The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-04-26
The 9ssassimatiou.
SUPPOSED MURDERER OF
PREsXDENT LINCOLN
sGis Biography and Personal
Character

John Wilkes Booth-the infamous-w'
born on the Farm, near Baltimore, Mar.
land, in 1888, and is, consequently, bI
twenty.seven years old. He made his fir
ssge sppsrance in 1855, as Richmond
RiclIard III, at the ST., Charles Theater
Daii-.ore, and in the fall Of 1857 appeare
eSudcr the ualne os Wilkes at the Arc
Btrect Theater in Philadelphia, where h
played stock parts during the entire season
The name of Wilkes was given him by hi
father, in honor Of an old Baltimore frienC
dim Wilkes, a successful merchant an
great wit, Young Booth next became
member of the Richmond, Virginia Thes
ter, improved rapidly in his profession, ar
became great favorite there. During tn
reason Of 1860 and 81 We find him engage
further South, playing chiefly at Montgom
cry and Columbus, Georgia. Probably no
fancying conscription into the Southern
army, however much he favored the cause
he escaped North, and in 1851 and 81 play
cd in st. Louis, Louisville, and other Yves
tern cities. st
Il was during the season following, W,
believe, that he first appeared in Cincinnati
at Wood's Theater, and left the impression
that, though rather an unequalsd actor, d
might be expected of one of his limited ex
pericnce, he gave unmistakable evidence O
genuine dramatic talent. He had, addec
TO his native genius, the advantage of q
voice nusically fall and rich face almost
classic in outline, features highly intellectual
u piercing black eye, capable of expressing
the fecest and the tehderest passion and
emotion, and comtaaeding figure and i'm
presSiya stage address. In his transition,
from the quiet and reflective passages of o
part to fierce, and violent outbreaks of pas.
zion, his sudden and itnwtucus manner had
in it something of that electrical force and
power which made the elder Booth 80 cele.
brsted, and called up sfresh, to the memory
of men Of the last generation, the presence,
voice, and manner of his father. Convivial
iu his hal4ts, sprightly and genial in convel-
baiion, John Wilkes made mary acquant-
anoes and friends among the young men OF
his own age in the city-an acquaintance
that was renewed during two subsequent
engagements. -
Our recollection Of Booth is somewhat
indstinct, but, we remember, his features
Ia repose had rather somber and melan-
eholy cast; yet, under agreeable influences
er emotions, the expression WAS very ami
mated and glowing. His hair, jet black
and glossy, curled slightly, and Ht off in
fine relief high, intellectual forehead, and
face full of intelligence. Both chin and
no.e were marked prominent, aud the firm
set lips and lines about the mouth, indcat-
ed irp,ness Of will. decision, and resolution.
Ie was scrupuousy neat in his dress. and
selected his habits with rare PERCEPTION Of
what was becoming to his figure and COM
plexion. lie would pass, anywhere, for q
neatly, and not overly, dressed man Of fash-
Nn s..s- ..-Y..
OF his political views very little was
known. lie kept still tongue on the sub
jsct, SO far as We have heard. Being of
Southern birth and education, it was pre-
sumed his spmpathies tended in that direc-
tion; but he exhibited no particular warmth
or zeal for the rebellion, and nothing to in
cause by as much as giving it pecuniary aid,
nuch less personal assistance, It's report
I'D, by gentleman who heard the conyersa-
sien, that during his engagement in Louis
Vile, in 1862, Booth fell into controversy
Eecessionist---while standing one morning
il, the Office. He remarked, in effect, that
he was Southern nan, and liked the people
out be could not, for all that, admit that
that they had it all their own way in Con-
they should have taken the American flag
and fought under that There is another
story to the effect that Booth, while playing
an engagement in Cleveland, year or more
ago, asserted ia Il public bar-mom that the
man who would XIII Abraham Lincoln woaId
gain amore enviable noto,iety than Wash
III t. -. ne hla
20 say whether these reported sayings are
apocryphal or not. @ -
The last appearance Of Booth on the
stage .(except at one or two benefits in
Washington, was at the Winter Garden,
New York, and in conjunction with his
brothers, Edwin and Junius Brutus, in the
play Of Juiius Cesar, for the benefit of the
Shakspeare-Mon Fund. He was, We
believe, to have played with them. again at
the same theater on. the ed of this month,
forSthe benefit'of the same fund. The play
selected was -Rm,eo and juliet, the cast of
lhe Booths beiing-John Wilkes as ''Ro-
lneo," Edwin as sMencutio,' and Junius
aatFriar, Lawrence As we have said, he
has played no engagements the present sea
son He left the stage to engage in oil
speculations, inwhich he was quite fortu-
nate, having netted within six months be-
tween. $50, 900 aud $75, ,000 Nor had he
ans, attention of resuining the stage, and
declined all managerial applications; petro-
leum. as he wrote, being more profitable
than the profession. ~ ;
Itis aiRcdlt'to understand what motives
could have prompted Booth to the commits
sion Of the great crime Of which he stands
accused. It would, indeed. be very fortu
nate for them ir it could be proven that this
infamous deed was the freak Of two or three
crazy fanatics, who plotted it themselves,
without inst;gation from the rebel authori-
kies, and was executed in an insane desire to
gain ffotoriety, no matter by what sneans,--.
But such, We anticipate, will not prove to
be the care, The incidents Of the double
assassihation, the preparation to escape,
everything, in fact, connected with it, indi-
catesdeliberate preparation, secretiyeness
caution and probably the contemplation of q
more Bloody purpose than the death of two
members Of the Administration. AS it
stands, hisfofy fails to present us an IN
stance OF assassination more dastardly, more
eowardly, more revolving in all Its details
than that which has filed the land with
mourning, and an hearts with the very gall
and worm wood of bitterness. There will
be no rest for the authors Of this crime -
Tho vary eir-will babble of; them, and the
seq cast them upon the shore. They may
hide In the mountains, but justice will track
them thefs. The wilderness cannot conceal
them, not the ntterriost parts Of the earth
secret them from that retribution which
wil-tsHibly- opsptaks- and consume them.
And in She future, no names will be more
abhored, exeerAtsd and hated, than those Of
the rassassains Of the Preyi1sn, ,ssnd Ills
hrfhst Minister. =" rs ,'M