Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-01
STORY OF A SKULL.
HOW THE ELDER BOOTH CAME IN
POSSESSION OF THE RELIC.

Saved by the Chief of LawIess Gang.
Visit to a Convict-Scared Servant
Girls.
One Sunday night in Louisville a number
Of psople called on Edwin Booth, and among
them u doctor who had considerable local
celebrity He wanted TO see Mr. Booth b-a-
cause hs had known the trage'iian's father,
and he sent word 10 our room that he wished
to place III his hands valuable r. lie that be-
longed to the elder Booth. He was shown up
stairs by little darkey. who carried some
thing wrapped in u newspaper 1t proved to
bo u well preserved skull, thoroughly cleaned
and tho part, joined by springs and hooks.
On seOin. it tho nigger lads eyes stuck out
with fright and he haStcned away, declaring,
fOh God, sah, he'd nebber touched dat ting
# hod a knowed it was a dead uns head.
Then the doctor related tine history Of the
skull, and it proved mighty interesting and
romantic.
Years before. Junius BrutuS Booth played
an engagement in Natchez After the closing
performance he was taken down in a cart
with his trunk to the river landing. to wait
for the upcoming steamboat. He found in
tho saloon at the wharf a rough-loOkinS SIT of
men, whom by their talk he concluded were
thieves and deSpcradoes. There We're lawleSS
gangs along tho biz river in thusc days
Booth had Sl,OOO in money in n belt, and
from motives of policy he invited the rIItlianS
to take several drinks. As this only served
to increase their peculiar looks in his direc-
tinn, he thought it would he better to make u
deal for fear of luSin. his life There was no
help near and escape was out Of the question
-ho would probably have been followed and
murdered. Selecting the toughest, toughest,
uglieSt looking man in the crowd, Booth
called him outside to say few words. Look
here, said he, my name is Booth | am an
actor; you may have heard of Inc. I've got
81 ,OOO in here in a belt and I'm afraid of be
ing robbed / want You to take it and keep
it safe for me until the boat comes along.
The fellow looked earnestly at the old man
| and then reached out for the belt. Booth
never expected to see dollar Of the money
again, but he was glad TO insure his personal
safety. He slept ou a table in the saloon
Next morning he was awakened by the Gus
todian Of his treasure. Get up said he; the
boats in sight. Here's your money! Booth
was thoroughly surprised, but of course de
lighted. What's your namer herasked; L
always like to remember an honest mans
name The fellow hesitated, lowered his
voice and answered: Its Morrill, Folks
| hereabOut call me the chief of the river
| pirates. You trusted me, and appreciate
| the trust
IN REMEMBRANCE.
"a year later Morrill, WIS sentenced 10 the
penitentiary for life believe Ned Buntline
wrote a highly cOlored history of his crimes
| for one of the story papers. When old Booth
| returned 20 Natchez he visited the convict,
| took him money and delicacies. A strange
| friendship sprang up between these singu-
| iarly different men, and every time the actor
went to Natchez he repeated his visits TO the
| prison. On the last he found Morrill, dying
of consumption. Booth" said he, %rve not
| long TO live. | should die happy if | had
something to leave you to remember me by.
You have been good to me, and | can repay
| you not at all have nothing" Cheer up,
o.d chap" answered Booth. IF you're set on
leaving me a legacy let it be your head" He
| spoke in jest, of course but the pirate took il
| in earnest, and on his death shortly after il
was found that he had willed the tragedian
his skull Booth gave it to the doctor in
soon after the request was forgotten until the
| physician brought it to Edwin. We used il
| for Yorick's skull in Hamlet and it was one
Of our most precious relics 1t was a nice
clean skull, and lighted up splendidly at night
In the graveyard scene.
"One time at a hotel it was put On . sheli
in the wardrobe, anu 1 mouIted it with q
Macbeth wig and big hejeweled, gilt gown.
Some prying servant girls happened to see it.
A couple of 'em tainted, and the rest were
| frightened most to death. MOrrilIs skull
didn't remain long in Elwin's possession,
though. One time he went home to visit his
mother, who lived on High street, in Balti-
more. Unpacking his trunk while he was
out, she came upon that skull. Not knowing
what it was USED for or the history attached
to it, she decided to get rid Of it along with
some other rubbish. So when Edwin came
in she told him how she had thrown that nasty
skull out of the window, and that coal cart
passing by had minute later crushed it into
a hundred pieces.-New York Star"