Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-04-06

out at the end Of that time, he would
set the barn afire.
The man on crutcheS replied:
LET us have little time to consider
it."
Baker said Very well" and 10 or
! is minutes passed, during which the
man on clutches tried to find out who
1 the men outside the barn we're. Then
| the man ON crutches said
Captain, know you to be a brave
man, and I believe you TO be honor
able; am cripple. have but one
leg. II you will withdraw your men
100 yards from the door, will come
out and fight you.
Baker replied they had not come
there to fight, but to make him a
prisoner. Later. the man in the barn
said:
"If you1l take your men so yards
from the door, I'll come out and fight
you; give me a chance for my life"
He had given President Lincoln no
chance for his life, and apparently
the Union soldiers had no intention
of giving him an opportunity to break
through the Gordon.
Prepare a Stretcher for Me"
When the man In the barn saw 1t
was hopeless, he said, according to
Conger's testimony, well, my brave
boys prepare a stretcher for me"
The conversation stopped. COnger
told one of the Garrett boys TO pile
some brush against a corner Of the
barn, some pine boughs. Then a voice
from the barn:
There's a man in here wants to
come out"
Baker said, Let him hand his arms
out and come out"
Then a man came to the door Of
the barn and said, Let me out"
Hand out your arms" said Baker.
II have none" was the reply. and
then the other man, the one on
crutches. said:
The arms are mine. Upon the word
and honor Of a gentleman, he has no
arms"
Conger then said to Baker: Never
mind the arms II we can get one Of |
the men out, let us do 1t and wait no |
longer"
The door was opened. The man
stuck out his hands. Baker took hold |
of him, brought him out and passed |
him to the rear where one Of the SOL |
diers took him In custody.
Conger Sets Barn Attire
Then, said Conger, Il went around
TO the corner Of the barn, pulled some
hay out, twisted up little of 1t, about
stuck it back through on top Of the l.
hay. 1t was loose, broken-up hay, that
had been trodden upon the barn floor.
It was very light and blazed very
-apdly.
Il put my eye up to the crack next
% the one the fire was put through,
md looked In, and I heard something
irop on the floor, which supposed TO
)e Booths crutch. He turned around
ri - ~ rr1fr
If him he stood with his back partly
oward me, turning toward the front
ioor. He came back within five feet
If the corner of the barn. The only
hing noticed he had IN his hands
when he came was carbine.
He came back and looked along the
racks, one after another, rapidly. He
ould not see anything. He looked at
he fire, and from the expression on
lis face, am satisfied he looked to
ZEE II he could put 1t out, and was
atisfied he could not do it, 1t was
BURNING so much. He dropped his arm,
elaxed his muscles, turned around,
nd started for the door at the front
4 the barn.
Il ran around to the other side, and
vhen about half way around heard
he report Of a pistol went right
o the door, and went into the barn
nd found Lieutenant Baker looking
t Booth, holding him or raising him
Ip, do not know which. I said 70
i'm Baker), He shot himself Baker
aid, NO, he did not, either
Conger then asked Baker where
Tooth was shot. He raised the wound
d man and saw a bleeding wound
n the right side Of the neck ConRer
epeated: Yes, sir; he gnot himself.
Again Baker replied earnestly that
Tooth had not shot himself
Later, Sergt. Borton Corbett, one OF
he non -cownmisskoned officers In the