Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-20
LlNCOLN'S MURDERER.
Declared BY a Stranger to Be Alive
In Atlanta.
In the Person Of Rev. Dr.. Arm
strong,
Formerly Of st. Mathews Church.
A Wonderful Resemblance and a
Great Sensation.

Specie! 20 ne Register.
ATLANTA, Ga, December S.-The excite
ment caused last Sunday afternoon by the
announcement Of a stranger that Rev. DR..
Armstrong, rector of St. Phillips Episcopal
church is John Wilkes Booth, grows rather
than diminishes. Not that any one believes
it, but the resemblance certainly is striking
and the people have talked Of the occur
renee so much that there is regular furore
over the affair. The Constitution in refer
ring to the matter said
A stranger sat in a pew Of s.. Philips
Episcopal Church when the beautiful mora
ing service opened and DR.. Armstrong ap-
peared in the chancel, clad in the robes Of
his sacred office; the stranger started in sur
prise and at once gazed with uulagging in
terest at the leader in the devotions. The
long black hair Of the preacher was brushed
back from his forehead until the ends
touched his robe. With a rich and we'll
trained voice he led in the lesson. As he
passed from one part Of the chaueel to an
other, I'D into the pulpit and down again.
it was easy to see that he limped considera-
bly. All these things the stranger watched
with tns most intense interest, and when at
last the preacher turned from the altar,
faced the congregation, held the prayer
book in his left hanl, raised his right hand
over the congregation, and in voice that
an actor would have euyied pronounced the
closing blessing, the stranger drew long
breath and exclaimed aloud:
AS i've that 81 John Wilkes Booth!
The Identity Charged in n Letter.
When Dr. Armstrong first came to At
lanta the Constitution received letter from
Richmond declaring that he was John
Wilkes Booth. The writer said; "Iou will
recognize at once the fact that he is enough
Ike Edwin Booth to be his brother He is
about the size Of John Wilkes Booth. He
Emps in the same leg that Booth fractured
and he has a scar on his neck just as Booth
had. 10 not be deceived by the fact that
he has a grown daughter. Remember it is
twenty years since the assassination.
In view of these sensational suggestions a
description Of Booth would be read with
interest, especially by those who have seen
Dr. Armstrong 1t is said Of the actor he
had voice musically fall and rich, face
almost classic in outline, features highly in,
tcllectuaI, piercing black eyes capable ot
expressing the fcrcest and tenderest pas
sion and emotion, and commanding fig
IRE aud impressive stage address. His fea'
lures in repose had rather a sombre and
melancholy cast, yet under agreeable inRu,
ence or emotion the expression was very
animated and glowing. His hair jet black
and glossy, curled slightly and set oil in due
relief his high forehead. Both chin and
nose are markedly prominent, and the firm
set Eps and lires about the mouth indica-
ted frmness Of will, decision and resolu-
tion.
A Constitution man mentioned the matter
to Dr. Armstrong, and he said:
You do not believe that am John
Wilkes Booth? 0fcourse am not have
heard these reports for some time. They
are purely imaginary. | have heard it re-
ported that was John Wilkes Booth, and
have often been mistaken for Edwin Booth.
never saw either of them, 1t is true |
Imp but | have no scar on my neck as
Booth had.
Is the Scar Concealed:
The scar that Booth had, and which It was
intimated that Dr. Armstrong; long hair
covered was upon the large muscle Of the
left side Of his neck, three inches below the
ear and was occasroued by an operation
performed some months previous to Booth 5
death 1t looked ike the scar of q burn
rather than Of an ircision, because 1t was
torn open on the stage when nearly well.
One day soon at er DR.. Armstrong went
70 Richmond to OfhSiate there he was ap.
preached bv q stranger, who said:
DO vou know you are in danger?
No. do not, replied DR. Armstrong.
You are. replied the stranger.
You are believed to be John Wilkes Booth.
pr. Armstrong denied that he was Booth
and passed on.
The stranger was not the first who has re-
marked upon the wonderful resemblance
which DR. Armstrong bears to the members
of the Booth family, and who, on circum-
stantial evidence, could almost be convicted
of being the arch conSpiratur Who was killed
bv his purSuers aud whose body was sunk in
the Potomac.
DR.. Armstrong was born and educated in
Ireland. being educated at Queens College
at Belfast. He came to America in 1856.
He was in Missouri from 1863 until 1874,
when he went to Wheeling. In 1878 he
was called to Richmond and this year to
Atlanta, where he has established himselft
firmly in the hearts of all who have met
him. He has been in the ministry shoes
since 1859. He studied elOcution under
the best teachers for several years and his
delivery is remarkably fine. 1t is that fact
that has led many TO think Of him in con-
nection with the great actors. Many people
believe Booth WAS never captured, and some
assert that a sack of sand, and not a mans
body. went down into the Potomac on the
memorable midnight Even If that were
true DR.. Armstrong could prove an abb
if charged with firing the fatal bullet that
ended Iincoln's hte.