The life, crime, and capture of John Wilkes Booth,: with a full sketch of the conspiracy of which he was the leader, and the pursuit, trial and execution of his accomplices./ By George Alfred Townsend.

32 AT s re, Cim., and Capture of JoAn Wilke# BootSA.
you seek, gentlemen, are in the barn, I know. They went there to slape'
Leaving one soldier to guard the old man-and the soldier was very glad
of the job, as it relieved him of personal hazard in the approaching combat
-all the rest, with cocked pistols at the young man's head, followed on to
the barn. It lay a hundred yards from the house, the front barndoor
facing the west gable, and was an old and spacious structure, with floors
only a trifle above the ground level.
The troops dismounted, were stationed at regular intervals around it,
and ten yards distant at every point, four special guards placed to co(m.
mand the door and all with weapons in supple preparation, while Baker
and Conger went direct to the portal. It had a padlock upon it, and the
key of this Baker secured at once. In the interval of silence that ensued,
the rustling of planks and straw was heard inside, as of persons rising
from sleep.
At the same moment Baker hailed:
" To the persons ir this barn. I have a proposal to make; we are about
to send in to you the son of the man in whose custody you are found.
Either surrender to him your arms and then give yourselve up, or we'll set
fire to the place. We mean to take you both, or to have a bonfire and a
shooting match."
No answer came to this of any kind. The lad, John M. Garrett, who
was in deadly fear, was here pushed through the door by a sudden opening
of it, and immediately. Lieutenant Baker locked the door on the outside.
The boy was heard to state his appeal in under tone. Booth replied:
"Damn you. - Get out of here. You have betrayed me."
At the same time he placed his hand in his pocket as for a pistol. A
remonstrance followed, but the boy slipped quickly over te reopened por
tal, reporting that his errand had failed, and that he dared not enter again.
All this time the candle brought from the house to the barn was burning
close beside the two detectives, rendering it easy for any one within to
have shot them dead. This observed, the light was cautiously removed,
and everybody took care to keep out of its reflection. By this time the
crisis of the position was at hand, the cavalry exhibited very variable in clinations, some to run away, others to shoot Booth without a summons, but
all excited and fitfully silent. At the house near by-the female folks were
seen collected in the doorway, and the necessities of the case provoked
prompt conclusions. The boy was placed at a remote point, and the sum
mons repeated by Baker:
"You must surrender inside there. Give up your arms and appear.
There is no chance for escape. We give you five minutes to make up
your mind."
A bold, clarion reply came from within, so strong as to be heard at the
. house door:
"Who are you, and what do you want with us'?"
Baker again urged: "We want you to deliver up your arms and become
our prisoners."
" But who are you I" hallooed the same strong voice.
Baker.-" That makes no difference. We know who you are, and we
want you. We have here fifty men, armed with carbines and pistols.
You cannot escape."
There was a long pause, and then Booth said:
"Captain. this is a hard cuase, I swear. Perhaps I am being taken by my
own friends." No reply from the detectives.
Booth-" Well, give us a little time to consider."
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