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Here is the transcript from court when Willie Jett, a
SO
#6
Confederate soldier seen with John Wilkes Booth, took
the stand.
Prosecutor: Did you e n c o u n t e r David Herold a n d J o h n Wilkes Booth on April 2 4 t h ?

J et t : Yes, I did, b u t I did n o t k now t h i s a t t h e time. We w e r e waiting on a f e r r y to t a k e u s

a c r os s t h e R a p p a h a n n o c k River.

Prosecutor: Did you kn ow t h e s e two m e n w e r e involved in t h e a s s as s i n a t io n of

the president?

J et t : No.

Prosecutor: Can you describe y o u r e n c o u n t e r wit h t h e two m e n a s you waited for

the ferry?
n a m e b u t did n o t m e n t i o n being b r ot h e r s . Eventually I h e a r d t h e i r r e al names.
J e t t : The two m e n claimed t h e y we r e Confederate soldiers a n d t h a t t h e i r n a m e s we r e
David E.
Prosecutor: Wha atn ddid
Jamt heesyWilliam
s a y ? Boyd. I found t h i s odd, since t h e y h a d t h e s a m e
la st
J et t : It w a s Mr. Herold first. He said his n a m e w a s David.

Prosecutor: When did you h e a r J o h n Wilkes Booth r ea l n a m e ?

J et t : It w a s v e r y s t r a n g e a n d m y m e m o r y is k i n d of fuzzy be cau se I w a s so t a k e n back

by w h a t I h e a r d . It w a s al m o s t like M r. Herold w a s bragging. I did n o t a s k a n d he
h a d no r e a s o n to tell m e this, b u t h e openly told m e “We a r e t h e a s s a s s i n a t o r s of t h e
President...Yonder is t h e a ssas sin , J o h n Wilkes Booth.” He said t hi s while h e w a s
pointing to his friend. He m a y h a v e said “Lincoln” i ns t e a d of “President.” I a m
n o t s ur e , b u t it w a s one of t h e two.

Prosecutor: What w a s y o u r impr essi on of Mr. David

Hero ld?
J et t : I did n o t t h i n k m u c h of him. He s e e m e d to just be a guide for t h e t r u e ass assi n.

Prosecutor: Did you kn ow t h e r e w a s m a n h u n t u n d e r w a y to c a t c h t h e s e t w o ?

J et t : No sir, t h e mail service h a s bee n down wit h t h e final d a y s of t h e w a r so n e w s

tra ve ls slowly.

Prosecutor: Why did you n o t immediately r e p o r t t h is to t h e a u t h o r i t i e s ?

J et t : I feared for m y safety, sir. I w o r r ie d t h a t if I did t h i s I would be killed too.

Prosecutor: What h a p p e n e d n e x t ?

J et t : They w a n t e d m e to help t h e m move f u r t h e r sou th, b u t I could n o t since I did n o t

h a v e t h e f und s o r ability to. Then, t h e y a s k e d if t h e r e w a s a place t h e y could stay. I
a s k e d t h e locals n e a r b y for a place to stay, a n d we w e r e di rect ed down t h e r o a d to a
h o m e owned by R ic h a r d Ga r r et t . Then, t h e Union a r m y t r a c k e d me
down since people s aw m e with t h e a ssa ssi n. When t h e t ro o p s barged into m y hotel
room, I told t h e m exactly, “I kn ow who you want ; a n d I will tell you where
t h e y c a n be found.” I w a s re fer ring to Booth.

Prosecutor: What h a p p e n e d to Booth a n d Her old?

J et t : They w e re s tayi ng in a b a r n a t Garrett’s f arm. Herold s u r r e n d e r e d , b u t

au t h o r i ti e s lit t h e b a r n on fire to t r y to get Booth to give up. I t h i n k Booth d r e w
his g u n b u t w a s s h o t first by a soldier. I’m p r e t t y s u r e h e died r ig h t t h e r e .

Source: Created and adapted from information provided at http://law2.umkc.edu/ © History with Mr. E
faculty/projects/ftrials/lincolnconspiracy/mudd.html Specializing in American and World History for late Elementary, Middle, and early High