Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-09-03
John wilkes Booth is Alive-Am-
davits Ready to Prove The Fact
Baker Charged with n Con-
spiracy to Obtain the Reward for
llie BODY of Booth.

spiracy to Obtain the Reward for
Ihe BODY of Booth.
l. The following extraordinary statement
of the actual existence of John Wilkes
Booth, is taken from the Nep Orleans Sun-
day Ne,cs. A correspondent says:
/ have no doubt the smile of incre1ulity
will play upon the countenance of many a
one who, otherwise in his own conceit, is
constrained to reject the voice OF truth
when proclaimed in language which a shall
| low intellect renders it impossible for him
to comprehend, who, aping the wisdom Of
a Solomon, denounces everything that to
him seems to partake of mystery, as a
| "humbug," simply because his mind is in
capable of grasping it, therefore proving
himself an owl, and others of that numer-
GUS class ofliving automatons whose minds.
thoughts, ideas, sympathies and actions are
swayed only by prejudice; who were new
er known to have an original idea in their
lives, or give an expression to an opinion
| that was not borrowed; who have the most
implicit faith in all the sayings and doings
of the party in power, its agents and rep
lresentatives.
T 1 have no doubt the faces of some per-
sons will wear an incredulous smile when
boldly and fearlessly proclaim through
your columns: Brother Americans, you
have been deceived John Wilkes Booth
| is alive
| The delusion has continued quite long
enough. 1t is time our people were
awakening to due sense of their simplici-
and susceptibility of being duped by the
shrewd and cunning parasites of rascality,
who have been and still are prowling about
Washington, growing tat on the spoils of
war, and drinking to the dregs the blood
of the INNOCENT victims whose lives they
have recklessly bartered for filthy lucre," !"
and that it might rebound to their credit
and self-aggrandisement.
1t is time that we were made fully aware
of the foul and most damning schemes that
have been concocted by these wolves in
sleeps clothing" to defraud an over gem
erous public. 1t would be folly to recall in
detail the tragic events OF the night of
April IA, 1865. They are too fndelibly
stamped on the memory of every American
citizen. Suffice it to say, the President
was assassinated, and j. Wilkes Booth was
denounced by common consent as the as
sassin.
| Tnat he made his escape from Washing
ton, none will deny; that it was his life
less body that was brought back TO WASH
ington, and so mysteriously disposed Of
many doubted, and but few individuals be-
lieued, who saw the strange conduct of the
officers in charge; that ii was not BOOTH s
body, but the maugled corpse of person
| resembling Booth, who had been brutally
murdered and substituted in Booths stead.
can now be proven beyond dispute; that
General L. G. Baker knew it was not
Booths body, can be shown-that he
claimed the reward offered for Booths cap
cure, and that the one hundred Thousand
dollars were paid out of the United States
Treasury, are well known facts.
But it may be asked, "How do you know
these things? from what source has your
information been derived ?" To all such
questions would reply in this wise, and
before doing so have weighed my words
well, and know full well the purpOrt OF
what 1 say: Il know them from diligent
inquiry, and having kept my eyes open
and my information has been derived from
thorough unprejudiced and perfectly re-
liable source"
There are three men in the United States
who have seen j. Wilkes Booth since wha
purported to be his mortal remains wa
dragged by those infuriated bloodhound
into Washington.
l. He was recognized through his disguise
on the 9th day of April, 1865, on board o
q vessel which carried him beyond tn
reach OF his supposed avengers; again HI
was seen by gentleman in the month o
September, 1865; and there is young maj
in this city to-day who saw him no lOnge
ago than August, 1866, and then converset
with him. The names of these individuals
duly signed to the respective aff1davits
might possibly be obtained upon application
to Judge Advocate Holt, or the notoriou
l.. G. Baker, chief of the national detectiv
police, as it is probable that they may hav
forgotten to mention to their friends or il
public a matter af such "trivial import.
If not, would venture to say the men re
ferred to would not object to a repetition
of their names to documents of simila
nature.
Be it, known: that I do hereby charg
General Lafayette G. Baker, and his asso
eiates, with having willfully and malicious
ly conspired to swindle the United State
Treasury out of one hundred thousand dol
lars. vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.
May the hills und mountains throughou
the length and breadth of the land re-eeh
the cry of JUSTICE.