Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-06-01

VI" s"S S'"eVhSut Wc sOnlc udvS SlHCc noticed:
 GALVESTON, May 10, 1867.
 EpfToEs isIoAxuNE: Notwithstanding tro years have elapsed since the assas- sination of lincoln, and he subsequent capture and death, Gas it was officially announced) of the assassin, J. Wilkes Booth, you arc doubtless aware of the fact that there are many who, during all of this time, have doubted and still doubt the identity of the party alleged to be Booth, and beliye him to be still in existence.
 Since my arrival here I have gained the following information from Capt. Johnson, who has recently returned from China and the East Indies, and whose name is well known to many citizens of New Orleans.
 Knowing him, as have, for a num- Der of years, and always having found him man of vcracity, can vouch for the truthfulness of his statement which is as follows:
 "Whilc lying at anchor in the port of Calcutta, British India, prior to starting out on our homeward voyage, in the latter part of December, 1866, my attcn- ton was attracted by the arrival of magnificent clipper ship--the most beautiful model l ever saw--carrying English colors, and which dropped her anchor only few rods from my ves- scl.
 q soon asoertained she was called the Bird of the Ocean" and was con- mandcd by the notorious Lieut. Tol- bert. Having been well acquainted with him during the war, dispatched a messenger to apprise him of my close proximity, and requested an interview. In reply he invited me to scome on board at oncc," which I did. After half an hour spent in social intercourse over bottle of wine, in her elegantly fitted up cabin, he very politely begged to be excused, stating he had business in the city which demanded his imme- diate attention. promising me he would visit my ship the same evening.
 The evening wore along, and I had given him up coming for the night and was making preparations to turn into my hammock when the splash of oars greeted my ears, and in few moments more the ~eaptain stepped upon deck. accompanied by another young gentle man whom recognized as Mr. Robert Troth, (formcrly m engineer in the Confederate navy.) The first remark Tolbert made was this:
 Wake up, Johnson, you are boarded by piratcs..'
 From my knowledge of the man I knew he was in for nights sport, and decided to let him have his full swing. After reaching the cabin, he said, in confidential manner:
 "Captain Johnston, you and have always been good friends, and I have come on board your ship to have a good time witl, you. have just wen a bet of c50o in Calcutta, from one of my Boston friends. When was here, just six months ago, lacking two days, l laid a wager of se500 sterling that J. Wilkes Booth was alive. which was ac- cepted and the money staked. The con- ditions were, that l was 10 furnish proof of the fact inside of six months. Two men were selected by my adver- sary to accompany mo, their expenses to be paid by the loser. We have just got back o-day and those two men af- ter being duly sworn, said they had seen J. Wilkes Booth, the actor had convcrsed with him, and that he is alive and enjoying excellent health. The judges, after debating tho question at length, finally rendered decision in my favor, and the money was handed over forthwith Booths whereabouts is known only to five persons, who know that he is Booth. He is living in obscurity, far from his native land {; and is perfectly safe, as his disguise is so complete that his own brother could not recognize him. 1 sailed from Cal cutta on the following day, and have not heard from the dashing young ex- lieutenant since. What he told me made deep impression onmy mind.-- pondcred over the matter on my re- turn voyage, and must say that firmly
  believe Booth is alive, and Capt. Tol- i bert knows where he is."
 1 The above are almost verbatim his own words, end comment is unncces- { sary by me.
 Respectfully, your ob't serv't, l A. NJ. WILSON.