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

The man who trapped THE man
who killed Lincoln" spent the last
years Of his life I'm Montana, first
as territorial Justice, and later as
district judge and county attorney
at Dillon. Tt was the opinion OF
this man, Lieut.. Col. Everton J.
COnger-the man who set fire to
the barn on Carrots farm. Vir-
gfniz--4hat John wilkes Booth,
Llneoln's assassin, was not shot
and m0rtaIIy wounded by Serg.
Boston Corbett, but on the con-
trary, that Booth, trapped IN the
burning barn, himself fired the
shot which caused his death few
hours later.
To review the story Of Booths cap
tlIre, the camera eye" swings back
upon a country road in northern Vir-
g1nia, on the afternoon of April Is,
Is65-75 years ago.
Down this road, which led from Port
Royal, on the Rappahanock, to Bowl
ing Green. and thence to Richmond
rode detachment of IS men from the
18th New York cavalry. The men and
their officers knew they were IN pur-
suit Of John wilkes Booth, mad scion
of a DISTINGUISHED theatrical family
box at Ford's theater, Washington, on
the night of April IA. They also knew
Booth was supposedly crippled, due to
R1fs fan from the theater box, when
the American flag with which the box
was draped-the flag he deSpised-had
trfpped him as he jumped to the stage
after shooting the president. They also
knew Booth probably was accompanied
by a smaller mana man they were
70 learn later was one David Herold.
Had Ridden All Night
The <oldfarc Unra tired They had
been put on boat at Washington the
day before and shipped down the Po-
Ao1nac to Belle Plain, where they had
landed at 10 O'Clock on the night of
April "a. They had been riding all
night with orders merely to look for
two men-one with an injured leg and
possibly walking with the aid OF
orutches, and the other, undescribed.
On April 24th-10 days after BootnS
murderous attack upon the president
Gen. c.. @. Augur, commander OF the
department of Washington, had sent
the following order to the commanding
officer, 10th New York cavalry:
seYOu win at once detail 3 re-
liable and discreet commissioned
officer with rs men, wen-mOunted,
with three days ratiOns and forage,
to report at once to Col. L. g.
Baker, agent of the war depart
ment, ut 211 Pennsylvania avenue"
Col. L. @. Baker was Lafayette Baker,
head Of the United States secret
service.
The commanding officer Of the 10th
New YORK cavalry detailed Capt. Ed
ward Doherty to lead the detachment
IA pursuit Of Booth. But Colonel Baker
also sent his most trusted lieutenant,
Lieut.. Col. Everton J. Conger. AS Con- |
gers second-in-command, Lafayette |
Baker sent his own captain, Lieut.
Luther Baker, to make q personal re-
port.
Everton ]. Conger was born in FIRE.
mont, O., April IS, 1886, the SON OF
Enoch and Mary. Hungerford Conger.
He was one Of the fourth generation
u a family of French Hug1enotS who
mad been among the early settlers OF
New Jersey. Everton Conger's father
vas q Presbyterian minister, mis-
donary who had been sent to Illinois
a 1907. after years IN the missionary
.ield Of Ohio. Everton was educated at
Milan, Erie county, Ohio, and at West
I'm Reserve college. He answered Lin
;oln's first call for volunteers IN 1851,
md was enlisted In company A, Eighth
1hio volunteer infantry.
Later young Conger was transferred
o the 10th Ohio infantry and was then
,romoted to the rank Of captain Of
company A.
In the fan Of 1861, Captain Conger
vas detailed to General RoSecrans'
taft. Later he was assigned to the
taft of General ingalls,, and while ON
scouting expedition was seriously
rounded. That was In 1862. Captain
longer was disabled until April, 1853,
ghen he was commissioned by Secre-
airy Of War Stanton as major Of the