The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-11-11

story of the Woman Whom John wilkes
Booth Loved.
TBir7niugham. Ala Leu

tBirlningham. Ala. Letter.
| The Age, of this city. prints the following
| interesting story concerning John Wilkes
/ Booth:
The story printed in the Atlanta Constitu-
1 ton about John Wilkes Booth has evoked
much criticism here and the statement OF
| the Alabsmian Il a. he was alive has been
| denounced as a long-drawn imag nation.
| There is in Birmingham lady who knew
| Booth intimately. and q reporter called on
| her. She said:
| Il have feared you would call. do not
| care to be connected with this affair, and
will not open nay lips unless you promise to
1 keep my identity sacred" On being assured
| that her request would be acceded to, she be-
| gan an interesting story. during the recital
/ OF which she displayed some emotion.
| During the course Of the story she said: at
| first met Mr.. Booth at the Planters Hotel
| st. Louis, in / $50, and was with him enough
| TO know him vel. His first star engage
| melt was begun at Columbus Ca. under
| the management O. Mat Canning. The play
1 have forgotten. IL vas in 1S60 and 1861.
| 1t was in Columbus that Booth was wounded
by pistol shot, and the papers made great
| sensation OF i. 1t Yas. said that he was
4 badly cut by the wornin with whom he was
| in love. AL that story was not true. was
| the woman he loved, and this truth has
never been printed before. He and Mr.
| Canning, his manager, were examining
| small pistol. 1t exploded and slightly in
lureu M. Booth.
She was shown the Morning Ase with the
| authors story in it. and was asked if sue
| thought the story was true as related by
| him. She said ia q mysterious manner:
| ''>ome OF it may be true. some of il may
| not he, bat | have never entertained the
| first idea that ne IS dead, and have never
| seen single person who ever saw him dead
nor ever heard one say positively Until Mr.
| J. Il. Ford said to the Atlanta Constitution
| reporter, and do not believe now he ever
| saw Mr.. Booth dead. as he says he did I
! have never seen person who ever saw him
| dead that could swear to his statement. L
| was IN the headquarters OF General Banks.
| in New Orleans. during the excitement OF
| the killing. and leaned over the Generals
| shoulder when he received 3 telegram
| from Washington announcing the death
| of Mr.. Booth. When he read the
! telegram he called number OF stat Off
| GERS TO him and read it. The telegram was
| discredited. Charles Barton Hill and Mr..
Booth made their debut together, and knew
| each other intimately. In 1867 I was visit
| ing friends ia Mobile and met Mr.. Hill We.
| was with Edwin Forest at that time. IL.
| Hill showed me a letter, worn and trav-
ele,i without date or signature that he had
| received that day, and he said il xas from
! John Wilkes Booth. lie knew tie hand
/ writing and there was 10 question but what
| il came frOm M. Booth. DO YOU remember
| the story of steam tug sailing By New Or
1 leans once, about i've months after the
| shooting ~ President Lincoln? Well. l VIII
| always believe the story was true that Mr.
| Bcoth was on board
| "Don't yoE know positively that nc was
| on that tug. Ha> asked her. che eYaded
| the question, and said: Il never believed he
| was killed: lac Was too smart man 10 be
| caught like that. Do Won know that Mr..
| shooting of Lincoln? Wei! he was. The
/ original plaza was Ia capture Lincoln and
| bring him to thc South. and then exchange
| him Tor sil the Confederate prisoners. The.
men who were 10 help carry out the plot
! failed and Mr.. Booth determined not to be
| defeated. and lid the tragic deed he VAS &C
I credited with.
| "Do you renember much OF Mr. Booth
| in the South"
Il saw great deal Of BIN. and on enc Oe-
casion, in Montgomery. an aurora bOrealis
| cast glow on the Capitol building. The
| tire bells rang, and the people thought
| the Capitol on fire. lie stood with
| he said: 'If that is the Capitol on
| lire some AbOlitionist has set lire 10 it.
he loved the Union, although lac was said
| 60 be bitter against it. / have heard him
after some beautiful thoughts, and although
he was odd at times, he was very smart
! man. ! once heard him say, My God, ii
| was rich l would go 10 the North and Kill
| every Aholitionist l could, and then would
come South and raise Cain with the rebc4s.
There is man in Alabama to-day who
| knows more OF Mr., Booth than any living
person except myself.
'sIIc has sworn never to speak. and what
| he knows no one else does.
As the conversation was carried on, she
| stopped and said: IBID YOU ever see Mr.
Booths picture? Well. ] will show il to
you.
side and an Old family servant appeared
and was fold Ia bring the album with Mr..
| Johns picture IN IL.
| The woman returned bearing 4 large old
style album filed with old ambrotypes aud
| pictures of war times. She handed the
book 10 her 'mistresS' and retired. The
album was opened at page on when was
, the picture Of q young man apparently
| tEentv-ihree years OF age with features
| Identical with Mr.. Booths In the picture,
| the subject was seated in chair and held a
cane in his hand. the figaro was al medium
| physique with slightly stopped shoulders.
! Over the picture was written, IN Mr..
| Booths own handwriting. his name.
| ~ will never forget" she sad, ''the day
| lc presented me with that picture. but /
| would not tell the incident Tor worlds II
| was too sacred
! "Do YOU thiDk Mr.. Booth ever wrote back
10 friends ii he made an escape
| II do not. lie Wouid have been too
| sLrewd man. and / have no idea he ever
| did. unless ii was la his sister, Mrs. Clark,
| Of Maryland, who was great favoriie OF
| his"
| After the interview had closed, the re-
| porter left the residence and was shown out
| by the faithful servant who said: Il al
/ gays aid think that because M;SsGs was 30
| good She MAS troubled about Massa John
| She takes the old book with pictures in II,
AND looks al this picture lots, then She
! kisses it.'