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Booth and Harr old reached the barn about dusk on Tuesday evening; I he barn was a' once surrounded by our cavalry, and some of our party engaged in conversation with Booth from the outside, He was commanded to surrender several times, but made no reply to the demand, save That ‘Tf you want me you must take me,1' When first asked to surrender hea:keJ. '‘Who d you take me for?'’ A short time after, in response to the question as to whether he:c was any body else with him in the barn, he stated that ha was the only person in the building; that bis companion Harroid had taken another direction and was beyond the reach of capture. At three o'clock, or a little aftor, the barn was fired. Before the flames were kindled Booth had the advarf tage of us in respect to light. He could see us but we could not see him. But after that the tables were turned against him; we could see him p'aialy but could not be seen by him. The flames appeared to confuse him, and he made a spring toward the door as if to attempt to force his way out, As he passed by one of the crevices in t be barn I fired at him. I aimed at his body, I did not want to kill him. I took deliberate aim at his shoulder, but my aim was to high The ball struck him in the head, ju-t below the right eur, and passing through, came out about an inch above the left ear. I think he stooped to pick up something just as I fired. That may probaby account for hi3 receiving the ball id the head. I was not ever eight or tan yards distant from'him when I fired. I was afraid lh.W if I did not wound htiu he would kill some of our men After he was wounded I went into the har-i. Booth was lying in a reclining po.-ition on the floor. I a-ked hm, ‘‘Where are, y u wounded? lie replied in a feeble voice his eye balls glaring with a pcculinr brillinn cv, “In the head. Yon have finished me, lie was then carried out of the bur mg building into the opfn air, where he died a-bout two hours and' a half afterward*. A-bout an hour before he breathed his last he prayed for us to shoot him through t'.e heart, and thus end his misery. His suffering appeared to be intense.
Newspaper Details
Coshocton Democrat
Coshocton, Ohio, US
Wed, May 03, 1865
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
OH, USA 22 Mar 2025
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