The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-21
STORY OF A SKULL.
HOW THE ELDER BOOTH CAME IN
POSSESSION or TIE RELIC.

= Curious Gift From River Pirate.
Saved BY the Chief CT . Lawlcss Gang.
Visit to a Convics-scarcd Servant
Girls.
Ono Sunday night in Louisville number
OF pcoplo called on Edwin Booth, and among
thcm 4 doctor who had considerable local
celebrity. To wanted to see Mr Booth he
cause he had known the tragcdian's father
and he sent word to our room that he wished
to place in his hands valuable relic that be
iongcd TO the elder Booth He was shown up
stairs by . little darkcy, who carried some.
thing wrapped in n newspaper. 1t proved to
be u well preserved skull thoroughly cleaned
and tho parts joined by springs and hooks.
On seeing 1t the Niger lads eyes stuck out
with fright and he FASTENED away declaring,
fob God, sab, he'd ncbbcr touched dat ting
# he'd a knowed it was dead un's head.
Ihcu 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
for the upcoming steamboat. He found in
the saloon at the wharf a rough looking set Of
men, whom by their talk he concluded were
thieves and despcr2does There were lawieSs
gangs along the big river in those days.
Booth had $1,000 in money in belt, and
from motives of policy he invited the rulIlans
10 take several drinks. As this only served
TO Increase their peculiar looks in his dircc-
ton, he thought It would be better to make q
deal for fear of losing his lie. There was no
help near and escape was out Of the question
he would probably have been followed and
murdered. Selecting the toughest, toughest,
ughest looking man in the crowd, Booth
called him outside TO say "A few words. Look
here said Hr, my name Is Booth. / am an
actor, you may have heard of mo Eve got
:l,0I0 in here III belt and I'm afraid of be-
ing robbed. l want yoU 20 take it and keep
Il safe for me until tho boat comes along
Tho fellow looked earnestly at the old man
AMI then reached cut for the belt Booth
never expected to Sca "a dollar OF the money
again, but he was glad 20 insure his personal
safety. lie slept ou "A table III the saloon.
Next morning he was awakened by the Gus
to,!ian of his treasure. Get up said he, the
boats in sight. Here's your money! Booth
wa thoroughly surprised, but OF course dc
Lighted. What's Your namr| hr asked: Il
Away Ike TO remember an honest mans
name. The fellow hc-itat"i, lowered his
voice and answered: It's Morrill,. Folks
hnrcabout "ali me the chief Of tho river
pirates Nnu trusted me, and | appreciate
the trust
~ REHEMBUAECE
~ year later morrill, was sentenced TO the
pcuitentiary for life. believe Ned Buutline
wrote a highly cclored history OF his crimes
for one of "a" story papers When oh Booth
returned t. Eptrhcz ha visited The convict.
took him money ana ielicaccs \ strange
friendship spruuE up between these Siugu-
larry different men, and every time the actor
went 70 Natch"a hc repeated his visits 10 tho
prison ON the last he f1lmd Morrill, dyin.
OF consumption. Booth " said lie, I've not
long 70 live. 1 should die ha1py if I had
something 70 leave You 70 remember me by
You have hc"i good to me, and / can repay
You not 40 an. have nothing" "Chcer up.
oil chap" answered Booth. III you're set on
leaving mo "a legacy let II be your head" Ha
spoke IN jest, Of course, hut the pirate took il
in earnest, and GA his death shortly after il
was found that hc had wiIled the tragedian
his skull. Booth gave it to the doctor in
Louisville h put in order, but dying himself
soon after the request WAS forgotten until the
physician brought It u Edwin. We used il
for Navick -isI.l in Hamlet, and it was ono
Of Our most precious relies. II was nice
clean skull, and lighted mp splen5illy at night
in the graveyard scene.
"OnC time no "a hotel IL was put on a shelf
in tho wardrobe, and | mounted it with a
Macbeth wig amt big hojcwclrd gilt gown
Some prying servant girls happened To see it.
\ couple ot 'om tainted. and the rest were
frightened most to death MorriII's skull
didn't remain long in Elwin's possession,
though. On, time he went home to visit his
mother, who lived on High street. in Balti-
more. Uupacl,ing 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 10 set 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 u coal cart
passing by had minute later crushed it into
hundred picces.-Ecw York Star"