were passing by
and Gardiner heard him ask them whether
any horseman had passed ahead. This
query on the part of Herold proves con-
clusively that it had been agreed between
Booth and himself that they would meet
somewhere on the road, and it was not
long after the events described by Gardiner
before Herold overlook his companion.
Then these two dssassins, in their mao eff
forts to escape the avenging justice which
would soon overtake them, with the black
est midnight closing around their souls
stepped in foul murder, dashed furiously
down the Bryantown road. which they
hoped would soon bring them to the Poto-
mac, and to ultimate safety.
The first hating place was Lloyd's Tav-
ern at Surrattsville. This they reached at
midnight. Lloyd was up and fully pre-
pared to carry out his part of the pro-
gramme The carbines and whisky ordered
by Mrs. Surratt, together with Booths
field glass, were ready, and awaiting the
arrival of the assassins to whom they were
to be delivered. Herold rushed into the
house and exclaimed Lloyd. for Gods
| sake, make haste and get those things!'
Lloyd made no reply, but went straight and
got the carbines, supposing Booth and
Herold were the parties to whom Mrs. Sur
raft referred. From the way Herold spoke
he must hav been appraised that Lloyd
already knew what he was to give him.
Booth did not enter the house; Lloyd was
u~nacquainted with him.. Herold procured
one of the bottles of whisky which Mrs.
Surratt had ordered and took it out to
Booth, who drank it while sitting on his
horse. They did not remain at Lloyds
house over five minutes, and on their de-
parture took with them only one of the
carbines. Booth said he could not take
the other because his leg was broken. AS
they were about leaving Booth called out,
II will tell you some news, if you want
to hear it." Lloyd answered, 81 am not
particular; use your own pleasure about
telling me-" We'll" rejoined Booth, II
am pretty certain that we have assas-
sinated the President and secretary of
state.'
LLOYD'S ARREST.
Lloyd was arrested during the follow
ing week by Detective Joshua A. Lloyd,
and was placed in charge of officer George
Cottingham at Roby's postoftice, Surratts-
Vile. When taken he cried bitterly, threw
his arms over his wifes neck and called
for his prayer book. For two days he de-
MED knowing anything about the assassina-
ton, but Cottingham sprang a trap upon
him, and told him he was perfectly salts
fed he knew about it; that he had a heavy
load on his mind, and that the sooner ne
got rid of it the better. Lloyd then said:
80, my God, if 1 was to make a confession
they would murder mel" Cottingham
asked: who would murder your Lloyd
replied: These parties that are in this
conspiracy Well" said C~ottingham, IF
you are afraid of being murdered, and let
these fellows get out of it. that is your
business, not mine"
LLOYD then detailed all the circumstances
attending the deposit of the c~arbines,
shooting irons,' at his place by john II.
Surratt, Atzerodt and Herold, in March,,
and stated how Mrs. Surratt came down
to his place on the afternoon OF the assas-
sination and ordered them, together with
two bottles of whisky, to be held IN readi-
ness, that awful night, for the partles VINO
would call for them. All this was told 10
~Cottingham when on the way to Washlng-
ton with a SQUAD of cavalry. Lloyd COM
menced crying anu HdiOOIhS OU'' ~ mis-
Surratt. that vile women, she has ruined
me- I am to be shot! L am to be shot!'
Lloyd stated to Cottingham that the car
bine which Booth left behind him was up
stairs in a little room where Mrs. Surratt
kent some bags. 1t was found behind the
mastering Of the wall. 1t was in a bag,
and had been suspended by a string tied
around the muzzle of the carbine; the string
had broken. and the carbine fallen down..
When the assassins left Lloyds place
they again put spurs to their horses, ana
| at break-neck speed dashed for their sec
ond stopping place, the home OF DR.. sam
uel A. Mudd, near Bryantown. The doctor
was a notorious secession sympathlzer,
and, as results proved, was himself mixed
M in the conspiracy. Booth and Herold
arrived at DR.. Mudd's farm on the morning
of the 18th of April, at about half-past t.
having ridden in all about thirty miles dur
ing that eventful and bloody night, and all
this time the broken bone in Booths leg
had been terribly decorating the flesh. Her.
old raped at the door of the house. DR..
Mudd himself opened it and assisted in
bringing Booth, who was on horse back, into
the house and in laying him upon a sofa
in the parlor. In a short time he was car
ried up stairs and put on a bed in the front
room. DR.. Mudd then examined Booths
leg and found that the front bone was
broken at nearly right angles, about two
inches above the instep. He dressed the
limb as we'll as he was able with the lin