The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-01-17


that the romantic story of his having
been killed and buried in deep wa
ters was only.a myth evolved from
the brain of an excited military who
put forth the story to satisfy the
vengeance of an excited people.
Very Respectfully.
ORANGE Blossom.
FHere is the communication re-
ferred to.-Ed. Aootancbe.
WASHINGTON, PA, Jan. /, 1877
Ever since the assassination of Pres
ident Lincoln there has existed q
doubt in the minds of the citizens Of
the United States az to whether his
assassin was ever captured and kill
ed. some positively asserting that he
undoubtedly was, while others, equal
ly as positive. say that he was not.
These latter based their assertion
upon the fact that the officials who
reported his capture acted in q rath-
er mysterious and altogether private
manner in disposing of the alleged
assassin. Indeed, this latter class
fully believe that the true assassin
was never captured at all, it being
merely some poor deserter who had
taken refuge in barn, and who 10
the excitement of the moment was
shot down and captured, the captors
fully believing that they had the
right party. After they had discov-
cred their mistake they shot the de-
serter for his crime and conveyed
the body to a grave in the cold wa
ters, thus giving the impression to
the citizens of the United States that
the murder of their beloved Presi-
dent was fully avenged. Daring
the last ten years it has been assert
ed that John Wilkes Booth has been
seen at various times in different
parts of the globe. At one time it
was Egypt. another, South America,
and still another, Memphis, Tenn.
At the latter place lie is said to have
appeared on the strength of large
bet which was offered by q personal
friend of his who wagered q very
large sum that he could produce Jno.
Wilkes Booth in Memphis at q Ger.
tain time, which, it is said, he did
satisfactorily to all parties.
Many parties doubted this story,
bnt we are inclined to thinll it is on
~ too true, and that the murderer
Of President Lincoln is still in this
life, and is even now at this moment
q resident of Greene county, in this
State. and has made that his home
since April 20, 1865. He has been
away several times since he first
settled there, once for period of
two years, during which time he vis-
tied Egypt, Australia and South
America. He left in September,
1868, and returned in November,
1867, and did not leave home again
for two years. At thai time he went
to Memphis and New Orleans, and
was gone but six months, leaving in
November, and returning in May.
During 1872 he made q trip to Bal
timore. staying but about six weeks.
Since that time he has remained at
home leading quiet life. which has
been interrupted only Ivy occasional
visits of relatives and confdentials |
who were deeply interested and have |
therefore kept the noat profound |
secrecy in regard1o this matter. tt
was only by mere chance that we
happened to stumble upon this in
formation, A few days ago we we're
visiting some friends who reside in
Rioh.hll township, Greene county.I
And itsso happened that they intro
duced us to fine intelligent-lOoking
gentleman whose name was John
Wilkins, Extending his hands he
greeted me most cordially and in
vited us to rest while and smoke a
Havana. We accepted the invita-
ton, and during our brief stay we
observed that the old gentleman act
ed in q peculiar manner, for he paced |
the floor .restlessly, slowly repeating
at every few steps he took, the
words ''Sic semper tyfannns; sic
semper tyranuus." He would also |
assume a decidedly tragic appear
ance, quoting lines from Shakes
peare, and assume startling posi-
tions. After. remaining some fifteen
minutes Ige took our departure.
greatly interested in what we had
seen. We therefore setaboat 10 as
certain tho history OF this singular I
gentleman, and from our friends we /
ascertained that he first appeared in /
Greene county on the 20th day Of I
April, 1865, and requested the priv
ilege of boarding with the family Of |
Mr., Felix Warmcastle. which privi- |
lege was granted to him at once.
they being only toa will ng 10 secure
such desirable addition TO their |
small family. He lad come over
from Grafton, ". Va, on a hired T
horse, and a boy who eama NTH him
took the Eorse back, In few
weeks his baggage arrived at the
same station. which IS Dn the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad and s2gae i
t8snty.tmo niles from the Wild and
inaccessible spot he selected as his
home. He informed the eitizens Of
the neighborhood that lie had been /
engaged ia literary razsuiss and had /
broken down his health in conse-
qaeace, but had determined % ~
ctpeFate Iii this tic II lslesf ned most |
inaccessible p0Ftion of 1seans,s. .,s,..l..
III ells nsr< no resided lor lev !