Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-07-10
MEDICINE LODGE, BARBER co. KANs~ JULY no. 1885.
A STRANGE STORY.
Incident Recalling the Assassina-
ton Of President Lincoln.
The Queer Behavior OF an Unknown Man
At Wartburg, Tenn. and His sudden
aud Mysterious Departure-An
Interesting Narrative.
Chattanooga Cor. Cincinnati Enqu lrer.I

chattanooga Cor Cincinnati Enqu irer.l
One cold morning nineteen years ago,
IS the hack rolled into the German colony
OK Wartburg, Tenn, a stranger stepped
out, carrying on his shoulder a square box
and valise, approached the inn of the place
and asked for board and lodging. He was
eyed suspiciously on account OF his rough
appearance. scant baggage and nervous
manner. He was taken In and given a
room When he got inside he locked the
DOR securely, and fastened the window
shutters. WHAT he did in the room and
what he came there for has not been re-
vealed 10 the public until a stranger came
through the place a few days ago after
nineteen years OF companionship with
him. He occupied the room aud always
locked Il, carrying the key with him.
After being with the people some
time he was asked to participate in their
pleasures and assemblies. He give his
name as Sinclair, and would enter
tain them with marvellous tales of travel
aud adventures claiming to have been .
sea captain. He soon becams a great fa-
v0rite with the people, but his mysterious
ways and mannsrs kept them away from
him somewhat. he was Of a nervous
temperament, and was always watching
for some one. When the hack would ar
rive he woald always leave the crowd un-
I'll IL had gone and the passengers housed.
His dress was OF the coarsest material He
wore his beard long, and large hat with
bTim down over his eyes.
Tho village gradually grew larger, and
new arrivals were made daily. His anx-
iety Increased, and he began to lead the
life Of a recluse, and when he came out he
would always listen and never utter q
word.
One Of his peculiarties was to always
leave party that began to discuss the
war. One day he became almost crazy
with fear, and seemed to be searching for
something hs had lost He was seen to
have dropped a paper, which was picked
up. In it was contained the account Of the
assassination of Lincoln by Booth. When
be was asked what it was he had lost, he
replied something that interested him as
much as his life. The paper was aftsrward
slipped near his door. When he discov-
cred IL the shock made him I'll. He took to
bis bed, and was delirious for several days.
In his room was the square box he had
been sees to bring with him. 1t was a desk.
OF this he ravtd in his wild delirium, and
stated that in the drawers were disclos.
ures that would astonish thu whole coun-
try; but the keys were tied around his
neck. He called the names OF Spangler,
Harold, Atzerott, Payne and Mu Id, and
said his name was Booth.
When he got well and was told of his
wild talks he was startled and denied ever
having said such words. He lived after
ward in the same mysterious manner until
one day last week, VIII IN a gentleman from
Fredericksburg, W., was passing throu gh
the mountains with party inspecting the
coal deposits aud stopped at the hotel.
Sinclair wns walking across the street
when the wind blew his hat of.
The gentlem IN who was standing at a
window uttered an exclam alton and said:
Heavens. can that be Erastus Booth, the
brother of J. Wilkes Boothy The last time
1 saw him was nineteen years ago in
Washington, during the excitement of the
assassination of Lincoln"
The people gathered around him to hear
his story OF the last time he saw him, and
to tell OF his mysterious coming nineteen
years ago. After lis6ening to the two
narratives the conclusions were that he
was the man. The next day, while out
walking, Sinclair was passing a party.
when one of the number called: "HelIo.
Boot :" He stopped suddenly, involun-
tarily turned his h ad, caught hims ,lf and
proceeded on his walk.
That night he quietly stole away In the
darkness with his desk and baggage. His
going was as mysterious as his coming.
He has not been heard of sinca.