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 THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 A Story from History 
 
 by 
 
 WILLIAM L REUTER 
 
 H 
 
 I ere is an eye witness account — never be- 
 fore published — of the capture and death 
 of John Wilkes Booth, the flamboyant 
 assassin of Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 Controversy still surrounds the true story 
 of Booth's last days alive. Some historians 
 even challenge whether it was actually 
 Booth who was hunted down and shot. 
 
 Now, in an account that should dispel all 
 doubts, Dr. William L. Reuter presents a 
 dramatic description of these events by 
 Lt. Col. Everton J. Conger, the man who 
 led the Federal troops that cornered Booth 
 in a barn on the Garrett farm and witnessed 
 his death. 
 
 This story was related by Colonel Conger 
 in 1916 to a friend who visited him at his 
 home in Montana. The interview was tran- 
 scribed by a stenographer and the notes 
 later came into the possession of Dr. Reuter. 
 There is no record that this interview has 
 ever been made public before now except 
 for a number of typed copies used in his 
 college classes by the friend who inter- 
 viewed the colonel. 
 
 In preparing Colonel Conger's eye wit- 
 ness story for publication, Dr. Reuter has 
 
 (Continued on back flap) 
 

 
 lili 
 
 
 
 .':'- : ::.- ;: ' : "■:■■: : .' -':' ' 
 
LINCOLN ROOM 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
 MEMORIAL 
 
 the Class of 1901 
 
 founded by 
 
 HARLAN HOYT HORNER 
 
 and 
 
 HENRIETTA CALHOUN HORNER 
 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://archive.org/details/kingcandonowrongOOreut 
 
The 
 
 KING 
 
 CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
The 
 KING 
 
 CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 By 
 
 WILLIAM L. REUTER, Ed.D. 
 
 Professor of Education 
 Kent State University 
 
 Pageant Press, Inc. 
 New York 
 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
 COPYRIGHT © 1958, BY WILLIAM L. REUTER 
 
 Published by Pageant Press, Inc. 
 101 Fifth Avenue, New York 3, New York 
 
 FIRST EDITION 
 
 Manufactured in the United States of America 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 5 
 
 DR*|Jfc 
 
 INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT . . . 
 
 IhE DRAMATIC STORY OF THE CAP- 
 
 ture of John Wilkes Booth, actor and Southern sympathizer, 
 who assassinated President Lincoln, is related here mainly in 
 the words of the principal figure in Booth's capture, Lt. 
 Colonel Everton J. Conger. The story is remarkable because 
 of an earlier incident during the war that was later related 
 to the pursuit and capture of Booth and Herold. The facts 
 presented in the story are enhanced by the vivid description 
 and style of the colonel in recalling the actual steps in the 
 capture of Booth. The story was recalled by Colonel Conger 
 fifty-one years afer the event (1916) . 
 
 A number of recent stories tend to arouse a doubt in the 
 mind of the reader as to whether Booth was actually captured 
 or another man killed in place of Booth. Colonel Conger 
 rarely related any of his war experiences and there is no 
 record of his writing the true story concerning the capture 
 of Booth. The colonel did describe the chain of events lead- 
 ing to the capture and death of Booth to a friend who visited 
 him in Dillon, Montana. The story was recorded by a stenog- 
 rapher who transcribed his notes immediately afterwards. 
 There is no record that this account was ever published 
 except for a number of typed copies used in some college 
 classes by the friend who interviewed Colonel Conger for 
 the story. 
 
6 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 The purpose of preparing this story for publication is to 
 preserve a valuable incident that affected American history 
 very much. It is written to dispel some doubts as to what 
 actually happened to the man who shot and fatally wounded 
 President Lincoln. This story should be published to make 
 it available to many people who are interested in American 
 history and the stories of our country. 
 
 The original narrator of the story was a well-educated 
 man. He was a lawyer and a judge, also an officer of merit 
 in the Civil War. Colonel Conger was somewhat modest and 
 reticent in disposition. His law background was an asset in 
 putting together an accurate and vivid account of events as 
 they happened at the time. 
 
 The narrative contains Colonel Conger's own words plus 
 additional descriptions concerning the times, events and 
 places mentioned by the narrator. No attempt has been 
 made to embellish any phase of the story. 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 AFTERMATH 
 
 1 HE NEWS OF GENERALS LEE'S SUR- 
 
 render to Lt.-General U. S. Grant, at Appomattox Court- 
 house, Virginia, reached Washington the following morning, 
 Monday, April 10, 1865. The Army of the Potomac had been 
 slowly encircling Lee and punishing him at every oppor- 
 tunity. The Capitol at Richmond had fallen and Petersburg 
 was hailed as a great Northern victory. The final blow had 
 been delivered and Lee had just surrendered the remnants of 
 a once proud and courageous army. 
 
 The populace in Washington had been anticipating the 
 end of hostilities and was ready to celebrate in a grand way. 
 The frenzied celebration continued for days and nights. 
 People paraded in the streets and joined in with thousands 
 of soldiers in voicing their feelings of victory. Places of enter- 
 tainment and saloons were doing a land-office business. The 
 bars seemed to have a sufficient quantity of whiskey to keep 
 the crowds in a happy and boisterous mood. 
 
 Though the vast majority of people in Washington were 
 jubilant over the success of the North in suppressing the 
 rebellion, a few were bitterly disappointed. The shouts of 
 the crowd, the boom of the cannons and the torch-light 
 parades added to their bitterness. These people, chief among 
 them John Wilkes Booth, directed their hatred at the man 
 responsible for bringing such a plight to the South — 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 Abraham Lincoln. The North would look upon its Presi- 
 dent as a savior and the victory as a personal triumph in his 
 career. Booth's own hatred of Lincoln was intensified by the 
 thought that now the North would shower its President with 
 greater honors and glories. His hatred was driving him 
 toward abnormal action; an opportunity to avenge the South 
 and show Lincoln in his true light — a persecutor. 
 
 John Wilkes Booth was the son of Junius Brutus Booth, 
 an English actor, who came to America in 1821. Junius 
 Booth was considered by many critics to be the greatest trage- 
 dian of his time. John's brother Edwin was a noted American 
 actor who was esteemed by American critics as one of the 
 great Shakespearean actors of his time. 
 
 John Booth followed in the steps of his father for several 
 years as an actor, but met with indifferent success and aban- 
 doned the stage in 1863. During the Civil War years he was a 
 violent secessionist, and toward its close organized a con- 
 spiracy for abducting the President and turning him over to 
 the Confederate government in Richmond. 
 
 With the fall of Richmond and Petersburg the abduction 
 plan had to be abandoned. The only solution remaining was 
 the death of his people's tyrant. Booth would have to re- 
 organize his conspirators and work out a quick plan of ac- 
 tion. The plot's intended victims should include others be- 
 side the President — Grant and some of the cabinet members 
 who were equally guilty in torturing the South. He, Booth, 
 would play the major role. Lincoln would fall by his hand. 
 Grant, Seward, Johnson and Stanton would be left to the 
 other members of his group. Booth planned with Lewis 
 Paine, David Herold, George Atzerodt, John Surratt and 
 Mrs. Mary Surratt the role they were to play in the tragedy. 
 
 An advertisement appeared in the Washington Evening 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 9 
 
 Star, April 14, 1865, stating that Lieutenant-General Grant, 
 President and Mrs. Lincoln had secured the State Box at 
 Ford's Theatre that night, to witness Miss Laura Keene in 
 Our American Cousin. Booth considered this advertisement 
 an act of Providence. A most perfect setting for an actor to 
 play his most significant role. He could move about with a 
 great deal of freedom and not arouse the suspicions of the 
 actors or employees of the theatre. During the afternoon of 
 April 14 Booth made a careful inspection of the theatre. The 
 State Box was about ten feet above the stage and it should 
 not be difficult for a person to jump from there to the stage 
 and make his exit through the wings to the stage door at the 
 rear of the theatre. The outer door leading into the passage- 
 way of the State Box could not be locked so Booth secured a 
 wooden bar nearly four feet long and placed it behind the 
 door to use later that evening to prop the door to prevent 
 entry from the outside. 
 
 President Lincoln had, from the time of his election in 
 1860 up to the time of his death, periodically received threat- 
 ening letters. These threats did not appear to trouble him, 
 although his friends were continually alarmed by his abso- 
 lute indifference to them. They implored him to be cau- 
 tious and not take any unnecessary risks. Lincoln listened 
 to them with calmness and respect but refused any official 
 protection in his jaunts around the city and country. 
 
 The newspaper announcement that the President and 
 General Grant would attend the theater that evening packed 
 Ford's Theatre from rafters to pit. General Grant decided to 
 leave Washington that afternoon for New York so he would 
 not be present for the play. President Lincoln was also dis- 
 inclined, but was hesitant to disappoint the large audience 
 that would be there to see him and Mrs. Lincoln. In his 
 
10 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 characteristically good-natured way he decided to attend the 
 performance. 
 
 As the time approached for journeying to the play the 
 President was loath to leave some friends who had called at 
 the White House to see him. Mrs. Lincoln came into the 
 room and reminded her husband, "We shall be late, it is 
 now nine o'clock." President Lincoln extended an invitation 
 to his friends to join them, and upon their refusal the Presi- 
 dent and Mrs. Lincoln left by carriage for the home of Sen- 
 ator Harris. They were joined there by two friends, Major 
 Rathburn and Miss Harris. 
 
 Upon the Lincoln party's arrival in the private box at 
 the theatre the entire audience gave the President a tremen- 
 dous ovation. The President appeared very happy at such un- 
 usual enthusiasm and acknowledged the outburst with his 
 usual show of warmth and sincere manner. 
 
 Booth entered the theater a few minutes after ten o'clock 
 and made his way toward the door that led to the private 
 box. A guard seated near the box entrance rose and blocked 
 Booth's passage. Booth showed the man a calling card and 
 said, "The President has sent for me." The guard allowed 
 Booth to enter the private box. He slipped the wooden bar 
 he had hidden in the passageway that afternoon between the 
 wall and the door, closing the entrance to the box from all 
 intruders. 
 
 This was the exact moment! With pistol in hand Booth 
 entered the President's box unobserved by the people in the 
 box. He held the single-shot derringer close to the President's 
 head and pulled the trigger. The bullet penetrated the Pres- 
 ident's brain. Lincoln was mortally wounded. He made no 
 outcry, his head sagging forward, smoke rising above him. 
 Major Rathburn tried to subdue Booth but was slashed by 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 1 1 
 
 a dagger that Booth pulled from his pocket. The murderer, 
 parting the flag that draped the front of the box, sprang over 
 the box-rail to the stage. One of his spurs caught in the flag 
 and threw him off balance. He landed in a heap upon the 
 stage, all his weight on his left foot. He got up, feeling great 
 pain in his leg, and shouted at the audience, "Sic semper 
 tyrannis." 
 
 Booth made his way through the wings to the stage door 
 and rushed outside to his horse. It was difficult to mount be- 
 cause of the pain in his injured leg. Struggling into the sad- 
 dle the assassin fled into the darkness and the night. 
 
 Back in the theatre the audience was in a tumult of ter- 
 ror and excitement. People screamed and men began to run 
 up the aisle toward the stage; some of them scrambled up on 
 it. Noise and confusion reigned. Miss Laura Keene, the ac- 
 tress, begged the audience to be calm. Her pleas went un- 
 heeded. An army doctor was hurried from the audience into 
 the President's box and he ordered most of the men to 
 leave so the wounded President could get air. The doctor 
 ordered the President moved from the theatre to a house 
 across the street. 
 
 The President remained unconscious through the night. 
 The doctors knew that this was a fatal wound. Mrs. Lincoln 
 and her son Robert waited in the room below. A little past 
 seven o'clock the next morning the President breathed his 
 last. Death had elevated him to the ages. 
 
 The other conspirators failed in their mission to bring 
 death to Lincoln's close friends and advisers. Only Lewis 
 Paine came near to succeeding. He gained entry into the 
 home of Secretary Seward and was able to force his way into 
 the sick man's room. The knife Paine wielded did not do 
 serious damage to Seward and before he could strike again 
 
12 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 some men drove him off and from the house. Paine was able 
 to make his escape from the soldiers who were running 
 toward the house. 
 
 Booth guided his horse toward the Navy Yard Bridge that 
 would open a route into Maryland and then Virginia. He ex- 
 pected to be received by gracious Southern gentlemen who 
 would protect him in his journey to Mexico and perhaps 
 Europe a little later. The sentry at the bridge checked 
 Booth's passage but did not detain him. Booth continued 
 into Maryland to keep a rendezvous with David Herold. 
 
 Booth met David Herold about an hour after crossing 
 the Navy Yard Bridge. They had to alter their plans due to 
 the intense pain Booth was suffering from his broken ankle. 
 He needed to visit a doctor before he could continue his 
 escape into Virginia. 
 
 They decided to seek the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd who 
 lived in this neighborhood. Booth had met Mudd before on 
 one of his inspection tours into Maryland when he was seek- 
 ing a route to use when the group had abducted President 
 Lincoln. Dr. Mudd was slightly inclined to assist in this first 
 plot but Booth could not be sure if the doctor would assist 
 him at this time. Booth had no choice — his leg made it im- 
 possible for him to keep his position in the saddle. 
 
 Doctor Mudd set the broken leg in splints and placed 
 Booth in bed in an upstairs bedroom. The following day 
 Booth and Herold departed from the doctor's home heading 
 south toward a spot that would afford them a chance to 
 cross the river. 
 
 For a long week Booth and Herold hid along the river 
 trying to find someone who could secure a boat for them to 
 cross into Virginia. Herold was able to secure food from a 
 few farmhouses that kept them alive during this period. 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 13 
 
 Booth suffered greatly lying on the damp ground day and 
 night. He cursed the flag that had caused him to break his 
 leg. His escape could have been complete by this time; he 
 could have been among friends of the Confederacy. 
 
 Herold located a farmer who aided them in their attempt 
 to cross the river. The first attempt was halted by a Union 
 gunboat on the river. They had to return to shore and wait 
 for another opportunity. The next night they were again 
 unsuccessful due to their inability to navigate a boat at night. 
 They became lost on the river and rowed aimlessly, arriving 
 again on the Maryland shore. Their third attempt to cross 
 into Virginia was successful. The escape route was open be- 
 fore them, they were on Virginia soil, the Potomac behind 
 them. Eight days had been consumed to reach this point, 
 about forty miles from Washington. 
 
 The nation, during this time, was wrapped in profound 
 grief. This event brought home to the people the realization 
 that they had lost a personal friend. Great hatred was ex- 
 pressed toward the man who had committed this dastardly 
 deed. 
 
 The following notice appeared in the country's news- 
 papers: 
 
14 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, APRIL 20, 1865 
 $100,000 Reward 
 
 THE MURDERER 
 
 of our late beloved President, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 
 
 IS STILL AT LARGE 
 
 $50,000 Reward 
 
 will be paid ... for his apprehension, 
 
 in addition to any reward offered by 
 
 Municipal Authorities or State Executives 
 
 $25,000 Reward 
 
 will be paid for the apprehension of 
 
 john h. surrat, one of Booth's accomplices. 
 
 $25,000 Reward 
 
 will be paid for the apprehension of 
 
 daniel c. harrold, another of Booth's accomplices. 
 
 All persons harboring or secreting the said person ... or 
 aiding or assisting their concealment or escape, will be 
 treated as accomplices . . . and shall be subject to trial before 
 a Military Commission and the punishment of Death. 
 
 Let the stain of innocent blood be removed from the 
 land by the arrest and punishment of the murderers .... 
 
 edwin m. stanton, Secretary of War 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 15 
 
 The funeral train left Washington on the twenty-first of 
 April, and the body of the martyred President was borne 
 westward to Illinois, from whence he had gone to serve his 
 country and his people. Bells tolled and solemn dirges filled 
 the air. 
 
 The train proceeded on through crowds of weeping hu- 
 manity to Philadelphia and New York where thousands 
 viewed the remains of their beloved President. The cities 
 were arrayed in mourning flags and bunting. From New 
 York, on the afternoon of the twenty-fourth, the funeral 
 train departed. The train was driven by the same engine that 
 had borne Abraham Lincoln, four years before, on his tri- 
 umphal journey to Washington. On to Albany, Buffalo, 
 Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis and Chicago — the home 
 of his adoption. 
 
 The casket containing the remains of Lincoln was re- 
 moved from the train in Chicago, and placed in state in the 
 City Hall. The public filed past the casket, paying its last 
 silent tribute to this illustrious son of Illinois. 
 
 On the morning of the third of May the funeral train 
 reached its destination — Springfield. The final tribute was 
 paid to Lincoln at the State House, where a steady stream of 
 friends passed the casket before the final closing of the coffin 
 lid. The body was returned to the earth in Oak Ridge Ceme- 
 tery near Springfield. The Great Man finally found his rest. 
 
 During the time the funeral train was moving westward, 
 receiving the respect of millions, two men were hiding out 
 along the cold and wet bank of the Potomac, suffering men- 
 tal and physical torture. The sand in the hour glass was run- 
 ning out — the conspirators had a rendezvous with death. 
 
16 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 THE PORT MARLBOROUGH INCIDENT . . 
 
 Ihe eventful pursuit and cap- 
 ture of John Wilkes Booth was brought about, at least in 
 part, by an incident that occurred nearly two years before 
 the President's assassination. The Army of Northern Virginia 
 was at peak strength in the spring of 1863. The spirit of the 
 Confederate troops was very high, the highest since the first 
 months of the war. Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville were 
 synonymous with Union disaster and gloom. "My God! My 
 God! when will this terrible slaughter cease," was the excla- 
 mation of Abraham Lincoln in 1863 when details of the 
 terrible slaughter of Hooker's troops were brought to him. 
 It is natural to conceive how, as one side was disappointed 
 and almost despairing, the other should be exhilarated be- 
 yond expression. 
 
 The North was calling for more troops and the city of 
 Washington was recruiting cavalry up to a full regiment. 
 This regiment was known as the First District of Columbia 
 Cavalry. Colonel Everton J. Conger was assigned the task of 
 organizing and training this new cavalry regiment. 
 
 The state of Maryland, surrounding Washington on three 
 sides, was considered a border state and split in her loyalty 
 to the Union. Many men had moved south to fight for the 
 Confederate cause. Many citizens remaining in Maryland 
 were secretly hostile in their attitude toward the present Re- 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 17 
 
 publican Administration. Many rumors and stories and even 
 letters were dispatched to the authorities in Washington 
 mentioning disloyal acts. 
 
 One story in particular was later to be related to the cap- 
 ture of John Wilkes Booth. The incident was reported from 
 Port Marlborough, a town on the Eastern shore, about thirty 
 miles east of Washington. The reports were that they had 
 confined in their jail a man who claimed to be a soldier of 
 one of the Union regiments. These reports were sent to the 
 office of Mr. Stanton, the Secretary of War. 
 
 The War Department corresponded with the local au- 
 thorities in Port Marlborough concerning this rumor but 
 they always denied these reports and rumors. The reports 
 kept coming to the Secretary's office so he decided to inves- 
 tigate the matter. 
 
 Secretary Stanton sent for Colonel Conger to report to 
 his office to receive an assignment on this case. Conger re- 
 ported immediately to the Secretary. 
 
 "Are you Colonel Conger?" Stanton asked. 
 
 "Yes, sir, I am reporting to you as requested." 
 
 "Read these letters and papers and then report back to 
 me later today." 
 
 Colonel Conger returned in a few hours to discuss the 
 case with Mr. Stanton. 
 
 "Did you read the reports concerning the holding of a 
 Union soldier in their jail down in Port Marlborough?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, and I believe that the matter should be inves- 
 tigated immediately." 
 
 "The authorities claim that there is absolutely no basis 
 to the reports. We have had considerable correspondence 
 about the matter and they always deny the charge." 
 
I O • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 "It seems necessary, due to the continued rumors and let- 
 ters, to decide once and for all about the truth of this mat- 
 ter, Mr. Secretary." 
 
 "Do you have any suggestions, Colonel Conger?" 
 
 "If you would issue an order from your department to go 
 down to Port Marlborough and investigate the matter I 
 would be willing to comply." 
 
 "Well, return to your regiment and prepare for an order 
 to move out immediately. You know where the town is 
 located?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, it is on the Eastern shore." 
 
 "Do a thorough job while you are there, Colonel." 
 
 Colonel Conger returned to his headquarters and had a 
 conference with his officers concerning the assignment that 
 was to be received shortly from the War Department. 
 
 "Since we are training these men for combat by hard 
 work and drill we should take as many men as possible on 
 this assignment. I believe a full battalion should be prepared 
 for the field." 
 
 The troop moved out from Washington with full field 
 equipment and reached Port Marlborough late in the after- 
 noon. The soldiers were enjoying every minute of their jour- 
 ney — this was far better than routine drill and barracks work. 
 
 The town of Port Marlborough was a beautiful village, 
 much larger than Conger had anticipated. There was a pub- 
 lic square with a courthouse in the middle, like all Southern 
 Maryland county courthouses. The jail was right beside the 
 courthouse. The citizens came out along the sidewalks to 
 watch the troops ride by. The cavalrymen sat erect in their 
 saddles, looking every inch veterans. 
 
 "Battalion, halt. Company officers direct your men to 
 pitch camp and raise the flag here on the public square." 
 
 The soldiers were anxious to show the onlookers how real 
 
TI IF. KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 19 
 
 veterans worked and in a short time the camp was completed. 
 The question of why they were there was raised by many peo- 
 ple — some could reason why. Colonel Conger met and talked 
 with some of the citizens and explained the purpose of their 
 visit to Port Marlborough. 
 
 Conger inquired about the jail and a number of citizens 
 led him to it. The jail was securely locked and there was 
 no one inside. 
 
 "Who has the keys to the jail?" 
 
 "The sheriff has the only keys to open the jail," a citizen 
 answered. 
 
 "Where is the sheriff? Is he in the crowd?" 
 
 "The sheriff is off somewhere, probably fishing," a man 
 said. 
 
 The crowd that had assembled before the jail knew by 
 this time what the Union troops had come for and they 
 wanted to see how they would handle the matter. They were 
 content to stand by and not cooperate with Conger in his 
 attempt to search the jail. 
 
 The colonel dispatched several men to go out and find 
 the sheriff and bring him to the jail. They failed to return 
 with the sheriff, stating that they could not locate him. 
 
 "Men, I am here at the order of the Secretary of War 
 and I intend to carry out his orders to the letter." 
 
 "Why did you bring all of these soldiers here for such a 
 small matter of searching our jail?" a spokesman in the 
 crowd inquired. 
 
 "There should be no cause for alarm at the number of 
 soldiers because they were brought here for exercise rather 
 than to make a show." 
 
 "What are you searching for in our jail, Colonel?" the 
 same man inquired. 
 
 "Many reports and letters have come to the attention of 
 
20 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 Secretary Stanton reporting a Union soldier held in your 
 jail without due cause. It is my intention to find out if these 
 reports are true. If the jail is not unlocked by your sheriff. I 
 will use force to do so if the circumstances demand it." 
 
 The group before the jail discussed the situation and 
 decided that this was the business of the sheriff. The array of 
 Federal troops around them spurred them to action. The 
 sheriff was sent for and this time the messengers were success- 
 ful in locating him. 
 
 "What is your business with me, Colonel?" the sheriff 
 inquired. 
 
 "To search your jail for a prisoner that is supposed to be 
 held there without cause." 
 
 "I am invested with the sole power of running this county 
 jail and if I do not want people to go into the jail they do 
 not go in." 
 
 The crowd before the jail was increasing in number but 
 there was no occasion for excitement. The people were con- 
 tent to have the matter settled by their sheriff. 
 
 "Will you be willing to conduct the search yourself, Mr. 
 Sheriff?" 
 
 "No one is going to make me open that jail for any pur- 
 pose." 
 
 "You are interfering with the compliance of my orders 
 from Secretary Stanton and your objections will not be 
 honored." 
 
 "It is my sovereign right to hold the jail and I will not 
 give up the keys," stated the sheriff. 
 
 "Is that your final decision on the subject, Mr. Sheriff." 
 
 "It is, Colonel." 
 
 An officer was summoned by Colonel Conger to report to 
 him for orders. 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 21 
 
 "Select a detail from your company, get a sledge or two, 
 an iron crow bar and a couple of iron wedges, and bring them 
 to the jail door." 
 
 The officer sent out a sergeant and some of his men who 
 secured the named articles and deposited them in front of 
 the jail door. 
 
 The jail was sturdily constructed with very heavy oak 
 doors with heavy iron gratings — double doors. These doors 
 opened outward which would make a forced entry very 
 difficult. The doors were securely locked with heavy iron 
 locks. 
 
 "Place your bars under the hinges and break them off 
 and the doors will open," stated Colonel Conger. 
 
 "You will not have to break my jail to pieces or tear it 
 down in order to look inside. Call your soldiers off and you 
 may have the keys." 
 
 The sheriff took out his keys, and instead of surrendering 
 them to the colonel, tossed them on the ground. Conger was 
 undecided at first whether he should have the sheriff retrieve 
 the keys and hand them to him or have one of his men pick 
 them up for him. 
 
 "Sergeant, pick up the keys and open the jail doors so 
 that we may search the building." 
 
 "Yes, sir, Colonel." 
 
 Inside the entrance was a big open corridor; beyond this 
 was a big room. Part of this spacious room was used solely for 
 the confinement of Negroes. A number of fireplaces were in 
 this room — old-fashioned fireplaces, built in the walls. 
 
 In the entrance corridor was a stairway leading upstairs. 
 On the second floor there were some rooms and a hallway. 
 A special room was set aside for keeping women prisoners. 
 
 "Lieutenant, take a detail and conduct a thorough search 
 
22 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 of the building." 
 
 Colonel Conger, being the ranking officer in command, 
 did not take part in the actual search of the jail. 
 
 "Sir, we have searched the entire building and have not 
 found anything." 
 
 "Are you sure, Lieutenant, that you examined every 
 room and corridor as closely as you might? Perhaps you 
 should try again." 
 
 "I am positive that our prisoner is not in this building, 
 Colonel." 
 
 Colonel Conger accompanied the soldiers into the build- 
 ing and directed the search in person. The jail contained a 
 large number of Negroes — men and women, and quite a 
 number of children. One old colored woman stood looking 
 through the bars and motioned to Colonel Conger. The 
 colonel went over to her and engaged her in conversation. 
 
 "You don't find him yet?" she asked. 
 
 "No, Mammy, I don't find him." 
 
 "Well, you find him. He's here all right." 
 
 "We'll find him if he's here." 
 
 She repeated, "You done find him!" 
 
 The searching party returned from their second search 
 and reported that they could not find the Union soldier who 
 was supposed to be imprisoned there. If a prisoner had es- 
 caped their detection he was well hidden some place. 
 
 Colonel Conger returned to the old colored lady and 
 asked her if she was certain the prisoner was there. 
 
 "You go clear to the top. He's here all right, Colonel." 
 
 "All right, I will search for him myself." 
 
 Conger went up to the second floor and looked around. 
 He did not check the rooms because he was satisfied that his 
 searching party had checked them thoroughly. From his con- 
 versation with the colored woman, Conger was led to believe 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 23 
 
 there must be a loft between the second floor ceiling and the 
 roof. A closer search of the corridor revealed a ladder and a 
 trapdoor above the ladder between the joists. Colonel Conger 
 ascended the ladder and pushed open the trapdoor leading 
 into a low, dark loft. In the garret he found the man they 
 had come to look for. 
 
 Colonel Conger, in the years following the war, rarely 
 talked about this situation. He never intended to publish an 
 account of this mission to Port Marlborough and the condi- 
 tion of the prisoner they found in the loft. The prisoner was 
 securely fastened to the floor in such a way that he could not 
 stand on his feet. The astounding thing the colonel noted was 
 the method used in securing the man. There were two clamps 
 of iron that were made with a hinge and clasped with a pad- 
 lock. These clamps were fastened around his neck. They were 
 an inch and a half thick and had prongs projecting from 
 them which prevented him from laying his head on the floor. 
 The man, when found by Conger, was lying there moaning 
 and gasping. 
 
 "The dirty cowards. Treating a human being worse than 
 a ferocious animal." 
 
 With the help of the surgeon who was with the company, 
 the neck irons were removed and the prisoner lowered to the 
 second floor. A detail of soldiers carried him outside and 
 removed the remaining shackles from the prisoner. The sur- 
 geon made a stretcher of sticks and a blanket and had two 
 soldiers carry the man to camp. The detail of soldiers did not 
 enter the jail again but formed guard lines in front of the 
 jail to prevent others from entering. 
 
 "Who is responsible for this dastardly deed?" Conger de- 
 manded loudly. "The responsible person or persons should 
 be severely punished." 
 
 There was no response from any member of the crowd 
 
24 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 outside the jail. The colonel was so infuriated at the mob 
 that he would have burned them out of their town if they 
 had antagonized him any further. 
 
 "Lieutenant, have your company disperse this mob and 
 then march them back to camp." 
 
 The prisoner was later returned to Washington and 
 Colonel Conger was never informed of the aftermath, if any, 
 of his mission. Later information revealed that the Union 
 soldier had been arrested in that area for horse stealing. 
 
 This military mission to Port Marlborough ultimately 
 led to Colonel Conger's connecting one of the Negroes held 
 in the jail with the final apprehension of Booth. 
 
 Conger returned to the jail to interrogate the Negroes 
 imprisoned there. 
 
 "Why are you people held here in jail?" 
 
 A Negro man answered, "To keep us from going away." 
 
 "Don't you know the President has freed all slaves? No 
 person may be held against his will." 
 
 "Yas, suh, reckon we heerd, but the men say they goin' 
 to keep us here." 
 
 Colonel Conger had the barred doors unlocked and the 
 Negroes brought out. 
 
 "You are all free and may go when and where you want 
 to." 
 
 Preparations were made to break camp and return to 
 Washington because their mission had been accomplished. 
 The released prisoner was placed in an ambulance under 
 the care of the surgeon. Before the troops could move out 
 they were delayed by a group of Negroes coming to the camp 
 to see Colonel Conger. 
 
 "Why are you coming back to town? You have been re- 
 leased and are free to go on your way." 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 25 
 
 "We done went, Colonel, but a group of men down there 
 wouldn't let us go." 
 
 "What men? Where are they?" 
 
 "Down the road a spell, that's where." 
 
 "What did they tell you? Why did they prevent you from 
 going on your way?" 
 
 "They don't say nuthin. They done catched us and won't 
 let us go." 
 
 "How did you fellows get here?" 
 
 "We see'd the others cot. We run back here to see you. 
 We done see'd them. They down there." 
 
 One of the second lieutenants in the troop was a daring 
 and eager officer so Colonel Conger selected him to accom- 
 pany him on a ride down the road to investigate this new 
 matter. The horses were all saddled preparatory to starting 
 back to Washington so the two officers left immediately to 
 overtake the group of men down the pike. After riding two 
 or three miles they encountered the men who were holding 
 the group of freed Negroes. There were four men in the 
 group, older men, and one had been a slave driver or over- 
 seer. They were armed with shotguns and rifles which were 
 used to hold the Negroes captive. The Negroes had been cor- 
 ralled inside a fence at the entrance of a large estate. The 
 plantation home always sets back from the road a distance, 
 unlike Northern homes which are built close to a road. The 
 group by the fence did not observe the two officers until 
 they came up to their group. 
 
 "What are you gentlemen doing?" 
 
 A spokesman answered, "We are fox hunting." 
 
 "Only fox hunting?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 Conger selected one of the men to act as spokesman for 
 
26 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 the group. The man selected appeared to be a wealthy land- 
 owner. He was well advanced in years and seemed capable of 
 explaining the real reason for this group meeting. 
 
 "You people stack your guns right up in the corner by 
 the gate." 
 
 "If we do not comply, sir, what course will you follow?" 
 
 "It will then be necessary to use force and you would 
 be guilty of interfering with United States troops in the per- 
 formance of their duty. A serious offense, sir." 
 
 "May we have a brief conference to discuss our points 
 that we think enter into the situation?" 
 
 "Take a few minutes if you like." 
 
 After a few minutes of talking the spokesman walked 
 over to the gatepost and leaned his gun against the fence 
 railing. "It is best to submit to the strong will strongly 
 armed." 
 
 The other three men stood in a group and made no 
 effort to comply with Colonel Conger's order. They had 
 arrived at their own decision and the next move was up to 
 the colonel. 
 
 "Put your guns up against that fence." 
 
 "This gun is my own property and I cannot see any 
 necessity for parting with it — orders or not." 
 
 "Well, look here and listen. You can take your guns and 
 go home peaceably if you will. If not, I will take you back 
 to Washington and God only knows when you will get back. 
 You know, or ought to know, that the Emancipation Proc- 
 lamation has been issued and you have no more right to hold 
 these people than you have to hold me." 
 
 The four men decided that they would comply with the 
 colonel's order and let the Negroes move off on their own. 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 27 
 
 Some people believed that the Negroes could not get along 
 when thrust out, free, into a new and strange world. 
 
 The Battalion of the First District of Columbia Cavalry 
 proceeded from Port Marlborough to their camp in Washing- 
 ton without further incident. Colonel Conger would have 
 reason to remember the Port Marlborough expedition be- 
 cause it helped to furnish the clue to Booth's whereabouts 
 two years later. 
 
28 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 PURSUIT . . 
 
 Jt> ooth and herold were still at 
 liberty a week after the death of the President. Many rumors 
 and letters concerning the whereabouts of the fugitives 
 poured into the headquarters of the Department of Wash- 
 ington, but these were found to be false. 
 
 Colonel Conger at this time was recuperating in Wash- 
 ington from a leg injury sustained in combat. He was as- 
 signed to the Command of General C. C. Augur, of the 
 War Department. 
 
 When Colonel Conger reported to his office on Monday 
 morning, April 24, 1865, the Chief Clerk informed him that 
 an old Negro wished to speak to him. 
 
 "Why does he wish to speak to me?" 
 
 "He did not say, sir. He was brought here from Port 
 Tobacco." 
 
 "Isn't Port Tobacco near Dr. Mudd's home? The last 
 place Booth had been seen?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Where is this man now?" 
 
 "He is back in another office, sir." 
 
 "Very well, I will interview him now." 
 
 Colonel Conger went to the old man and said, "Uncle, 
 where did you come from?" 
 
 "Po't Tobacco, suh." 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 29 
 
 "Who brought you up here?" 
 
 "Don' know, suh." 
 
 "When did you come?" 
 
 "Yest'day, befo' evenin', suh." 
 
 "Do you know why they brought you up here?" 
 
 "No, suh, don' know; don' know who got me nor what 
 fo\ In de fust place some men took me; den some sojers came 
 and den dey got me up heah." ' 
 
 Soldiers had been searching the whole area along the 
 Potomac seeking information pertaining to Booth's possible 
 route of escape. 
 
 "Well, where have you been?" 
 
 "Well, suh, I done been in Washington till de close of 
 de wah." 
 
 "Where did you come from before that?" 
 
 "Marlboro, suh. Ah done come up fum dere den." 
 
 "Where have you been since the close of the war?" 
 
 "People say de war ober, so ah go back down to Marl- 
 boro." 
 
 Colonel Conger detailed his previous experience in Port 
 Marlborough, in the summer of 1863, to the old man. The 
 Negro man was very attentive and smiled and said, "Yes, suh, 
 you am de man. You done set us free from the jail house 
 dere. You catched dem men down de road who kept us be- 
 hind de fence." 
 
 "Yes, I am the man who released you and your friends 
 from the jail and later from some other men who refused 
 you your freedom. This is a time of great trouble and we 
 will need all the help we can get to straighten things out. If 
 you have any information that may help us in capturing these 
 assassins please tell us now." 
 
 "Yas, suh, I tell." 
 
30 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 "Thank you, we will appreciate it." 
 
 "Well," he said, "when ah come fum dere mah ol' woman 
 and I had hid some things undah a log in de bayou. When de 
 war over we go back there to look for de things we hid. We 
 walking along de bank of de bayou when we heerd voices. 
 Peeping through de bushes we see two men in a boat." 
 
 Colonel Conger had several pictures of Booth and he held 
 them up for the old Negro to see. Negroes were superstitious 
 and would not hold a photograph in their hands. 
 
 "Did any of the men look like this fellow?" 
 
 After looking at the photographs, the old Negro said, 
 "Yas, dat's de man ah saw dere." 
 
 He said he had seen the men in the boat in the evening 
 but did not see anyone the next morning. 
 
 "When did you meet the other men who asked you what 
 you had seen?" 
 
 "De nex' mornin, suh. Dey ask me had we seen any men 
 along de river or in a boat." 
 
 "What did these men do to you?" 
 
 "While we talking, two sojers riding horses came along 
 and talk to de men. One man say to sojers, 'This darky has 
 seen Booth.' " 
 
 The two cavalrymen were part of a large force that was 
 scouring the countryside in search of the fugitives. They were 
 anxious for the reward and they pushed the two men aside 
 and took the Negroes along with them. 
 
 One of the soldiers demanded to know where they had 
 seen the fugitives and the direction in which they were trav- 
 elling. The old Negroes would not tell them, and remained 
 silent to further questions. 
 
 One of the soldiers said, "We have lariats on our saddles 
 and will use them to string you from a big tree limb if you 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG •SI 
 
 continue to refuse answering our questions." 
 
 The threats of the two soldiers did not work on the 
 Negroes. The cavalrymen turned them over to a member of 
 the Army detective staff who brought them to Colonel Con- 
 ger's headquarters in Washington. 
 
 The commanding officer of the Sixteenth New York Cav- 
 alry was requested by the Military Department of Washing- 
 ton to detail twenty-five men, well mounted, with three days' 
 rations and forage, to report at once to Colonel Everton J. 
 Conger. 
 
 The detail left Washington by boat on April 24th and 
 arrived at Acquia Creek that night. The remainder of the 
 night was spent in combing the Virginia shore of the Poto- 
 mac for any evidence of the fugitives. The local farmers were 
 very reluctant to give assistance or information to the 
 soldiers. 
 
 The troop continued toward the Rappahannock River 
 and arrived at Port Conway on the morning of April 25th. 
 Booth had crossed here, by ferry, the day before. 
 
 The authorities had not sent men down the Potomac 
 River to look for Booth because the river was full of gun- 
 boats from the Navy, with ropes stretched between them and 
 with searchlights on the boats. They believed it to be an im- 
 possibility for a boat to cross the river undetected. 
 
 In Booth's diary he says, "We tried one night and could 
 not go. We tried another night and there was a storm and 
 we could not make it." The next attempt was unsuccessful 
 but the following night, April 23rd, in the dark and storm 
 they got through between the gunboats. 
 
 At nine o'clock the cavalry detail was halted on the bank 
 of the Rappahannock River, thirty miles below Fredericks- 
 burg. 
 
32 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 "Lieutenants, station guards on all roads southward while 
 the remainder of the troop is ferried across the river," Con- 
 ger ordered. "We do not want a warning of our presence 
 given to the fugitives." 
 
 The Rappahannock is navigable clear up to Fredericks- 
 burg and at Port Conway there was a ferry for crossing the 
 river. A small town was opposite the troop, on the south side 
 of the river (Port Royal) . It took until late in the afternoon 
 to get the twenty-five men with their horses ferried across. 
 The ferry carried five horses at a time, but some trips it could 
 carry only four horses and a wagon. 
 
 The ferryman informed Colonel Conger that two men 
 answering the description of Booth and Herold had crossed 
 the river with three Confederate soldiers the day before. This 
 was the first real scent that they had found. 
 
 It was near evening when the troop left the ferry and by 
 sundown had passed Garrett's farm, nine or ten miles south- 
 ward on the road to Richmond. The troop continued along 
 the Richmond road eighteen or twenty miles, looking for 
 signs of Booth and his friends. 
 
 The cavalrymen had been in the saddle all night and all 
 day and were in need of rest and sleep. Why should their 
 commanding officer drive them so hard? Booth could not 
 escape them now. Lieutenant Dougherty heard their grum- 
 bling and decided to consult with Colonel Conger concern- 
 ing preparations for a halt and possibly making camp for 
 the night. 
 
 "Do you plan to halt the troop for the night, sir?" 
 
 "Any delay now, Lieutenant, may cost us our prize." 
 
 "The men and horses are worn out, sir." 
 
 "There will be time enough to rest when we capture our 
 fugitives. They have encountered friends who will assist 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 33 
 
 them in many ways. Tomorrow morning may find them on 
 fresh horses and able to outride us." 
 
 "The men are grumbling, Colonel, and may cause trou- 
 ble if we do not stop for a brief rest." 
 
 "That is your affair, Lieutenant, you are in charge of the 
 behavior of the troop." 
 
 Colonel Conger was determined not to show signs of fa- 
 tigue himself though his hip injury was paining him con- 
 tinually. 
 
 As the troop approached the Garrett farm they were 
 seen by some Negro children who ran back to the Garrett 
 house and informed them that the Yankees were coming. 
 Booth and Herold were at the Garrett house at the time and 
 they dashed from the house to the woods nearby until the 
 troops had gone on. 
 
 Booth and Herold had crossed the Rappahannock a day 
 ahead of their pursuers. They had hired a man with a horse 
 and wagon to drive them to Bowling Green. While waiting 
 for the ferryman to bring the ferry to their side of the river 
 Booth heard horses approaching along the road. Three Con- 
 federate soldiers appeared at the ferry and demanded to be 
 ferried across the river. They were Lieutenant Ruggies, Pri- 
 vate Bainsborough and Private Jett, formerly of Mosby's com- 
 mand. They had been paroled at Leesburg on the upper Po- 
 tomac and came through Alexandria, Fredericksburg and ar- 
 rived at the ferry where Booth and Herold were waiting. 
 Ruggies and Bainsborough lived in Bowling Green and Jett 
 had a girl friend living there. 
 
 The soldiers said they would shoot holes through the 
 ferry and the ferryman too if he did not come for them right 
 away. An old Negro jumped on the ferry and began to push 
 it to their side of the river. 
 
34 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 The soldiers ascertained the identity of Booth and Her- 
 old and decided to help them in their escape. They said 
 many people would help them along their escape route 
 through the South. The horse and wagon were abandoned 
 and Booth and Herold crossed the river with the soldiers. 
 They tried for a distance to take Booth and Herold along on 
 the horses they were riding but it was too conspicuous for 
 five men to be riding three horses. In addition, Booth's leg 
 was causing him severe pain and it was decided to find a 
 farmhouse that would take him in. 
 
 Jett knew of a farm nearby that was a short distance from 
 the road and where the people would be friendly. Jett's 
 father and old man Garrett were old settlers in the country. 
 When the group arrived at the lane leading to the Garrett 
 farm Jett halted the group and told them that he would go 
 in and arrange matters for Booth and Herold. Jett told Mr. 
 Garrett that Booth was his cousin who had been wounded 
 and could not travel any further. The Garretts were willing 
 to help and provide lodging for the two men until Jett could 
 come back for them. The Garretts were not told that they 
 were accepting into their home the man who had killed Pres- 
 ident Lincoln. The three soldiers proceeded down the Rich- 
 mond road to Bowling Green. 
 
 When the group of cavalrymen reached the ferry that had 
 been used by Booth the day before, they met the man who 
 had driven Booth and Herold from the Potomac to this ferry. 
 While the group was waiting to be taken across the river 
 Colonel Conger engaged the man in conversation. 
 
 ' 'Where did you meet these men that you hauled here 
 yesterday?" 
 
 "Back near the Potomac River, sir." 
 
 "Did you know who these men were?" 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 35 
 
 "No, sir, I did not." 
 
 "They were the men who assassinated President Lincoln 
 in Washington." 
 
 "If I had known that I would not have bargained with 
 them." 
 
 "What bargain did you make with these men?" 
 
 "The man with the injured leg paid me ten dollars to 
 drive them to Bowling Green." 
 
 "Why did they leave you here at the ferry?" 
 
 "They met three Confederate soldiers here while waiting 
 to be ferried across the river. These soldiers talked to them 
 for a long time and they appeared to be friendly." 
 
 "Did they talk about their journey?" 
 
 "They told me that these soldiers lived in Bowling Green 
 and that one of them had a girl there he was going to see." 
 
 "How could the man with the injured leg travel with 
 them?" 
 
 "He rode on a horse with one of the riders but he sure 
 was suffering pain in that leg." 
 
 When the entire squad of cavalrymen were across the 
 river they proceeded at once, at a jog, southward along the 
 Richmond road toward Bowling Green. The soldiers with 
 Booth could not proceed at a fast pace and perhaps would 
 be forced to rest often. 
 
 The cavalrymen kept close watch for Booth and his com- 
 panions along the way. Booth had been warned of their com- 
 ing and had taken to the woods. He returned to the Garrett 
 house after dusk and tried to secure a horse and wagon in 
 order to leave immediately. The Garrett boys were reluctant 
 to give him their horse but said they would drive them to 
 Bowling Green the next day. 
 
 The troop of cavalrymen continued riding toward Bowl- 
 
36 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 ing Green and just as it was getting dusk, they noticed rising 
 dust in the distance. 
 
 "Lieutenant Baker, there is somebody on the road ahead. 
 I can smell the dust." 
 
 "I believe you are right, sir." 
 
 "I can also see what appears to be fresh horse tracks. Keep 
 the troop moving at this same pace and I will go to that turn 
 and see." 
 
 It was getting dusk when Colonel Conger turned his horse 
 off the main road to follow the horse tracks. After travelling 
 a half mile or so the colonel noticed that the tracks left the 
 road. There was a large house near this point and Colonel 
 Conger decided to question the occupants concerning the 
 fugitives. Inside he found a number of girls who were eager 
 to see any strangers, especially if those strangers had money. 
 The place was some kind of an inn or tavern because there 
 was a bar at one end of the room. 
 
 "Did any of you see some men ride by here yesterday or 
 today?" 
 
 The girls were reluctant to talk at first but one answered 
 that she saw some men go by yesterday. 
 
 "Were they all riding horses?" 
 
 "One was riding with one of the others," one girl said 
 sullenly. 
 
 "Did you notice if one man had crutches or appeared to 
 be injured?" 
 
 The girls hesitated to answer again and then one girl de- 
 cided to act as spokesman and said, "One man was carrying 
 crutches." 
 
 Another girl stated that she did not see a man with 
 crutches. 
 
 The spokesman said, "Well, several of them came back 
 along the road today." 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 37 
 
 "Were they some of the men that you saw riding south 
 yesterday?" 
 
 "They were the same." 
 
 The colonel could not secure any additional information 
 from the girls and decided to push south to Bowling Green. 
 If the Confederate soldiers lived there they would surely stop 
 for the night at their homes. The cavalrymen outside were 
 grumbling again and wanted to stay at this place for the 
 night. It was a dejected troop that jogged along the road to 
 Bowling Green. 
 
 It was near the Garrett farm that Colonel Conger saw the 
 rising dust and he was close on the track of Booth and Herold 
 but he did not know it at the time. The dust was raised by 
 Ruggles and Bainsborough returning to the Garrett farm to 
 warn Booth that Federal cavalry were on the road. The 
 cavalrymen might search all homes and the woods would 
 offer safe hiding until they passed. 
 
 The cavalrymen entered Bowling Green at about mid- 
 night. The small village was asleep as the troop rode along 
 the main street toward the center of town. The sound of 
 the riders was the only noise heard in the still night air. 
 Colonel Conger halted his troop before the town's small 
 hotel where Jett was supposed to be visiting his lady-love. 
 The mother of Jett's girl was the owner of the hotel. 
 
 The cavalrymen dismounted and were posted around the 
 hotel so no one could escape. A trooper found a Negro boy 
 behind the building and brought him to Colonel Conger. 
 The boy led them to a small shanty at the rear of the hotel 
 where an old Negress was scolding the troopers for arousing 
 her from her sleep. 
 
 "We are looking for some men and we believe they are 
 stopping in this house. One man has a broken leg." 
 
OO • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 "Dey's some men here, but I ain't seed one with a broken 
 leg." 
 
 "Is there a man by the name of Jett staying in this 
 house?" 
 
 "Yas, suh, he's here. He come to see his girl friend." 
 
 "Do you know where his room is?" 
 
 "Yas, suh, upstairs, first door to the right." 
 
 Colonel Conger was met at the front door by the young 
 girl's mother. She was holding a candle and asked the reason 
 for this disturbance during the middle of the night. 
 
 "We are looking for some men, one with a broken leg, 
 and we believe he is in your house." 
 
 "There is only one man here and he is staying with my 
 son." 
 
 "Is this man's name Jett?" 
 
 "Yes, he is the man staying with my son. He's my daugh- 
 ter's friend." 
 
 "Show me to his room." 
 
 "Wait here until I get another candle." 
 
 "I will take this candle and you wait here until I return." 
 
 The house was dark and still. Conger moved slowly up 
 the stairs, pistol in hand. The door to the room on the right 
 was not locked and Colonel Conger pushed it open and ad- 
 vanced into the room. 
 
 He observed two young men in bed. One man raised up 
 and sat on the side of the bed. 
 
 "Is your name Jett?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Get up and dress. I want you." 
 
 Jett got out of bed and was putting on his clothes when 
 Lieutenant Baker, the officer with Conger on the case, and 
 Lieutenant Dougherty, in command of the troops, came up 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 39 
 
 the stairs and into the room. 
 
 While Conger waited for Jett to finish dressing he asked 
 the girl's mother, who was waiting out in the hall, if they 
 could use another room for interviewing Jett. 
 
 "You may use any room up here, Colonel/' 
 
 Conger said to his two lieutenants, "Take him into the 
 next room and do not allow him to escape." 
 
 Jett asked, "Which is the commanding officer here? I 
 want to talk to him." 
 
 "I am Colonel Conger, in command of this expedition." 
 
 "Can I see you alone?" 
 
 "You may talk in front of my officers." 
 
 After a brief hesitation, Jett said, "I know what you 
 want." 
 
 "What do we want?" 
 
 "You want to find Booth." 
 
 "We know who you are, and your connections with the 
 man we are seeking." 
 
 "If you promise me that I shall not be harmed I will tell 
 you where they are." 
 
 "I can't promise you, but if you will tell me where he is 
 I will see that you get the benefit of all I can do for you when 
 you need it." 
 
 "He is within six or seven miles of the Rappahannock." 
 
 Conger exclaimed, "Why, I have just come past there." 
 
 "I supposed you came up from Richmond." 
 
 "We are from Washington, out seeking John Wilkes 
 Booth. You come and show me where you left him. If he's 
 there and I don't get him, that will be my fault. If he's not 
 there, it is your fault." 
 
 The group in the room went outside and preparations 
 were made to return back along the road to the Garrett farm. 
 
40 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 Jett's horse was brought around from the stable by one of 
 the troopers. 
 
 "Get your troop mounted and ready to ride, Lieutenant 
 Dougherty." 
 
 Many of the soldiers had fallen asleep on the porch or on 
 the ground. Colonel Conger had the bugler call "Boots and 
 Saddles" to awaken those who were around the side of the 
 building. 
 
 The troop moved out into the main street and began the 
 journey northward. The commotion at the hotel and the 
 call of the bugler brought the townspeople from their homes. 
 They stared at the troopers as they rode by, wondering what 
 could be happening in their small town. 
 
 At the edge of town the troop broke into a gallop and 
 went flying along the road. The end of this weird assignment 
 was in sight. A few grains of sand remained in the hourglass. 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 41 
 
 CAPTURE . . . 
 
 1 HE CAVALRY TROOP RODE BACK THE 
 
 twenty miles to the Garrett farm and arrived there before 
 daylight. The soldiers sensed the end of this grueling search. 
 
 They were halted at the entrance to the Garrett farm. A 
 country lane led from the road to the house. The gate leading 
 into the lane was opened by a trooper and the cavalrymen 
 rode slowly down the lane toward a low fence. 
 
 ''Lieutenant Dougherty, keep your men in the saddle and 
 wait here until I return," the colonel directed. "Lieutenant 
 Baker, accompany me to the house." 
 
 Colonel Conger spurred his horse a little and he jumped 
 over the low fence. They rode right up to the front of the 
 house and found it dark and still. Up against one side of the 
 house was a small "lean-to," its door open. They returned to 
 the troop to plan their line of action. 
 
 "Lieutenant Dougherty, have your troop follow me to the 
 house and then spread them around the house so that no one 
 can escape to the woods in the rear." 
 
 The horses walked slowly and the men tried to make as 
 little noise as possible in order to surprise the occupants 
 while they were still asleep. In a few minutes the farm house 
 was completely surrounded by cavalrymen. 
 
 Colonel Conger walked through the open door of the 
 "lean-to" and knocked on the kitchen door. A girl came to 
 
42 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 the door and asked what he wanted. 
 
 "I want to see the man of the house." 
 
 The girl returned to the doorway holding a candle and 
 there was an old man with her. He was Mr. Garrett, tall, 
 gray-haired and quite old. 
 
 "Where are those men who are stopping with you now?" 
 
 "Sir, they are not stopping with me. Sir, they never 
 stopped with me and my son. I want you to know we never 
 harbor people like that. They are gone." 
 
 "Where did they go?" 
 
 "They went into the woods today." 
 
 Old man Garrett remained silent to further questioning. 
 Colonel Conger tried to show him the seriousness of his act 
 in protecting the murderer of President Lincoln, an act pun- 
 ishable by hanging. 
 
 Finally the girl said, "Don't hurt the old man." 
 
 "No, but I want to know where these men are." 
 
 A young man in Confederate gray was led into the 
 kitchen by two troopers. They had found him sleeping in a 
 corn crib near the house. 
 
 "Who are you, my son?" 
 
 "I am Bill Garrett, and you are holding my father. Do 
 not hurt the old man, sir." 
 
 "Do you know where the two men are who were staying 
 here?" 
 
 "I will show you where they are." 
 
 Young Garrett pointed to the barn, a little distance from 
 the house, and said, "They're in the barn." 
 
 "Bring me a candle, young man." 
 
 While Bill Garrett went to get a candle Colonel Conger 
 walked out toward the barn to see how it could be secured. 
 He returned for the candle and went back to the barn to 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 43 
 
 secure the door. Conger picked up several poles near the 
 barn and placed them against the doors so the fugitives in- 
 side could not get out and sneak away in the darkness. 
 
 "Lieutenant Dougherty, station your men around the 
 outside of the barn." 
 
 The soldiers did not stay in their assigned positions but 
 sought shelter wherever they could find it. Colonel Conger 
 was greatly displeased at this show of cowardice. 
 
 "Lieutenant Dougherty, are you with your men?" 
 
 The lieutenant was hiding behind a wagon box and Col- 
 onel Conger ordered him out to keep his men in position. 
 
 "Come out of there, you damned cowardly scoundrel. If 
 you don't keep these men in their places here those fellows 
 in the barn will get away." 
 
 Conger placed his candle upon the ground and helped 
 put the soldiers back in their positions. He took a stick and 
 laid it where he wanted one of them, Sergeant Corbett, to 
 stand. 
 
 "Do not leave your post, Sergeant Corbett, on any con- 
 dition." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 Booth and Herold were awakened from their sleep by the 
 voices and tramp of men outside of the barn. They must have 
 realized from the first that the Federal cavalrymen had re- 
 turned and were here seeking them. From the amount of 
 talking and other noises outside the barn Booth knew a large 
 body of men was present. 
 
 Booth shouted from inside the barn, "Who is there?" 
 
 Lieutenant Baker answered, "It don't matter who's here. 
 We came to arrest you and take you prisoners." 
 
 Lieutenant Baker made the demand that Booth and Her- 
 old must come out and surrender. Colonel Conger returned 
 
44 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 from the rear of the barn where he had been stationing his 
 men and checking any possible means that Booth could use 
 to escape. 
 
 Booth asked again, "Who are you?" 
 
 Conger answered, "I am a United States officer and in 
 charge of troops of the United States, and we came to make 
 an arrest. We are looking for you, Booth." 
 
 Booth replied, "Captain, you are a brave man; I could 
 have shot you if I had wanted to." 
 
 Booth meant that he could have shot Colonel Conger 
 when he was outside of the barn doors holding a candle. The 
 colonel had secured the barn doors by placing pales against 
 the door to prevent Booth from making a run for freedom. 
 
 Booth continued, "If you will draw back a hundred yards 
 I will come out and give you a fair fight." 
 
 "No, I cannot do that. I simply came here as an officer to 
 make an arrest and I can have no fight with you." 
 
 "Well," Booth answered," give me a show if you will. Get 
 back twenty-five yards and I will come out and give you a fair 
 fight." 
 
 "No, I did not come here for that purpose, and as far as I 
 am concerned you are perfectly safe in surrendering. Further 
 than that I can promise you nothing." 
 
 There was no reply from inside the barn to Conger's last 
 statement. A silence had fallen over everyone on the outside. 
 The soldiers held their carbines at belt level, ready to stop 
 the men if they charged at them from the barn. Booth was 
 conferring with Herold concerning their plan of action. 
 
 The silence was broken by Booth calling to Colonel Con- 
 ger, "There is a fellow here who wants to surrender. I am in 
 doubt. Give us a little time to think about it." 
 
 Conger left the front of the barn while the fugitives in- 
 side discussed their plight. He made a tour of the area to be 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 45 
 
 certain the soldiers were all in their appointed positions and 
 ready for action. When he returned to the front of the barn 
 he could hear a heated discussion taking place inside. Booth 
 was berating Herold for wanting to lay down his arms and 
 surrender to the Federal troops. 
 
 Booth said in anger, "I wouldn't leave a dog under such 
 circumstances. I wouldn't go back that way. But go; I don't 
 want you." 
 
 Herold was crying and imploring Booth to surrender. He 
 realized the odds facing them if they tried to make a run for 
 it. Herold may have thought he was not guilty of any serious 
 crime in the matter and would not receive the full penalty of 
 death, as would Booth. 
 
 Booth said to Herold, "I don't want to keep you." 
 
 Herold made his way to the door of the barn and waited 
 for the men outside to open the door for him. Lieutenant 
 Baker was crouched outside, waiting for the men to come 
 out. He had to be sure that they would not try any tricks. 
 
 Baker said, "You must hand out your arms first." 
 
 Booth answered, "The arms are mine; I have them." 
 
 Colonel Conger was close by and checked with Lieuten- 
 ant Baker to be sure they were ready to receive Herold when 
 he opened the barn door. 
 
 Conger called to Booth, "Put him out." 
 
 Lieutenant Baker opened the door, just wide enough to 
 permit a man to walk through, and stood ready to grab 
 Herold when he came out. 
 
 Herold was removed from the front of the barn and se- 
 curely tied. He appeared to be greatly upset and was crying 
 hysterically. A heavy guard was placed over him because 
 these men were to be kept alive in order to stand trial for 
 their actions. 
 
 There was a long interval of silence after Herold was led 
 
46 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 away. Colonel Conger did not desire to force the issue until 
 Booth had time to give ample thought to his next move. 
 
 Booth sensed the reason for this silence and decided to 
 state his decision. 
 
 "Well, men, I will not come out alive. I am alone now 
 and I will stay it out alone." 
 
 The men outside noted that there was no fear in this man 
 such as Herold had shown. He spoke in a well-modulated 
 voice and appeared to be considering this situation as an- 
 other stage performance. An actor to the end. 
 
 Conger called, "Booth, I am here to take you alive. I 
 cannot shoot to kill you. I don't want any fight with you. I 
 am here to take you a prisoner. If you don't come out I will 
 set the building on fire. Then we will get you." 
 
 There was no answer from inside the barn. Booth was go- 
 ing to force Colonel Conger to take the next step. The col- 
 onel's statement concerning the firing of the barn could be 
 an idle threat to force him to come out and face great odds. If 
 he remained in the barn the odds were reduced. 
 
 Colonel Conger walked over to young Garrett who was 
 standing beside Sergeant Corbett, along the front side of the 
 barn. 
 
 "You get that bundle of pine boards over there and put 
 them up against the barn next to the door." 
 
 Conger spoke in a loud voice so that Booth could hear 
 him. He wanted Booth to realize that he intended to carry 
 out his threat to burn the barn. 
 
 Young Garrett was willing to comply with the colonel's 
 order. He picked up a large number of pine boards and 
 stacked them against the barn, near the door. Then he came 
 back to the colonel instead of securing more boards to place 
 against the barn. 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 47 
 
 "I don't want to put any more up there, Colonel Conger." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "That man inside said if I came up there again he would 
 shoot a hole through me." 
 
 "That's all. You don't need to go there any more." 
 
 Booth called out from the barn, "Well, my brave boys, 
 prepare a stretcher for me." 
 
 No one answered him. A hush had descended on the men 
 poised outside the barn. The next move was up to Conger. 
 
 Booth continued from the barn, "I ought to have some 
 fair show for my life, but prepare a stretcher for me." 
 
 Booth was playing the role of an actor even in this serious 
 situation. Perhaps he thought he should carry on the tradi- 
 tion of his family. He was a member of a family of distin- 
 guished actors and was an actor himself. 
 
 Colonel Conger went to the back of the barn to try to 
 burn him out. The Garrett boy had informed the colonel 
 that there was a pile of straw there in which they had stored 
 some wagon wheels. The colonel pulled out some of this 
 straw and twisted it into a heavy strand. This was lighted and 
 used as a torch to ignite the remainder of the straw. The 
 straw burned fiercely and in a few minutes the fire spread all 
 along the back of the building. 
 
 Conger waited for some time to see what course of action 
 Booth would take. He heard something drop on the floor of 
 the barn. Looking through the cracks, he could see that it 
 was Booth's crutch. Booth was standing, facing the door 
 about twenty feet away. He turned and noticed the light of 
 the fire. Moving to the back of the barn with a carbine in 
 both hands, he tried to see out through the cracks in the wall 
 of the barn. The fire was burning too fiercely for him to see 
 through the flames and the smoke. Conger stood perfectly 
 
48 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 still outside and though Booth tried to look outside he could 
 not see Conger through the blaze and the shadow. 
 
 Booth intended to pull the burning straw down and put 
 out the fire, but just then it reached the roof and the cob- 
 webs flashed like powder. His countenance changed. He 
 dropped his carbine to his side and started for the door. 
 
 Colonel Conger was observing Booth from his position 
 outside the rear wall of the barn and when he saw Booth 
 start toward the door of the barn, he started around the barn 
 toward the front door. Conger could not make very rapid 
 progress because he was lame. He had been seriously woun- 
 ded some time before this while leading his command in bat- 
 tle. He had been shot through the hips. 
 
 Conger pulled his service revolver from its holster as he 
 moved to the front of the barn. As he reached the front cor- 
 ner of the building, opposite Sergeant Corbett, he heard a 
 shot. Lieutenant Baker entered the barn a few seconds ahead 
 of Colonel Conger. Booth had fallen forward and lay on his 
 right side. He was shot through the first cervical vertebra. 
 
 Conger said, "Well, he shot himself." 
 
 "No, he didn't shoot himself," Lieutenant Baker said 
 angrily. 
 
 "Who shot him, Lieutenant?" 
 
 "I believe it was Sergeant Corbett, sir." 
 
 A squad of soldiers carried Booth out of the barn and 
 placed him upon the grass outside. The colonel ordered the 
 Garrett boy and some soldiers back to the barn to see if they 
 could put the fire out and save the structure. The entire barn 
 was engulfed in flames but the men were able to remove 
 some equipment from the barn before they were forced back 
 by the intense heat. 
 
 Conger came back to the group that had gathered around 
 Booth to observe this strange man who had taken destiny 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 49 
 
 into his own hands. Lieutenant Baker was kneeling by 
 Booth's side, observing him to note if there was any sign of 
 life remaining. Booth moved his lips and tried to speak. Col- 
 onel Conger knelt by Booth and heard him say, "Tell mother 
 I died for my country." He could breathe with difficulty and 
 use his tongue and lips a little. Conger repeated Booth's 
 words and asked him if that was what he said. 
 
 Booth replied, "Yes, I did what I thought was best." 
 
 The heat from the burning barn was becoming unbear- 
 able to the group gathered around Booth. They had placed 
 him on the ground a short distance from the barn. Conger or- 
 dered some soldiers to move Booth to the rear porch of the 
 Garrett farm house. A young girl brought out a straw tick 
 from the house and the dying Booth was placed on it. 
 
 Lieutenant Baker secured some whiskey from the house 
 for the purpose of administering a few drops to Booth. 
 Booth requested Baker to lift his hand. When Baker lifted it 
 up and he perceived that it was paralyzed he muttered, "It's 
 useless." 
 
 In a few minutes Booth began to have spasmodic twitch- 
 ings of his face. He was unconscious and his breathing had 
 almost ceased. A blanket was brought and placed over the 
 still form. Some records say that the wounded man lived for 
 an hour or more but Colonel Conger noted the time when 
 he died and claimed that he did not live over thirty minutes. 
 Booth was dead when a local doctor arrived to administer to 
 him. 
 
 Colonel Conger stepped from the porch and stopped a 
 sergeant who was going past and asked him, "Who shot this 
 man?" 
 
 "Sergeant Corbett, sir." 
 
 "Thank you, Sergeant." 
 
 Conger had instructed his men to take Booth and Herold 
 
50 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 alive if possible in order for the fugitives to stand trial in 
 Washington. Secretary Stanton had so instructed Conger at 
 the start of the expedition. Some time before this a man sus- 
 pected of being Booth had been strung up along the Balti- 
 more and Ohio Railroad until he was nearly dead. A friend 
 of this man happened to come by and insisted that the man 
 they were hanging was not John Wilkes Booth. The crowd 
 was convinced and cut the man down from the pole. A near 
 fatal incident. When Secretary Stanton heard of this mob ac- 
 tion he issued a proclamation that any person who, without 
 due authority, should injure any prisoner, should be tried be- 
 fore a United States Military Court and punished. 
 
 Colonel Conger ordered some soldiers to find Sergeant 
 Corbett and bring him before his colonel. 
 
 One of the lieutenants brought Corbett to Colonel Con- 
 ger and said, "Colonel, here is Sergeant Corbett." 
 
 Sergeant Corbett stood at attention, his shoulders squared 
 back, looking straight ahead; he was every inch a soldier. 
 
 Conger looked at the sergeant and noted his erect bearing 
 and military manner. What should he do with the fellow? 
 
 "Corbett, what in hell did you shoot for?" x 
 
 Corbett looked straight into the eyes of Colonel Conger 
 and said simply, "Providence directed me, sir." 
 
 Conger had been brought up in a religious family and 
 had unshakable faith in Providence. The colonel was under 
 great emotional stress, like the others who were involved in 
 this venture. The ordeal was trying to even the strongest men 
 in the expedition. At this exact moment Conger was uncer- 
 tain as to the right course of action to follow. Booth was 
 dead upon the porch, the barn was still smoldering, dead 
 tired soldiers were sleeping on the grass, and Corbett stood 
 before him waiting for his colonel to dismiss him. Conger 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 51 
 
 was thinking that things just as queer had been done before. 
 He turned to the wall to avert Corbett's gaze. The fellow 
 was a strange one all right. What to do with him now was a 
 problem. Conger finally concluded that maybe Corbett was 
 right. 
 
 "That's all, Corbett, you can go." 
 
 Technically the colonel should have put him under 
 arrest. 
 
 It was daylight when the exhausted troop rode slowly 
 down the Garrett lane to the road back to Washington. Col- 
 onel Conger could now report to Secretary Stanton that the 
 mission was accomplished. 
 
 UnIVlKSITY OF iLLiNOJS 
 LIBRARY. 
 
52 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 CONCLUSION 
 
 J. HE WEARY TROOP OF CAVALRYMEN 
 
 reached the Potomac River in a few hours and waited for a 
 mail boat that would take them to Washington. 
 
 Colonel Conger reported to Secretary Stanton's house the 
 following day at four o'clock in the afternoon. Secretary Stan- 
 ton had returned from his office earlier in the day because of 
 illness. He was very excited when Conger's presence was an- 
 nounced. He informed the servant to show Conger into his 
 study. 
 
 "Well, sir, we got back and we got Booth and Herold." 
 Stanton was noticeably upset and said, "Don't say that 
 unless you know it." 
 
 "Well, at any rate, I will show you proof which ought to 
 be sufficient to satisfy anybody." 
 
 "What proof do you have, Colonel?" 
 "The papers that were found on Booth, sir." 
 The Secretary studied the papers carefully before reply- 
 ing, "These seem to be the property of John Wilkes Booth." 
 The papers contained two sets of draft-warrants for 
 money, drawn by the Confederate States Treasury, by some- 
 one in Richmond, on a bank in Montreal and payable in 
 pounds, shillings and pence. One was for five hundred 
 pounds and the other for two hundred and fifty pounds. 
 There were first, second and third drafts for each amount. 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 53 
 
 Colonel Conger believed that they were payable to John 
 Wilkes Booth. 
 
 The days following were very hectic for all persons in- 
 volved in the assassination plot. The body of Booth was ex- 
 amined for certain identification. Many witnesses were ex- 
 amined during the official proceedings. These examinations 
 were conducted before a Judge Advocate General Holt, 
 a big, gray-haired Kentuckian. 
 
 Colonel Conger appeared before Judge Holt to describe 
 the actual capture of Booth and Herold. The judge was par- 
 ticularly concerned about the shooting of Booth in the barn. 
 
 Judge Holt asked, "Did you give the soldiers any orders 
 not to shoot?" 
 
 "No, 1 did not consider that necessary." 
 
 Judge Holt said, "I wish you would prepare a specifica- 
 tion against this Sergeant Boston Corbett." 
 
 Conger did not reply to the order of Judge Holt and 
 was discharged with the rest of the witnesses. He returned to 
 his office to pick up his work that had been interrupted by 
 this special assignment to find Booth. 
 
 A week or so later an adjutant called at Conger's office to 
 see him. 
 
 "Is your name Conger?" 
 
 "Yes, I am Colonel Conger." 
 
 "The Judge Advocate wants to know if you have pre- 
 pared specifications against Sergeant Corbett." 
 
 "No, I have not." 
 
 "Well, the Judge wants to know why you have not com- 
 plied with his order." 
 
 "Well, I didn't exactly understand that what he said was 
 an order. It was given to me verbally at the time of the in- 
 quiry as to Booth's death and identity, and I did not under- 
 
54 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 stand what the Judge wanted." 
 
 "You will hear again from Judge Holt concerning this 
 matter." 
 
 In a day or two a messenger from the Judge Advocate 
 General's office visited Conger and delivered a paper signed 
 by Judge Holt, directing Conger immediately to prepare 
 and file charges and specifications against Sergeant Corbett. 
 The charge was to be violation of discipline in killing John 
 Wilkes Booth. The colonel had to act officially and not dis- 
 miss the order as he had done previously. 
 
 Colonel Conger received the order from Judge Holt in 
 the afternoon and kept it that night. He still did not wish to 
 press charges against Sergeant Corbett. The following day 
 Conger visited the War Department and talked to Judge 
 Advocate General Holt. 
 
 "Sir, I would like to talk to Secretary Stanton concerning 
 the Corbett case." 
 
 "Your orders concerning Corbett are very clear, Colonel." 
 
 "I still believe that Corbett did not disobey any direct 
 command, sir." 
 
 "Do you wish to see the Secretary of War today?" 
 
 "If I cannot see him today I would be willing to call at 
 his house tonight if that would be more convenient." 
 
 Judge Holt went into Secretary Stanton's office to see if 
 the Secretary could see Colonel Conger at this time. Upon 
 his return he said, "It is all right for you to see the Secretary 
 now." 
 
 Colonel Conger entered the Secretary's office and noted 
 that Mr. Stanton was busily writing at his desk. The only 
 sound was the continuous scratching of the pen on paper. 
 This continued for some time and finally Stanton asked, 
 without looking up, "Did you want to see me, Everton?" 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 55 
 
 Colonel Conger and Secretary Stanton had known each 
 other in Ohio before the war. 
 
 "Yes, Mr. Secretary." 
 
 "What do you want from me?" 
 
 "I have an order here from General Holt to prepare at 
 once charges against Sergeant Boston Corbett." 
 
 "Why don't you do it?" 
 
 "I cannot comply with that order." 
 
 "You've been a soldier long enough, have you not, to 
 know what it is to disobey orders?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Well, there is nothing else to do than obey." 
 
 "Secretary Stanton, you know as well as I do that it was 
 with a feeling of great relief that the American people 
 learned that Booth was dead; not only that, but there is a 
 feeling of glorification of the man who killed him, and now 
 here I am selected to prefer charges against him. Mr. Stanton, 
 I have been in the war from the beginning. I am no three 
 months' service man. I am not one of these real nice soldiers, 
 though I have never been put under arrest nor complained 
 of materially, but I won't obey that order. If I have got to 
 suffer for it I have got to, that's all." 
 
 "Have you got that order, Colonel?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Give it to me." 
 
 This was the last Conger ever heard of the matter. Sec- 
 retary Stanton evidently rescinded General Holt's order to 
 bring charges against Boston Corbett. 
 
 Colonel Conger secured a brief record of Corbett's army 
 history that served to guide him in making a decision as to 
 whether or not to prefer charges against the man. Corbett 
 was considered by many of his soldier associates as not being 
 
56 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 of right mind. He was in a New York regiment first, then in 
 a Connecticut regiment for a short term. Corbett's regiment 
 was stationed in Washington during the time of his first 
 year's service and he was in the guardhouse half of this time. 
 Every time an officer would swear he would go and preach to 
 him. He was an exhorter and street preacher of a sort. At one 
 time he was detailed to go out on picket duty somewhere 
 near the old Bull Run battlefield. Corbett informed his of- 
 ficers that at twelve o'clock that night his term of service 
 ended and he would not serve longer. His officers informed 
 him that he would have to serve until mustered out. Some- 
 time during that night he stuck his musket in the ground and 
 left. It was learned later that he had enlisted in the cavalry 
 service. Proceedings were brought against him for deserting 
 in the face of the enemy. He was found guilty and sentenced 
 to be shot as a deserter. He was later pardoned on the ground 
 of being non compos mentis. 
 
 Boston Corbett spent most of the last year of the war as a 
 prisoner of war in Andersonville prison. The conditions in 
 Anderson ville were beyond description. Thousands of prison- 
 ers were crowded into an open enclosure of twenty-five acres. 
 Of these, four or five acres were swampy, and could not be 
 occupied. Inside of this enclosure, thirteen thousand two 
 hundred and fifty Union soldiers perished, averaging more 
 than one thousand deaths for every month that the prison 
 existed. 
 
 Two prisoners did a great deal to help the morale of the 
 poor unfortunate prisoners. They were a prisoner named 
 Shepard, a native of Ohio, who had been a minister at home, 
 and Boston Corbett, a native of New Jersey. These two men 
 preached to the prisoners frequently, and their preaching ac- 
 complished a great deal of good. They were, indeed, nature's 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 57 
 
 truest noblemen, perfect gentlemen, and earnest, true Chris- 
 tians. They devoted almost all their time to giving spiritual 
 consolation and advice to their fellow prisoners. They ap- 
 peared never to weary of doing good, and could frequently 
 be found at the side of the dying, entreating them to look to 
 Him who would deliver them from all their misery and suf- 
 fering, and receive them to a better and brighter world 
 above. 
 
 Booth had stated during the half hour that he lived after 
 receiving the fatal bullet, "Tell mother I died for my coun- 
 try." His second statement was, "I did what I thought was 
 best." Colonel Conger heard these last words and promised to 
 deliver them to Booth's mother. Conger delivered Booth's 
 dying message personally to his mother in Baltimore and 
 stated, at a later date, that she was very understanding and 
 seemed to appreciate the kind act of conveying her son's last 
 thoughts to her. 
 
 John Wilkes Booth is believed to be buried in the Booth 
 family lot in Greenmount Cemetery in Baltimore. One of the 
 graves on the lot is marked by a low headstone which is un- 
 lettered. This particular grave is supposed to contain the 
 remains of the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 Colonel Conger received personally $15,000 of the 
 125,000 reward offered for Booth's capture. Later he was ap- 
 pointed Territorial Judge for Montana. He died in Hono- 
 lulu, T.H., where he was living in retirement with his daugh- 
 ter and son-in-law. His son-in-law, Honorable Joseph B.Poin- 
 dexter, was at that time territorial governor of the island. 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 59 
 
 POSTSCRIPT 
 
 A SPECIAL MILITARY COMMISSION 
 
 was created to try the conspirators who helped plan the as- 
 sassination of President Lincoln. The Commission consisted 
 of nine army officers and three members of the Judge Advo- 
 cate General's office. The Commission heard testimony from 
 scores of witnesses but the prisoners were never called upon 
 to testify in their own defense. 
 
 The eight prisoners were found guilty and subject to se- 
 vere sentences. The sentences were determined by President 
 Johnson, Secretary Stanton and Judge Advocate General 
 Holt. These men were guided by the intensity of public feel- 
 ing and the infuriated demand for execution by the whole 
 Republican party. 
 
 Four of the prisoners, Arnold, Mudd, Spangler and 
 O'Loughlin, were sentenced to long years of imprisonment at 
 hard labor. The four principal conspirators, Mrs. Surratt, 
 Atzerodt, Paine and Herold, were sentenced to be hanged by 
 the neck until they were dead. 
 
 The public sentiment following the executions abated 
 and even turned against the men responsible for the execu- 
 tion of Mrs. Surratt. Some party members of influence tried 
 to shift the blame away from the administration to the men 
 who carried out the execution, notably General Winfield 
 Scott Hancock. 
 
60 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 General Hancock had been recalled from his corps in the 
 field to become commandant of the Washington Depart- 
 ment. The officer who had charge of the prisoners was the 
 newly appointed Provost Marshal, Major General John F. 
 Hartranft. 
 
 Judge Clampitt, Mrs. Surratt's leading counsel, stated, 
 "Hancock had no more to do with these details or matters 
 than you had." (Don Piatt, publisher of the Washington 
 Capitol.) When Judge Wylie, with a Roman majesty of char- 
 acter, issued, almost at the peril of his life, the writ of habeas 
 corpus in the case of Mrs. Surratt, President Johnson and 
 Secretary Stanton decided to suspend the writ, and the 
 execution followed. 
 
 "We had hopes to the last of a reprieve and a pardon for 
 Mrs. Surratt, and I waited at the Arsenal, hoping against 
 hope. General Hancock rode down, and approaching him, I 
 asked, 'Are there any hopes?' He shook his head slowly and 
 mournfully, and, with a sort of gasping catch in his speech, 
 said: 'I am afraid not. No; there is not.' 
 
 "He then walked off a bit — he had dismounted — and 
 gave some orders to his orderlies, and walked about for a 
 moment or two. Returning he said to me: 
 
 " 'I have been in many a battle, and have seen death and 
 mixed with it in disaster and in victory. I've been in a living 
 hell of fire, and shell, and grapeshot; and — I'd sooner be 
 there ten thousand times over than to give the order this day 
 for the execution of that poor woman. But I am a soldier, 
 sworn to obey, and obey I must.' 
 
 "This is the true and genuine history of all that Hancock 
 had in common with the affair. He was commanding, and as 
 commander and conservator of the National Capitol, was 
 compellantly obedient to the orders of the court, which sen- 
 
THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG • 61 
 
 tenced the conspirators and the so-called conspirator to 
 death. He had no voice in the matter, and could have no ac- 
 tion save as the agent to see that the letter of the law was car- 
 ried out in an order of alphabetic certainty." 
 
 The order of President Johnson directing the execution 
 of the condemned parties was transmitted through the com- 
 mandant of the military post to Major General Hancock, 
 who had been designated by the President in executive 
 order, dated May 1, 1865, as a special provost marshal for 
 the purposes of said trial and attendance upon said commis- 
 sion and the execution of its mandates. General Hancock, 
 being chief in command of the Washington Department, had 
 to pass the order of the President to the officer specially desig- 
 nated by the same authority (Hartranft) for carrying out the 
 executions. 
 
 Brevet Major General Hartranft, and not General Han- 
 cock, gave the verbal order of execution, after first reading, 
 while standing on the platform beside the prisoners, the find- 
 ing of the military commission and the President's order of 
 approval. 
 
 Mrs. Surratt's counsel sued the court for a writ of habeas 
 corpus. On the morning of the execution, upon proper ap- 
 plication, at the early hour of two o'clock, Judge Wylie is- 
 sued the writ of habeas corpus, ordering the commandant 
 of the military district in which she was confined to produce 
 Mrs. Surratt in his court at ten o'clock. The hour of execu- 
 tion had been named in the order as between 10 A.M. and 
 2 P.M. General Hancock appeared in obedience to the court 
 summons before Judge Wylie, accompanied by the Attorney 
 General of the United States, who, as the representative of 
 the President, presented to Judge Wylie an executive order 
 suspending the writ of habeas corpus. 
 
62 • THE KING CAN DO NO WRONG 
 
 Executive Office, July 7, 1865 — 11 o'clock, A.M. 
 To Major General W. S. Hancock, Commanding: — 
 
 I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, 
 do hereby declare that the writ of habeas corpus has 
 been heretofore suspended in such cases as this, and I 
 do hereby especially suspend this writ, and direct that 
 you proceed to execute the order heretofore given upon 
 the judgment of the military commission, and you will 
 give this order in return to this writ. 
 
 President 
 
 General W. G. Mitchell, chief of General Hancock's staff, 
 said that Hancock was deeply moved in the matter and had 
 hopes the President would relent at the last moment and 
 issue a stay of execution. Should the President so act, that the 
 reprieve might not arrive too late, but be borne swiftly on 
 its misison of mercy, General Hancock had couriers stationed 
 at points from the White House to the Arsenal, to carry a 
 pardon or respite to its destination promptly and before the 
 execution. 
 
 The President did not send a reprieve and the order of 
 execution was carried out by Major General Hartranft. 
 
 The four bodies swinging at the end of their ropes in the 
 bright sunshine on a hot July day brought the final curtain 
 down on America's greatest tragedy. 
 
 
f$ 
 
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 V 
 

 
 •i:i;-"::::.":ii--:i; ; i 
 
 '-]:.,-. 
 
 'Ml.Mf^' [ l- [ 
 
 :»»{}jj:|jS;i!; 
 
(Continued from front flap) 
 
 made a distinctive contribution to American 
 history. The narrative contains Colonel Con- 
 ger's own words plus explanatory descrip- 
 tions concerning the times, events and places 
 mentioned by the narrator. No attempt has 
 been made to embellish any phase of the 
 story. 
 
 Dr. Reuter points out that Colonel Con- 
 ger, who was a lawyer and a judge with 
 a distinguished record in the Civil War, 
 was somewhat modest and reticent in dis- 
 position. The contrast between the reserved 
 manner of the Army officers and the bravura 
 conduct of the defiant Booth (an actor even 
 in his final moments of life) heightens the 
 intense drama of the scene in which the 
 assassin meets his death in the blazing 
 Garrett barn. 
 
 The reader will find this a consistently 
 absorbing and exciting story, as well as 
 a valuable sidelight to a significant episode 
 in American history. 
 
 Jacket design by William Ashman 
 
'■ "'' : 
 
 William L. Reuter was born in York, Pennsylvania, in 1906. He 
 attended high school there and was graduated from Millersville 
 State Teachers College in 1931. He holds graduate degrees in 
 education from Duke University and Temple University. 
 
 Except for four years in the U.S. Navy, from 1942 to 1946, as 
 a Lieutenant Commander, Dr. Reuter has made his career in 
 the academic world. History, education and psychology are his 
 specialties, and he has written and lectured extensively on extra- 
 sensory perception. He has taught at the University of Vermont 
 and at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, and is now Professor 
 of Secondary Education at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. 
 
 His wife, the former Helen M. Ettline, is also in the teaching 
 field. They have a teen-age daughter and son. 
 
 PAGEANT PRESS, INC. • 101 FIFTH AVENUE • NEW YORK 3, N. Y.