Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-17
STORY OF A SKULL.
HOW THE ELDER BOOTH CAME IN
POSSESSION OF THE RELIC.

A Curious Gift From O River Pirate
Saved by the Chief of LawIess Gang
Visit to Convict-Scared Servant
Girls.
One Sunday night in Louisville number
OF people called on Edwin Booth, and among
them a doctor who had considerable loca
celebrity lie wanted to see Mr. Booth be
cause he had known the tragedian's father
and he sent word to our room that he wished
to place in his hands valuable relic that be
lonSed to the elder Booth. He was shown up
stairs by little darkey, who carried some
thing wrapped in newspaper. 1t proved to
be well preserved skull, thoroughly cleaned
and the parts Joined by springs and hooks.
On seeing it the niger lads eyes stuck out
with fright and he fastened away, declaring,
fob God, sab, he'd nebber touched dat tang
eff he'd knowed it was dead uns head.
Then the doctor related the 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
the saloon at the wharf rough-looking set of
men, whom by their talk he concluded were
thieves and desperadoes. There were lawless
gangs along the big river in those days
Booth had $1,000 in money in a belt, and
from motives of policy he invited the ruffians
to take several drinks AS this only served
to increase their peculiar looks in his direc-
ton, he thought it would be better to make a
deal for fear of losing his life. There was no
help near and escape was out of the question
he 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 be, my name is Booth. l am an
actor; you may have heard of me. I've got
81 900 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 a dollar of the money
again, but he was glad to insure his personal
safety. He slept on 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 manner he asked; 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 I appreciate
tho tru5t'
IN REMEMBRANCE.
"a year later Morrill, was sentenced to 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 to Natchez he visited the convict
took him money and delicacieS. A strange
friendship sprang up between these singu-
larry 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, 1--WE not
long to live | should die happy if | had
something to leave you to remember Inc by
You have been good to me, and | can repay
you not at all. l have nothing" "C.eer up,
old 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 it
in earnest, and on his death shortly after it
was found that be had willed the tragedian
his skull. Booth gave it to the doctor in
Louisville to put in order, but dying himself
soon after the request was forgotten until the
physician brought it to Edwin We used it
for Iorick's skull in Hamlet, and it was one
of our most precious relics. 1t was nice
clean skull, and lighted up splendidly at night
in the graveyard scene.
zone time at hotel it was put on a shelf
in the wardrobe, and | mounted it with a
Macbeth wig and big hejeweed, gilt gown
Some prying servant girls happened to see it.
A couple of 'em tainted, and the rest were
frightened most to death Morrilrs skull
didn't remain long in Edwins 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 a coal cart |
passing by had minute later crushed it into |
u hundred pieces New York Star