Evening star., 1931-12-06

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Then Ella Turner Ella Starr, as she was
sometimes called arrested at 62 Ohio
avenue. She had been Booths sweetheart.
When apprehended, she attempted suicide.
Seven other persons taken at the same
house Laura Keene and John Dyott were de-
tanned at Harrisburg. Booths brother Junius
Brutus, arrested at Philadelphia and
brought to the old Capital Prison. John T.
Ford was also thrown into Jail. Atzerodt was
captured in Maryland on April 20. The Sur
ratt home raided April %, and Mrs.
Surratt and her daughters, together with Payne
were taken Public feeling so high that
many persons unJusty accused of guilty
knowledge of Booths arrangements In Buff
talo the residence OF Ex-PreSident Fillmore was
visited by mob April "a the leaders of
the disturbance insisting that Mr. Fillmore had
not publicly exprecced sufficient grief over the
murder of his successor Jefferson Davis and
other Southern leaders generally were &C
cused of having instigated the assassination.
On April 26 it was reported that Booth and
Herod were in hiding the farm of John
and William Garrett at Port Royal Va Col.
La Fayette c. Baker, a War Department de
tective, commanding detail of the 18th New
York Cavalry, located the fugitives and called
on them to surrender. Herold obeyed Booth
refused. The barn in which the actor had
taken refuge set afire. Trapped in the
burning building, Booth either shot himself
shot by Sergt. Boston Corbett a mem
Der of Bakers company. The last moments Of
Ine murderer are a matter OF perennial de-
bate. Exactly what happened is an insoluble
mystery. In any case, the Presidents mur-
derer was fatally wounded. He fingered three
hours before death came to his relief DUR
ing this time he was in acute agony. He
coughed out message to his mother to the
effect that he was giving his life for his coun-
try and his last words were: Useless useless"
Years later a legend arose in the South con-
cerning Booths fate It was claimed that
as matter of fact, he was not captured and
killed but that, on the contrary, he had survived
for many years. his true identity unguessed by
his neighbors and friends This myth has
certain substance, A survey of the press ac-
counts OF Bakers expedition to Port Royal dis
closes a considerable number of discrepancies,
The story, as he told it, seems to lack au-
thentlcity 1t is undeniable that Herold was
taken at Port Royal, and there cam be no ques-
ton that someone-a man with broken leg
was shot and killed there But was that some
one actually Booth? Probably yes: possibly no
The last scene of the great tragedy is clouded
The body asserted to be Booths was buried
three times-hdct, within the old Capitol faiI =
then, outside he same; finally, in Greenmount
Cemetery, Baltimore. The Booth family &C
cepted Bakers story
LORDS THEATER was closed by formal
action OF Congress, and later was purchased
Tor $l0O000 Tor use an Army Medical
Museum, a branch of the Pension Office and
storehouse for the captured archives of the
Confederacy. On June 7, 1893 Edwin Booth
died He was buried June 9, and on that
day the interior of Ford's collapsed. Twenty
two persons were killed in the crash and Ga
were injured When repaired, the building
was used merely as a storage establishment.
In the SLxty-ninth and Seventieth Con-
crosses Representative Henry Riggs Rathbone,
son OF Maj. Henry r. Rathbone inaueurated
a movement for the Government purchase of
the Oldroyd collection and the organization
OF Lincoln Museum in the old PLAYHOUSE
Congressman Rathbone died before the neces-
sary legislative action taken. 1t is a curl
Gus TACT that he was born Lincolns BIRTH
DAY, 1870 His parents were among the psy-
Geological victims of the Presidents murder
MAJ. Rathoone IN fit of insanity killed his
Vile, the Representatives. mother.
The shock Of Mr. Lincons assassination
was an experience which brought tragedy to
many others Mrs. Lincoln herself eventually
became insane. The shadow of the crime
disturbed long list of lives. Even Serst.
Boston Corbett felt the malign influence. He
lost his mind and attempted suicide
OF those directly concerned in Booths plot
Herold, Atzerodt Payne and Mrs Surratt were
brought to trial before military court The
proceedings lasted SO days. A verdict of guilty.
was returned, and on July 7, 1865, all four
were hanged in the old Washington arsenal.
Mrs. Surratts son escaped to Europe via Cam
ada, was apprehended and brought back.
When he was tried, in 1867 the Jury dis
agreed He was kept in prison until June.
1853, and then released. His mother had
purchased his life with her own. Michael
O OLaughlin and Samuel Arnold who had been
involved in the original scheme to kidnap the
President, received life sentences as did DR.
Samuel Mudd, who had set Booths fractures
leg and Edward Spangler, who had hem
Booths horse at the theater door, OIaughlin
died In confinement Dry Tortugas The
others were pardoned before March, 1869.
John I. Ford and his brother Harry Clau
Ford, were released after investigation had
convinced the authorities that they were en-
tirely ignorant of the existence of the pIot
In 1873 they opened Fords Opera House in
Nlntn street between Louisiana avenue and G
street, and there for many years presented the
GREATEST stars the thaatsiaal