New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-23
DID MR.. BOOTH KILL HIMSELFf
A BODY FOUND IN THE HARBoR THOUGHT TO DE
THAT or THE MISSING AGENT.

A BODY FOUND IN THE HARBoR THOUGHT TO DE
THAT or THE MISSING AGENT.
At an early hour yesterday morning the body OF
man was taken from the North River at Castle
Garden, which bore evidence that it had been in
the water long time. The body was
swollen beyond recognition, but from the
jewelry found upon 1t and tho clothing
it was believed that it was that Of person Of more
than ordinary standing The greatest interest pre-
vailed when, after it was viewed by some OF the
clerks in the Office of the Railroad JOINT Agency it
said to hear strong resem blance toJont AgentL
+. Booth, who mysteriously disappeared on July
n ana of whom tIdings have since been learned.
The clothing WAS said 70 he Ike that worn by MI
Booth and a diamond stud found IN his neckerchief
was declared similar TO one worn by bun. j. ne
Shoes however were OF tho p0lnted-t0o style,
which Mr.. Booth not in the ha bit of wearing.
Mir. Hubbard. of the baggage department, who
has been intimately associated with Mr. Booth for
the past ten wears, looked at the body. and
thought there was no striking resemblance to M
Booth The Coroner was then Informed and the
body was sent 10 the Morgue. There the clothing
was searched and il was found that the man had no
pawn-ricket issued by Mulhi & Costello. of No. 4
BOwery, 10 " Bauer" for % advanced on watch
on August II. In the same pocket with the ticket
were a rusty pass-key, a German gToschen ana
folding comb. In the INSIDE pocket OF his coat was
a copy of The Illustrated TINES dated August 20,
whioh-as the paper Is published one week III ad-
vance of the dale Of publIcauoa-proved that the
man was drowned since last saturday. The
stud IN his neckerchIef instead of being
diamond proved to be- of paste. Soon alter the
body had arrived at tue Morgue J. T.. Beckthold a
Castle Garden employee looked At 1t aud sad that.
although he could not positively identity the body
az beng that of Mr Booth, he recognized the
clothing his Mr.. Booths face. he said. was
smooth and without hint of beard eXcept at his
chm. The face OF the drowned man was smooth
except at his chin, where there was a beard about
four days old. MIR. Bccsthold sent a disOatch TO
Mrs. Booth. who lives in Newark. Robert Christian.
of The Board OF Emigration, also thought that tho
clothing on the body OF the drowned man resembied
taat worn 10y Mr. Booth.
Late last night Mrs Booth called at the Morgus
and asked TO be shown the body. She was told IN
what a condition IL was. but persisted IN her re-
mans face than she excl med THAT'S my hus-
band" She aiterward ident hod the ar
tcles found IN tie clothing belonging To Mr.
Booth. MrS Booth remained in tins city last night
with some friends. Thus morning she Will take the
body witn Aer 10 Ne sark tor burial
Nj Booth disappeared nearly mouth
ago from his office. and until his
body was found Yes erday he has been
seen neither by his family nor Dy bis business assO
cIates. IIc had been complaining some time before
his disappearance OF malaria aud lntanmat ny
rheumatism. tie remained ava from his duties for
a week before word was received iT1in MS vile
Thai he had not been home. HIS absence
was then told 40 Commissioner FINK, OF the
Trunk Lines An investigation of Mr.. Boot :
accounts was ordered anu a report made ON
AUGUST o. IL said that there shortage IN
the cash on hand at the JOINT agency OF
10 ESQ TO July | the accounts were correct.
but since that time no statement had Deem
made. The general impression at lie iime. among
faulter, but that his complication OF diseases
had made him insane. aud @ fused him TO neglect
the affairs OF his office. No vouchers or papers re-
latIng TO the missing man we're found. ana IL was
finally decided that he mad absconded.
Mr. Booth was tLirty-eght years old. and had
been in charge OF the JOINT agency for numoar
of wears He was temperate IN his habits, aud APP
parently happy IN his domestic lie. hs was
graduate OF the Michigan Universally.