Evening star., 1932-01-24
St0rv of John Wilkes Booth Is Traced

Greet force dispatched them by stream TO ths
lower Potomac. Col Conger and Lieut. Baker
were ordered with the force, with directions
to 10 to Belle Plain and land at any cost
"They landed there at half-past eleven o'clock
ON Monday night, and started up the Kappa
hammock, and marched all night. At daylight
on Tuesday the cavalry brought up IL or
Is miles below Port Royal, and they
obtained no trace OF the assassins until they
arrived at Port Royal 16 miles below Fred
ericksburg At this point there was ferry,
and Lieut. Baker went to the ferryman, an
elderly man, and asked him, describing Booth
and others. If such parties had crossed. The
ferryman appeared loath to answer, when
Lieut.. Baker leaped from his horse, and, grab
bing the ferryman by the throat held up
picture of Booth and asked II that man had
crossed. Negro who was standing by
responded and said: I took that man across
this morning, and he is now at Garretts.'
Conger, proceeded on their way, and
passed CARROTS farm house, distance of II
miles to the west. At this point they met
Negro In a cart who had also two men with
him answering the description of Booth and
Herrold The cavalry then took the back
track and at / O'Clock on the morning OF
Wednesday reached the rear of CARROTS
house"
Perhaps it would be more authentic to give
here the sworn testimony of Col. G. J. Conger,
in charge of the military detail, relating to the
actual capture of Herrold and the shooting OF
Booth At the trial he said
1.-THE first individual saw when got there
was said to have been named Garrett; I said
to him Where are the men who stopped at
your house?' They have gone Gone where?'
Gone to the woods 'Whereabout in the
woods have they gomez He then commenced
to tell me that they came there without his
consent, and that he did not want them to stay.
said, I don't want any long stories from you;
I just want to know where those men have
gone
He commenced to tell me over again the
same thing and I turned to one Of the men
and told him to bring a lariat, and
threatened to hang the man to a locust tree
because he did not tell me what he knew. One
of his sons then came in and said, Don't hurt
the old man, he is scared will tell you where
these men are T said, That is what want
He said. They are in the barn. I went to the
barn. and as soon got there heard some
body walking about on the hay; I stationed
men around the barn, and Lieut.. Baker said
to one Of the young Carrots (there had two OF
them appeared by this time). You must go in
the barn and get the arms from that man
think he made some objection to going in, and
Baker then said, They know you, and you
must go in Baker then said to the men in
side that one of the men with whom he had
been stopping was coming in to get their arms
and they must deliver them up.
Garrett went in, but came out very soon,
and said, This man says damn you, you have
betrayed me-" and threatened to shoot me- I
asked him how he knew the man was going to
shoot him; he said, He reached down in the
hay and got the revolvers.' I directed Baker
then to tell the men inside that they were to
come out and deliver themselves up, and that
S1,ay, not in Ava mi
the barn on fire.
Booth said, Who you-What do you
want?' Lieut. Baker answered, We want you.
We know who you are. Give up your arms and
come out Booth replied, Give us little time
to consider Baker said, Very well,' and some
10 or IS minutes elapsed, probably, before any
thing further was said, when Booth again
asked, Who are you-what do you want?' L
said to Baker, DO not by any possible intima-
ton or remark, let him know who We are; II
he chooses to take us for rebels or friends, we
win take advantage of it; will not lie to
him about 1t, but we will not answer any
questions on that subject; simply insist on his
coming out II he will
Baker replied to Booth, TT don't make any
difference who we are, we know who you are,
and we want you Booth said, This Is hard.
because it may be T am to be taken by my
friends Some time during the conversation
Booth said Captain, know you to be brave
man, and I believe You to be honorable; 7
have got but one leg; am a cripple; if YOU
will withdraw your men 100 yards from the
door T will come out and fight you Lieut..
Baker replied, We did not come to fight; we
simply come to make you prisoners" Once
afterwards he said, IF you will take your men
SO yards from the door I will come out and
fight; give me chance for my life There
was the same reply, and with a singularly
theatrical voice. Booth called out, Well, my
brave boys you may prepare a stretcher for
me-
After while, Booth said, There is a man
here who wants to come OUT Lieut.. Baker
said Very WELL let him take his arms and
come out Some talk passed between them in
the barn. One of the expressions I heard
Booth use to Herrold was You d coward,
viii you leave me now? But CO. go, would
not have you stay with me- Herrold put out