Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07
BY EARLE LUTz.

tn HE man who shared John wilkes
Booths last meal has con-
sented for the first time to tell
4 his story in print.
1t was on the evening of
April IS, 1865, that DR.. w. d. Newbill
OF Irvington, Va, then q war veteran
at IL years OF age, ate at the same
table with the slayer of Abraham Lin
coin. A few hours later Booth was
dying with whispered message to his
mother on his lips.
Periodically there crop up tales sug-
costing that Booth was not the man
who was trapped in the barn in Caro-
line County and who died with a bull
let in his throat. But DR.. Newbill Is
not one to give credence to such talk.
cripple with whom he broke bread
were impressed indelibly on his brain.
Although he has recently celebrated
his eighty-second birthday. DR.. Newbill
Is still an erect, vigorous man, almost
as much at home on horse as on
foot. He comes from one of Virgipia's
Oldest families and is the father of
Col. Willard d. Newbill, United States
Army, retired, assistant adjutant gen.
eral of Virginia. The events of that
fateful April day are still fresh in his
memory and his story checks perfectly
with the records.
AS a boy, DIR. Newbill donned the
Confederate gray at the request Of his
mother. Mounted on a fine horse, the
parting gift Of his father, he rode of
to join Moshy's intrepid band to I'LL
gap in the ranks left by the death of
his older brother. At 10 he was q vet
eraf1 Of numerous conflicts, homeward
bound. when chance threw him across
the path Of Lincoln's assailant.
Had he been other than a member
Of MoSby's hated and feared band 1t Is
possible that young Newhill would have
been an eyewitness to the actual death
Of Booth. But the approach of blue
jacketed cavalrymen caused him to
slip into the woods as precautionary
measure. Booth remained TO blum 1t
out and for q few hours was success
ful-only TO die when his supposed
friend betrayed him to his once-fooled
pursuers.
Although he missed one Of the most
thrilling pages In American history,
DR., Newbill's meeting with John wilkes
Booth Is one OF the milestones Of his
life In the 81 years since that day
he has met many other actors In the
drama and has checked over the vari-
Gus events with them.
with two companions, was on my
way home afoot after Lees surrender"
DR.. Newbill relates 1T was q picnic
for us after our experiences with Moshy.
On April as. 1865. we reached the home
of Richard n. Garrett, near Port Royal.
We stopped to rest, and with the hope
that We would be invited to eat. And
we were not disappointed. The Gar
rett home was unpretentious, and, IS
the weather was balmy, the meal was
spread on . rough table on the lawn.
AS we started to eat, crippled man
hohbled up.
THE stranger was introduced to US
under the name Of Royu. He claimed to
be . Confederate soldier convalescing
from q wound received in action. He
was In evident pain and took little part
in the conversation. After rather
slim meal Of cornhread, salt pork and
green's, We sat around talking. The
death Of Lincoln was mentioned. Boyd.
or Booth, came to his feet and excused
himself Mr.. Garrett begged him 70 use
q bedroom, but be refused to try 10 use
the stairs, and, with Q wan smile, said
that a soldier would not know how to