The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-22
A STRANGE STORY,

Recalling the ASSASSINATION of Lincoln.
One cold morning nineteen years ago, a
the hack rolled into the German colony o
Wartburg. Tenn. writes Chattanooga
Tenn, correspondent 10 The Cincinnati En-
quirer, a stranger stepped out, and. csrryinl
on his shoulder square box and yslise, an
preached the inn Of the place and asked TO
board and lodging. He was eyed suspic
iously on account of his rough appearance
scsnt baggage and nervous manner. He wa
taken in and given room. When hs go
inside he locked the door securely and fas
tened the window SD utters What he did il
the room and what hs came there for hs
not been revealed to the people until ,
stranger came through the pace few day,
ago, after nineteen yeas Of compsnionsnir
with him. He occupied the room and al
ways locked it, carrying the keys with him
After being with the people some time b.
was asked to participate in their pleasure.
and assemblies He gave his anne as Sin
clair, and would entertain them with mar
velous tales of travel and adventures. claim
ing to have been a sea captain. He soon be
came great favorite with the people, but
his mysterious ways and manners kept then
away from him somewhat. He was OF .
nervous tenn permanent, and vas ALWAYS
watching for some one When the hack
would arrive be would always leave the
crowd until it had gone ana the passenge
housed. His dress was of the cosrsest ma
terial. He wore his beard long, and q large
hat with brim down over his eyes.
The village gradually grew larger, and
new arrivals were made daily. His anxiety
increased, and he began 10 lead the lite of a
recluse, aud when he came out would al
ways listen and never utter word.
One of his peculiarities was to 81 ways leave
q party that began TO discuss the war. One
day he became almost crazy will fear. and
seemed to be searching for something he
he had lost. He was seen to have dropped q
aper, which was picked up. In it was con-
tanned the account of the assassin alton Of
Lincoln by Booth. When he was asked what
1t was he had loss, he replied something that
interested him as much as his life. The pa.
per was afterward slipped near his door
When he discovered il the shock made hun
ill. He took to his bed, aud was delir.ous
Tor several days. In his room was the square
box he had been seen to bring with him. Il,
was desk. OF this he rsved in his wild de-
lirum and stated that in the drawers were
disclosures that would astonish the whol.
country. bat the keys were tied ,ronnd his
neck. He called the names of Spangler Har
rold, Atzerott, Payne, and Mudd, and said
his name was Be 9th.
When he got we'll aud was told OF his wild
talks he was startled aud denied ever having
said such words. He lived atterward ia the
same mysterious manner until one day last
week. when a gentleman from Frederick
burg, Va, was passing through the noun
tains with party inspecting the coal depos
its and stopped at the hotel Sinclair was
walking across the street when the wind blew
his hat off.
The gentleman who was etanding at a win
dow uttered an exclamation aud said:
Heavens! Can that bs Era3ius Booth the
br other OF ] Wilkes Booth? The last time
saw him he was nineteen years ago in Wash
ington, during the excitement Of the assas
sination of Lincoln"
The people gathered around 10 bear his
story OF the la time he saw him. and 10 tell
OF bis mysterious comiDg nineteen years age.
After listening to The two narratives, the
we're that be was the man. The
next day, while out walking Sincsir was
passing party when one of the number
called: "Hello, BOOTH" He stopped sud.
denly, involuntarily turned his head, caught
himself, and proceeded on his walk.
That night be quietly stole away in the
darkness with his desk aud baggage His 60
ing was a. mysterious as his coming He has
not been heard of since.