Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-04-18
Sketch OF John wilkes Booth, the
Murderer OF the President.
Nnnr-
NEw YoRK, April l6.

veal ApA''
John Wilkes Booth, who is directly &C.
cused of the assassination of President
Lincoln, is one of the sons OF the celebra
ted English actor, Lucius Junius Booth,
the contemporary and rival of Edmund
Kean. The elder Booth came to this couu-
try as star actor, and finally settled upon
farm near Baltimore, Maryland. His
eccentric habits, strange cxtravagances and
wasted life are familiar to most of our
readers. By different wives the elder Booth
had four sons, named, in the order of their
ages, Juuius Brutus, Edwin, John WILKES
and Joseph. The three Oldest brothers
adopted the stage as profession. The
youngest studied medicine, and was last
heard of somewhere in Georgia.
John Wilkes Booth was born in 1888,
near Baltimore, in the same vicinity as
the noted rebel Henry Gilmor. He was
named after John WiIIEaa, q famous En-
gilsh tragedian. at the early age of six
teen he went upon the stage, and in 1856
made a regular debut at Philadelphia He
inherits the we'll known Booth face and
figure, and some of the dramatic talent OF
the family. After starring for while in
the provinces we find him, in le59-6O, the
leading actor at Montgomery, Alabama
There he WAS regarded as a tritle crazy
ln 1860 be wounded himself 10 the foot
With pistol, and came North to recruit
his health.
Soon after his arrival there, discovering
that his brother Edwin was achieving de.
cided success, he determined upon debut
| in New York, and male his first appear
auce in this city at Wsllack's old the4tre-
now the BrOsdway-Which was then open
| cd nndar thu IN ~
Provost. He opened in Richard the Third,
playing very tamey till the Sighting scene
at the end of the drama, when he welded
bis wo-handed sword with such vim aud
vigor as to astonish the audience. The
stage combat has never been better per.
formed. One evening, reused 10 intense
excitement, he attacked Mr.. E. L TLtoS.
the Richmond of the occasion, SO violently
as TO knock him into the orchestra, nearly
breaking his arm. After two or three
nights of Richard, young Booth PLAYED
Shylock aud failed. The Herald said OF
this performance that youth might be an
excuse tor bis errors. but there was no ex
cuae Tor presenting them to a metropolitan
audience. The unnatural son, in Schiller's
Robbers, was nis third role and, after act
'ug III ne "entto Boston, where he was bet
ter received.
Booth avowed himself 40 ardent secession
lst, and he always persisted in his dislov-
atty. SO many actors shared his opinions
however, and expressed them almos, as
strongly, that his sentiments gave him no
particular notoIiety. His brothers Juuius
and Edwin were and are most decided Union
men, and several quarreIs have arisen be.
tween the brothers on account OF these
dlhererces They acted together. however.
at the Winter Garden, on the 23i of M.
vember last, for the benefit of the Sbsk.
speare Monument Fluid, and attracted one
OF the largest and most Intellectual audi.
Fnces ever assembled in any theatre. The
play was julius Cesar, with Edwin Booth
as bru'us, JuOius Booth as Cassius and
John Wilkes Boo b as Marc Anthony. A
an actor John Wilkes could not compare
with either of his brothers, although his
resemblance to them in form, feature, voice
aud manner was remarkable. This was his
last public appearance in this city.
Some months ago John Wilkes Booth
ceased acting on account of bronchial 90
lection, and since then be is said to have
accumulated considerable money BY oil
sPeculatlons in Western Virginia. or late
ne mas passed large portion OF bis time in
Washington, with which city and its thea.
tres be was perfectly familiar. About eioh,
or ten days ago he was in New York, drink
ing profusely. Rumor says that in his
drunken moods he has often declared bis
Intention to kill President Lincoln, and that
ne often exhibited a nlcked bullet. which
ne said, was to do the deed. The truth of
these statements may beascertained BY the
police upon inquiry of his associates here:
put 1t 10 certain he talked 10 wild, reck-
less way about the war, and that bis svm
Pathies we're entirely with the rebels. or
this, We believe, he made no conceaiment,
and it is reported that his brother Edwin
turned him out of the house a short time
ago in consequence of his reasonable ut
terauces. Still no one who knew him was
prepared to believe him cOwardly assas- !
10 person John Wilkes Booth is a young.
er fac ''mtte to Edwin. 1t is needless 10
say, then, that be Is a rare specimen of
manly beauty. Not tall. but most grace
fully formed, With regnlAr faatnraa larns