Aided Wilkes Booth

There died in Charles county, Md , not long ago Thomas A. Jones, at the age of 74. Jones held a position in the Washington navy yard, bnt was dismissed through the influeuce of Congressman Mudd of Maryland, who had informed the secretary of the navy that Jones had played a prominent part in the escape of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln. "It's quite true," admitted Jones at ihe time of hisdismissal. "John Wilkes Booth, with a broken ankle, sick and sufi'ering the tortures of the darnned, was placed in ïny hands to be spirited across the river, and the 300,000 reward, or even ÍS, 000, 000, wonld not have caused me to turn traitor to the Bouthern Confederacy, the people I loved, and surrender a man wnose life was in my keeping, even if I did know he had assassinated President Lincoln. " Jones afterward told how Buoth came into his hands. "It was on the morning of the 16th of April," he said, "when friends of Samuel Cox came to my house on Huckleberry farm, Maryland, and tcld ree that Cox wanted to see me at onco. I had lieard the evening before that Lincoln had been killed. I had a norse saddled and rode over to Cox's, who told me that Booth and David Herold had been thero and wanted assistauce to got across the river. I was told where the men were - in a pine thicket about a mile and a half from the house. "I was given instrnctions how to reach them without being shot - certain Bigns by whistling, etc. Dpon reaching the dense pines I met Herold, to whom I explained that I was sent by Cox. I was then piloted to where Booth was. He lay on the ground wrapped in a pile of blankets, and his face bore traces of pain. Booth asked many questions as to what people thoagbt of the assassination. He appeared to be proud of what he had done. I at the time thought he had done a good act, but, great God, I soon saw that it was the worst blow ever struck f or the south ! "I did the best 1 could for the poor fellow. I carried him papers to read and something to eat and tried to keep him in good spirits until 1 got a chance to send him across the river. The country was f uil of soldier and detectives, and I did not know how soon I could get him away. ' ' I think it was the f ollowing Tuesday I went up to Port Tobacco to see how the land lay, and it was there, in the barroorn of Brawner's hotel, that Captain William Williams, chief of the United States secret service, said he would give $300,000 to auy man who would teil where Booth was." "That's true, " admitted Captain Williams at the time of the above interview, ''and he would have been General Jones iustead of a discharged employee from the navy yard if he had given the information. " "I did tho best 1 could for Booth and Herold, " contiuued Jones. "I did not know them, but when Cox put them in my keeping nothing would have tempted nio to betray them. I could have placed my hands on Booth, bat honor and truth were worth more to mo than the entire wealth of the government. "At the expiration of the sixth day I heard the officers give orders for the cavalry to go down in St. Mary's county; that the assassins were there. That was my chance, and I made good time to where Bootb and Herold were concealed. Booth was glad to know that his time to get into Virginia had oome. "The nigbt was dark, and Herold and I lifted Booth on tomyhorso. Our progresa was slow. Wo finally reached my house, and I went in to get them some' thing to eat. We then proceeded to the river. Booth was lifted into the boat and was placed in the stern, while Herold took tha oars. I then lighted a candle and showed Booth by his compass how to steer to get intoMachodoc creek and gave him directionsto Mr. Quesenberry's, who, 1 thought, would take care of him. That was the last I saw of Booth. "Whon notices were posted up that to furnish bread or water to Booth meant deatb, " went on Jones, "1 feit pretty shaky. 1 knew that Booth had hit the Virginia shore. I was arrested and taken to Washington, where I was held for seven weeks. Thun 1 was discharged because uobody believed 1 knew anything. "-