Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1886 — THE CAPTORS OF BOOTH. [ARTICLE]

THE CAPTORS OF BOOTH.

The Men Who Captured the Assassin of President Lincoln —The Reward Money. ~~ , ——— r- 1 —— Who the Co-Conspirators Were—Where They Were Sent—Where They Are Now, Those directly connected with the crime, so far as has ever been ascertained, were ten in number—John Wilkes Booth, David E. Herold, Lewis Payne, George A. Atzerodt, Mrs. Mary E. Surratt, John H. Surratt, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, Edward Spangler, Samuel B. Arnold, and Michael O’Loughlin. Immediately after the murder of the President and the attack on Secretary Seward, most of these persons fled in different directions, each bent on his own safety. Herold, who was but a boy, scarcely 21 years of age, was the immediate associate of Booth. He held the horses, saddled and bridled, in rear of the theater. Booth and himself mounted and rode away immediately after the shooting. They fled into Maryland, and thence crossed the Po-t toaaac into Virginie. For twelve days they eluded their pursuers. They were finally brought to bay in a barn on the farm of one Garrett, 80 miles southwest from Washington. The barn was surrounded by a detachment of the 16th New York Cavalry at 2 o’clock in ♦he morning of April 25, 1805, the assassination having taken place April 14. The fugitives were ordered to surrender. At first both refused, but after some parleying Herold gave himself up,, knowing that he would be shot if he did not Booth, though one of his legs had been broken wljen he leaped from the President’s box to the stage of the theater, defied the soldiers, and with a Spencer rifle which Herold had carried, determined to sell his life as dearly as possible. Then the torch was applied to the barn, Booth having been previously warned that this would be done if he did not surrender. By the light cf the fire Sergeant Boston Corbett «hot him while the latter was in the act of aiming his rifle at one of the soldiers. The avenging bullet took effect in the neck. Booth was taken into Garrett’s house and died at 7 in the morning.

To Atzerodt was assigned tne murder of Vice President Johnson, who was boarding at the Kirkwood House. He was a few minutes late in his arrival. The alarm of the President’s assassination had been given, and Mr. Johnson had timely warning of his danger. Atzerodt fled, and was captured in Maryland six days later. Payne’s part was to kill Secretary Howard. • The latter was sick in bed at the' time. Payne forced his way past the guards into the Secretary’s room on the pretense that he had an important message from the physicians. Without hesitating an instant he attacked Mr. Seward with a large knife, inflicting serious but not fatal wounds. The Secretary’s nephew, Frederick Seward, who Fas attending him, grappled with the assassin, and was badly wounded in the struggle, though he prevented the full accomplishment of themurder- ' ous design. This part of the tragedy lasted but a moment There was prompt response to the call for help, and Payne, finding himself foiled,took hasty flight, dashing out of the house and snaking his escape. He left the' city, but after wandering about for three A ays returned, and was arrested at the house of Mrs. Surratt in Viashington, which appears to have been the headquarters of the conspirators. Mrs. Surratt made no effort to>escape. She was arrested the following day at her home. General Grant was also to have been assassinated, but escaped by unexpectedly leaving tne citv that day. He did 8< > at the urgent solicitation of his wife, who had a presentiment of danger although neither of them had the elighteat Hifimation of plot Dr. Mudd was arrested at his* home fa Maryland, Arnold at Fortress Monroe, and O'Loughlin and Spangler near "Washington, all within a few days after the murder. The only one who escaped was John H. Surratt He made his way to Europe, and in Italy joined the Papal Zouaves. Being discovered in 1867, he was surrendered to the United

States authorities and brought back to Washington. He was tried before a civil court, but was saved by a disagreement of the jury. There was no doubt as to liis connection with tly» and had he been tried nt the same time as his fellow plotters, there is little question what the- result would have been. The rewards offered by the Government for the arrest of the principal assassins, apportioned and ordered paid by a special act of Congress, were distributed on the basis of the proportion which the services of or information furnished by each contributed to success jn each case. The names of those sharing the rewards, and the amounts paid severally to each, are as follows: FOR THE CAPTURE OF BOOTH AND'HEROLD. E. J. Conger, detective §15,090 Lafayette C. Baker 3,750 Luther B. Barker .................... 3 000 Lieut. E. r. Doherty 5,250 JAtneO l - O’Bierne 2,000 H. H. Wells, George Cottingham, Alexander Lovett, each 81.000 3,000 Serg't Boston Corllett, Serg’t Andrew Wendell, Corp. Charles Zimmer, Corp. Michael Uniac Corp. John Winter, Corp. Herman Newgart n, Corp. John Walz, Corp. Oliver Loupay, Coni. Michael Hormsley, Privates John Myers, John Byun, William Byrne, Philip Hovt, Martin Kelley, Henry Putnam, Frank McDapielr=Lewis Savage, Abraham Gehav, Emery Pavndny, David Barker, William McQuade, John MH--1 ngtbri, Frederick Deitz, John H. Singer, Carl Steinbrugge, and Joseph Zisken, all of 16th N. Y. Cav., each $1,653.85.... °............. 43,000

. 875,000 Lafayette C. Baker was chief of the detective force.* E. J. Congor, who received so large a share, was a detective whose services were particularly valuable. Lieut. Doherty commanded the. cavalry detachment that made the capture. FOB THE CAPTURE Of ATZERRODT. Maj. E. R. Artman, 213th Pa. Inf..; &,250.00 Serg’t Z. W. Gommill, Ist Del. Cav... .. 3,508.54 Christopher Ross, .David H. Baker, Al- f bert Bender, Samuel J. Williams, Geo. W. Young, and James W. Purdum, citizens, each, $2,878.78.. 20,-151.46 825,600.00 FOB THE CAPTURE OF PAYNE. Maj. H. W. Smith... ”...SI,OOO Richard C. Motgan, Eli Devore,. Charles H. Bosch, Thomas Saippson, W. M. Wermerskirch, detectives, each, 8500........ 2,090 John H. Kimball, citizen . 500 P. M. Clark, citizen 500 Susan Jackson, colored 250 Mary Ann Griffin 250

„ $5,000 The eight prisoners were brought to a speedy trial before . a. Military Commission, which finished its labors June 30. Four—Payne, Atzerodt, Herold, and Mrs. Surratt —were sentenced to death, and the sentences were approved by the President. Great efforts yere made to save Mrs. Surratt, but the authorities were inexorable, and all were hanged July 7. LX. ■■■ X;■ 1 Dr. Mudd was a prominent physician at Bryantown, near Surrattsville, in Maryland. Booth stopped at his house in his flight, early ’ the next morning after the assassination, and Dr. Mudd set his broken leg. Booth’s stay was brief for he knew his avengers would soon be upon his track. After telling Mudd what he had done he remounted his horse and dashed off. Dr. Mudd aided in his escape by purposely misdirecting a body of soldiers, who, having tracked Booth to that place,, inquired as to the road he had taken. It was not shown upon the trial that Mudd had any previous knowledge cf or’participation in the conspiracy, but he was convicted of being “accessary after the fact,” and sentenced to confinement at hard labor for life.

Spangler was the stage carpenter at the theater. For two day before the tragedy he assisted Booth in arranging the details of the plan. On the trial Spangler claimed—and it must be said that this was not fairly proven—that he knew nothing of the plot to kill Mr. Lincoln. He said he had no personal acquaintance with Booth, but the latter told him that the, arrangments he was making in the theater were for the production of a new play. Knowing him to be a celebrated actor, he supposed be (rue. The Com 5 mission, however, deemed the evidence sufficient to convict him as an accessory, and he was sentenced for six vears.

Arnold was an obscure wagon-maker living near Surrattsville. He provided vehicles for the use of the chief conspirators at different times when perfecting the plot. He disclaimed any knowledge of their purpose, but the evidence against him -was strong, and he was sentenced to confinement for life.

O’Loughlin was the youngest of the prisoners with the exception of Herold. It is not clear what part he had in the scheme. He was of a good family. It was, and still is, urged by his friends in his behalf, that he was innocent of any share in the crime, but by reason of his association with some of the participants he was made the victim of circumstantial evidence, which, in the opinion of justified a verdict of guilty. He was sentenced for life.

All these findings and sentences were approved by the President, who designated the Dry Tortugas, Florida, as the place of confinement. The prisoners wgre sent there early in July, 1865; O’Loughlin’s health gave way under the fright and excitement of the trial. He died in hospital at Fort Jefferson, Florida, in September, 1868, after a confinement of a little more than two years. In February, 1861), the President ordered that his remains be delivered to his mother, and they were brought to his old home and buried. The three other prisoners were pardoned "lay proclamation of President Johnson, just before h’s retirement—Mudd on Feb. 8, 1869, and Arnold and Spangler on March I—after three years and nine months of confinement THie official records show that these pardons, by proclamation of the President, were “full and unconditional," and “for good and sufficient reasons.” The latter will be understood by the following : In 1868 Floridia was scourged with yellow fever. It was in malignant form and was fatal to many., Dr. Mudd had experience before in treating this disease. During its continuance at the Dry Tortugas he was untiring and efficient in his labors. Among those who died was the United States medical officer at..that place. Dr. Mudd took charge of the hospitals, and abated none of his efforts until the plague had disappeared. Arnpld xind Spang'er volunteered .as nurses and served faithfully to the aad. Not one.

of the three took the fever. * The President rewarded them by fqll pardon. Whether or not the hope of release may have influenced them, in . their labors for the cause qf humanity, the fact remains that their services were most valuable and praisworthy. The softening influence of time had scarcely yet been felt, and- there were many who severely criticised the President for pardoning these men. But sixteen years have passed, and there are probably few who would now question the lenient officijjj act that set them free. Dlr. Mudd returned to his old home and resumed the practice of his profession. He died about three years ago. Spangler and Arnold have disappeared, and no traces of them can be found. In the office of the Judge Advocate (general of the Army are kept a few mementoes of the great tragedy. They are not publicly exhibited, but may be seen by those curiously inclined, on application. The pistol with which President Lincoln was shot is a small oldfashioned Derringer. Its whole length is but a trifle more than six inches, and the barrel is but two and a half inches long. The caliber is larger than that of similar weapons of the present day. The bullet taken from the head of the President is also there. It w*as much flattened against the skull, which the doctors said was of unusual thickness? In a small glass case are fragments of the fractured skull, and the silver probe that was used on that occasion. There is a large, villainous, doubleedged knife, or dirk, that was taken from the person of Booth. The handle is of horn, and the blade seven inches in length. It is of the kind commonly spoken of as a “Bowie,” though the latter, strictly speaking, has but one edge. One side of the blade is neatly ornamented, and bears the inscription: “America, file Land of the-Free and the Home of the Brave; Liberty and Independence.” Booth had this knife in his hand when he leaped to the stage of the theater, shouting “s'ic semper tgrannis!” Booth’s hat, which was picked up in the President’s box, is of dark cloth, finely “quilted,” in the style much worn at that time. There is also a very high cavalry boot, reaching nearly to the hip, that was removed by Dr. Mudd from the broken limb. At the instep is a slit ten inches long, made by Mudd for the purpose of an examination. In the cpllection is a pine stick, three feet long and two inches square, which Booth had provided beforehand, and used to fasten the door after he entered the President’s box, that no one might follow him. The stick lay upon the floor Mr. Lincoln was carried otit, and drops of blood fell upon it, the stains of which are distinctly seen. There are also a light-colored “slouch” hat, worn by Payne, when he entered Secretary Seward's room, which he lost in the struggle, and two -eightjphooting Spencer rifles which were concealed at a tavern in Surrattsville before the murder, for the use of Booth and Herold in their flight. Their route of attempted escape had been carefully laid out. Herold took one of the weapons, but Booth did not, owing to his suffering condition. In August, 1864, the country was startled by a rumor that president Lincoln had died by poison. That’day Booth was the guest of the McHenry House, Meadville, Pa. With a diamond he scratched the following upon a pane of glass in one of his rooms: Abe Lincoln * Departed this life . Aug. 13, 1864, • —— By the effect of poison;

After Mr. Lincoln’s death by the hand of this man the pane of glass became an object of interest. It was taken from the window, forwarded to Washington by Miss McHenry, and placed in the collection of relics. The most interesting article is the pocket dihry, old, worn, and stained, taken from Booth’s person. All the leaves previous to April 14 —tlife day of the murder—were cut out by Booth. It is supposed that these leaves contained the details of the arrangements of the conspiracy, and were probably destroyed by him. In the “pocket” of the diary were five photographs of young women, presumably actresses, a small silvei horseshoe charm, and a Roman Catholic medal or amulet. Many pages written after the tragedy, while the murderer was a hunted fugitive, were fully identifiedjry the friends of Booth as being in his handwriting. Our reporter copied the following, which will be read with interest:

"EXTRACTS FROM BOOTH’S DIARY. .“April 14, Friday, the Ides—Until to-day nothing uWas ever thought of sacrificing to our country’s wrongs. For six months we had worked to capture, but our cause being almost lost, .something decisive and great must be done. But its failure was owing to pthers, who did qftt strike for their country with a heaiT 1 struck boldly, and not as the papers say. I walked with a firm step through a thousand of his friends; was stopped, but pushed on. A Colonel was at his side.. I shouted ‘sJc semper’ before I fired. In -jumping, broke my leg. I passed all his pickets; rode sixty miles that night with the bone of my leg tearing the flesh at every jump. I can never report it. Though we hated to kill, our country owed all her troubles to him, and sGod simply made me the instrument of his punishment. The country is not what it was. This forced Union is not what I have loved. I care not what becomes of me. I have no desire to outlive my country. This night, before the deed, I wrote a long article and left it for one of the editors of the Autional which I fully set forth our reasons for our proceedings. He or the South. “Friday, 21.—After being., hunted like a dog through swamps and woods, and last night being chased by gunboats till I was forced to return, wet, cold, and starving, with every man’s hand against me, I' am here in despair, and why? For,doing what Brutus was honored so made William Tell a hero; and yet I, for striking down an even greater tyrant than they ever knew, am looked upon as a common cutthroat. My act was purer than either of theirs. One hoped to be great himself; the other had not only his country’s, but his own wrongs to avenge. I hoped for no gain; I knew no private wrong. I struck for my country, and her alone. A people

ground beneath this tyranny prayed for this end, and yet now see the cold hands they extend for me! God cannot, pardon me if I have done wrong; yet 11 cannot see any wrong, except in serving a degenerate people. The little, the. very little, I left behind to clear my name, the Government will not allow to be printed. So ends all! For my country I have given up all that makes life sweet and holy, brought misfortune upon my family and am sure there is no pardon for me in the heavens, since man condemns me so. I have onlv heard of what has been done (except what I did myself), and it fills; me with horror. God, try to forgive me and bless my mother. To-night I will once more try the river with the intention to cross; thougji I have a and almost a mind to return to Washington, and in a measure clear my name, which I feel 1 can do. Ido not repent the blow I struck. I may before my God, but not to man. I think I have done well, though I am abandoned, with the curse of Cain upon me, when, if the world knew my heart, that one blow would have made me great, though I did desire no greatness. To-night I try once more to escape these bloodhounds. Who, who can, read his fate! God’s will be done. I have too great a care to die like a crim-; inal. Oh, may He spare me and let me .die bravely. I bless the entire world. I have never hated nor wronged any one. This last was not a wrong, unless God deems it so, and it is with Him to damn or bless me. And for this brave boy, Herold, here with me, who Often prays (yes, before and since), with or true and sincere heart, was it crime in him ? If so, why can he pray the same ? I do not wish to shed a drop of blood, but I must fight the course. Tis all that’s left me.” John H. Surratt has been some years engaged as clerk in the freight office of a steamboat line in Baltimore. — National Tribune.