Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-30

In the effort to ascertain facts in re-
gard to the final and exact disposition OF
the body Of Guiteau. Garfield's assassin
we beg the privilege of your columns. 1t
is curious how the matter seems to have
slipped the contemporary mind.
INQUIRY was made OF one and another
on one Of the big dailies, but with no re-
suit; then another big daily was appealed
TO with the answer: your letter has been
forwarded to the proper authority, and
will receive attention" The proper au-
thority after proper delay returned the
letter well punctuated with undeciphera-
BILE hieroglyphics and less information. 1t
was then suggested that letter be ad-
dressed the Smithsonian Institution. In
due time came printed form filled out
TO the effect that the letter had been re-
ferred TO the surgeon general Of the Unit
ed states army. The surgeon general
having apparently not time yet to take up
the matter The Journal is appealed to-
to definitely settle a question about
which appears to be so much uncertainty
The consuming of Czolgosz remains
with acids recalled the end of the two
former assassins-Booth and Gultau-
and the different means resorted to In the
final disposition of their respective bodies.
The impression seems TO prevail that
It was never known what became Oh
Booths body-men who were tnen hNihB
can remember how widespread was the
opinion even that he was never captured.
Perhaps the most authentic account YET
published of the capture, death and burial
of Booth was written by Reay Stannard
Baker. a nephew OF Col. L. c. Baker
the man who with his aids. effected the
capture. In this account written TOT NC
Clure's Magazine and occurring IN the
May number, 1897, he says:
THE body was sewn again In us oloooy
winding sheet and lowered into small
row-boat Hundreds of people stood
watching on the shores, knowing that IL
was Booths body, and determined TO as
certain what was to be done with H. CoIo-
mel Baker had brought with him heavy
hall and chain. which he placed In the
boat by the. side of the body, making no
apparent attempt at secrecy. he and
Lieutenant Baker stepped into the little
craft. and a few strokes OF the oars sent
1t speeding out on the black potomac IN
the gathering darkness. For nearly TWO
miles the boat drifted silently. Its occu-
pants spoke no words; there was not even
the creak of an oarlock.
presently the boat was turned and
pulled slowly back toward the city. The
utmost caution was observed to make no
sound. Suddenly against the sky doomed
tiary. Silently they crept along until they
came to a hole let into the solid masonry
close to the waters edge. An officer who
stood Just inside of the opening, challeng-
ed the party in a low voice, and Colonel
Baker answered with the countersign.
''They lifted the body from the boat and
carried IL through the hole in the mason
nv into a convict's cell. A huge stone slab.
worn with the fretting Of many prison.
er had been lifted up. and under 1t there
was shallow grave. dug only few hours
before A dim lantern outlined the damp
walls OF the cell and emphasized the shad-
ows.
Just at midnight Booths body was low
cred into the black hole. the stone slab
was lowered over the unhonored grave.
and the two officers crept back to their
boat and returned to Washington.
"It was believed that the body had been
sunk in the Potomac. and for days the
river was dragged by Booths friends in
the hope of finding IL. The newspapers
gave circumstantial accounts Of the wat
cry burial, and Frank Leslies Illustrated
Weekly for May 20. 1866. had a full page
illustration showing Colonel Baker and
Lieutenant Baker in the act Of slipping
the body over the edge Of the boat Into
the river. 1t was entitled an authentic
sketch.
For several years no one but Colonel
Baker, Lieutenant Baker and two or three
other officers knew of the disposition of
Booths body. Indeed. there were rumors,
widely credited in certain parts Of the
country. that Booth never had been cap
tured. Later. however. after the heat and
excitement of the time had subsidized, per-
mission was given for the removal Of the
remains TO Baltimore, where they now
rest"
Guiteau was hanged-but what was done
with the body? There remains, in the
minds OF some. faint recollection Of boiled