The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-18

ouAbu tuo muEuoIUI VI bu6 I6Slutubs
We ind in the Boston Adpertiser some &C
count of the depraved wretch whose murder
Gus hand has plunged the nation into the most
profound sorrow, fEGs 8
John Wilkes Booth was the third SON Of
Junius Brutus Booth, an English actor, who
first appeared on the London stage in the
year 1920, and was a few years afterwards
driven to emigrate to this country with his
wife,in consequence. Of a quarrel with Edmund
Kean, Mr.. Booth played successful engage
ments in the principal cities, and made wide
reputation for himself as an actor. he had
four sons Junius Brutus, jr., Edwin, John
Wilkes and Joseph, and one daughter, who
afterwards married ]. s. Clarke, the actor.
These children were brought up in Hartford
County, Maryland, where Mr.. Booth took up
his residence.
All the family adopted the stage as their
profession, but Edwin Booth is the only one
who has obtained position that at all ap-
proaches eminence. John Wilkes Booth has
played many engagements in Boston, but was
given to rant, and showed in his acting the
coarseness of his nature. His last engage
ment there was at the Howard Athen@um,
about year ago. He is about twenty-five
years of age, and unmarried. he is strongly
built and muscular, with black hair and dark
complexion. His character was far from
good. and although soma Of the members
of bis profession may at first have been friend
ly towards him, on account Of his family con-
nections, yet bis tastes led him to seek the
lowest company, and this and his avowed dis
loyalty has of late caused him to be stunned
by his brother actors. 1t is stated that he has
been heard to express In the most violent Ian
guage his hatred Of the North and the Union,
and lately his determination to kill the Presi-
dent. 1t is also stated that he was driven by
his brother Edwin from his house, for continu-
Ing to utter his reasonable language.
He was in Boston no longer ago than Mon
day, the day Of the great rejoicing over Lees
surrender, and visited the shooting gallery of
Messrs, Floyd & Edwards, in Chapman place
opposite the Parker House, and practiced
with pistol, firing with the weapon under
his leg, behind his neck, and in other strange
positions. He is represented as being a fire.
quent visitor at the gallery during his stay in
Boston, and as having been very expert with
the pistol. aaef3se t'
From Boston he must have gone almost d.
recty to Washington, to have arrived in time
to complete his preparations for bis fearful
crime. wzei4
or Edwin Booth, brother OF Wilkes, the
Boston AdDertisef speaks In high terms, says
that bis loyalty is undoubted, that he Is gen.
ueman Of character who seeks to elevate the
stage.rather than to lett down to degraded
level, and has won for himself in that city
many strong friends, who have not deserted
MN IN the hour Of his trial. The Advertiser
trusts that those who know him by reputation
only win take heed lest, in the heat of passion,
they do him grlevous wrong.
Rev Geo. q. Hepworth, in note to the
Boston Transcript, say; Of Mr.. Bootb--Ed.
win--that "he has always been a Arm and mn.
finching supporter of the Admiuistre,,or
casting the only vote of his lie, last Novsn'
Der, for Mr. Lincoln, and standing consn,cu.
ously in his profession as man loyal q ,hs
idea and the cause Of tbs North" He saws