Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-09

through by John Wilkes Booth, and as It
was the custom for the two thus affiliated
to be Joined together by special VOW as
Jonathan and "David"-he and Booth,
with daggers at their hearts, were sworn
to stand by each other, under any and all
circumstances, for period of thirty years
as we'll as to fulfill all obligations to the
order.
The story further alleges that Ritter
found a circle within this circle, and that
the next night he was asked to join it, it
being explained that the purpose of this
order was to kidnap the President and
take him to an old chateau out of Wash
ington-a building then used a resort
and to later take the President out to sea
and there hold him as hostage until
legislation insuring the payment for all
freed slaves could be forced through Con-
gress. Ritter said that he refused to go
into this, although he was assured that
Booth was one of the leaders. He claimed
that the proposition was made to him by
Dave Harold. who was executed for his
part in the assassination of the President.
AT 6 o'clock on the night of the 14th Ritz
ter said that he and Booth were together
at Washington in the Pacific Hotel Booth
he alleged, was Joined by Robert E. Stin-
ton, and the two went to the theater. In
Stintons pocket was the revolver with
which Booth afterward killed Lincoln
Ritter went to the Golden Eagle rooms and
got in a game of &C. He was winner
and got up from the table at 9:55. He went
to the window and hearing great noise
on the street lifted 1t and heard that Lin
coin had been murdered. He closed 1t and
sat down to wait for Booth. Just at 1905
Booth stood in the entrance. Men" he
said, Il have killed Lincoln; have this
night done a great deed for humanity"
and turning to Ritter, he said: David, will
Booth his hand and replied, II will"
Disguised as Plasterers.
Booth directed Ritter to go to Kolb &
Crvs cto 10 M
ing to the story, and to bring them to the
rear of the dagos." Fifteen minutes later
the horses were there and Booth came out
of hiding. He had Robert E. stinton with
him, and the three went into room where
the clothing of three plasterers lay They
removed their own and donned these gar
ments. 1t was alleged that they then
started for the house of DR.. Mudd q we'll
known confederate sympathizer, who was
south OF Washington on the underground
route" Booth suffering greatly from his
ankle while they rode. They came to the
fork of two roads. and the night being dark
they took the wrong one. They went many
miles before they found they were lost. but
were finally directed to the house of one
Thomas Jones. one of Mudd's ovcrseers
Here they stayed for several days. Secret
service was opened up between them and
Washington, and Booth was kept closely In
touch with what was going on. Two of
these messengers. it was claimed, were
rNuWdro FOX ana DaVlQ E. HerOld.
According to this alleged confession Booth
was greatly worried over having left in
Washington his discarded suit containing
papers which would incriminate many 9TH
ers 1t was arranged that Fox and Herold
We're to don the clothes-the former
Booths and the latter Ritter's-and were
to meet them on the morning of the 23d at
Richter's barn. eighteen miles distant. it
becoming apparent that the Jones house
was no longer altogether safe. At dusk on
the night of the 22d Ritter said that he
and Jones put Booth on horse and made
way to a ferry, where they abandoned the
animal. Next they sought refuge in an
old hut known as "Elizabeths hut" where
Ritter dressed Booths wounds. The next
morning man, whom Ritter did not know,
entered the hut and said: Booth, you are
a dead man; You was killed at Richters
two hours ago." 1t was then explained that
Fox and Herold had arrived at the barn
in the>clothes of Booth and Ritter. Fox had
been kicked by his horse and was lame.
Herold had helped Fox to the barn, and
they were seen to enter. Later the barn
was surrounded and fired, Fox being shot
by Boston Corbett.
Fox and Booth were almost doubles. ac-