The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-14
HIS BURIAL PLACE UNMARKED.
Story of j. Wilkes Booths End DIS
Told by Doctor q. l.. Porter.


paper recently read by Doctor George l..
Porter Of bridgeport. Conn, at the annua,
I me- oi me Army and Navy Club at the
Fort GrisWold House In New London Doc
tor Porter had the medical care. in April
INA of the prisoners arrested for complicifv
In the assassination of President Lincoln.
IN the course of his address he said
BY special order Of the Secretary Of
War ! was placed in medical charge and
Wa me ohiy persoa who had authority to
visit the prisoners at all times / performed
the required professional duties until the
sentences were enforced
was me only commissioned officer
present at the disposition of Booths bo,ly
and desire. In this official manner to put
upon record the statement, subject to proof
that me descriptions of that incident which
incorrect"
After describing Booths flight until he
reached the barn near Bowling Green. va
Doctor Porter continues:
Booth and Hsrold sought shelter In the
harn Be1nre morning IL was surrounded
were summoned To surrender. Heroid gave
himself up. but Booth refused saying,
however that If they would give him a dis
out and fight the whole party. They an
swered that they had come to capture AMI
n not to hsht him. The barn. sort Of to-
tointed boards. stocked with some little
hay. was set on fire. and by this light con-
n Mary 20 3rders Sergeant Boston Corbe:t
the back OF the neck at the junction Of me
spine with the head, causing entire paraly-
sis OF all the voluntary muscles of the body
He was shot In nearly the same spot
where Lincoln had been wounded, but In
the case Of the President. the ball pene-
trat1ng the brain caused Inconsistencies
ana so prevented pain. whereas with Booth
there was constant and excessive pain and
Inability TO talk or swallow. although he
was perfectly conscious and anxious to
send messages
He died about noon. upon the 2sth of
April, realizing that his crime brought 10
him only infamy, and aroused only senti-
ments OF indiGnatiop and horror at the
North and South alike. His last message
was 10 mis- mother telling her that he
died for his country Among his per-
sonal effects was bill of exchange In his
favor drawn by the Montreal Branch Of
the ontario Bank.
His body was wrapped and sewed IN in
a horse blanket. taken to the Potomac, and |
by boat taken to the Navy Yard at Wash
inEton, and there identified by mny per-
sons, among others by Doctor May. a dis
before removed a tumor from Booths neck
The body was taken In a rowboat TO the |
Washington Arsenal. and In the dead of !
night, In the presence of the military store |
keeper, four enlisted men. and myself |
the only commissioned officer-was hidden
in place so secret that never to this day |
has II been correctly described. We were |
requested by Secretary Stanton to keep ST.
lent. and no man during these thirty-fve |
years has yet told. believe the body was /
ment to never mark by mound or monu- l
ment where II should be placed.
Recently visited the locality where We 1
placed his body thirty-five years ago. |
by the stranger and by those dwelling in |
the place: preserved by no record: 'un- |
wept. urhonored and unsung.' 1t u rapidly |
casing into oblivion" x