The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-09-14
STORY Of LAST WITNESS
The Greatest Tradgedy Again
Under Discussion.
IS SURE BOOTH WAS SHOT
Mr.. D. Eldridge Monroe Who Was a
Member Of the Guard Of Charles
County MD. Organized to Hunt
Down the Slayer ofAbrahamlincoln of
Probably the Only Witness Left.

"The recent revival Of the discus
sion OF the question whether or not
j. Wilkes Booth was shot and killed
In barn in Virginia by Corbet," says
Mr.. ID. Eldrdge Monroe, the we'll
known lawyer. "brngs to my mind
number of after events in connection
with the great tragedy of the assassi-
nation of Lincoln and in which events
I was participant. have never had
q doubt that Booth was killed.
81 was member of the Guard
OF Charles County. Maryland. organ
lied to hunt down and capture the
slayer OF the President. on the last
day OF our service we were at a point
on the Maryland shore OF the Poto-
mac, nearly opposite Smiths Point, on
the Virginia shore. An officer from
one of the United States gunboats,
then at anchor in the Potomac. was
rowed ashore to ascertain who we
were. When informed Of our object
he told us that we could disband. as
Booth had been shot and killed and
his body was then on boat, which he
pointed out, ready to be taken to
Washington. He offered to take any
OF the officers OF our command who
so desired TO view Booths body. None
OF them went. We all accepted the
officers statement as true, and, as we
had been three days and nights al
most continuously in the saddle and
were tired and sleepy, we Immediately
proceeded homeward. Capt. +. II.
Muschette. who was in command OF
the provost guard and who now re-
sides in Baltimore, will verify these
statements.
81 do not know OF any witness in
the famous Lincoln conspiracy trial
now living except myself. | think It
probable | am the only one. The in
cidents OF the trial are as clear in my
memory as though 1t had taken place
yesterday. One OF them taught me q
lesson ! have never forgotten. Gen.
Ewing, the senior counsel for the de-
fence, notified me one morning that
he would call me as witness that
afternoon. The court about midday
took recess. understood for an hour.
! went leisurely from the Arsenal to
Anacosta, where | kept my horses,
and as leisurely returned to the Ar
senal.
"As | was entering the building
where the trial was held the guard
stopped me | told him ! was wit
ness. He said the court had adjourn
ed and asked me my name. l gave it
to him. They have called you sew
eral times this afternoon he replied,
'and | think there is an order out for
your arrest confess | felt rather
uneasy. A short while afterward |
learned as fact that there was an
order out for my arrest. | went to
quiet out-of-the-way hotel, secured a
room and remained there till morn
ing.
Il went early in the morning to the
Arsenal and on his arrival, explained
the matter to Gen. Ewing. He took
me to Judge Advocate, General Holt,
who had the order for my arrest re-
scnded.
After had given my evidence Pro
vost Marshal Hartranft, afterward
Governor of Pennsylvania, jokingly
said to me: Young man, we ought
not to allow you any witness fees: you
gave us too much trouble yesterday
l told him | was not particular about
getting witness fees. Well he ans
wered, there is one thing you will
have to get and that Is an order for
your horses They had not found me,
but they found my horses and put
them under guard. got both an
order for the release Of my horses
and for witness fees also. was
young then, but do not think have
since been late at any time In attend
ing a court where my presence was
required. Sun.
Can,A DrarAriNn,