The morning times., 1895-12-31
WILKES BOOTHS DOUBLE.
The Curious and Tragic Story of
Rev. John G. Armstrong.

Philadelphia Times ..a.a-l
From romantic point OF view, the most
interesting object Of all about the old Mon
umeDlai Church at Richmond, Va, is the
photograph OF Wilkes Booths double. 1t
hangs in dark corner of the old-fashioned
vesiry room, and represents a man in the
prime OF life, standing beside a table, his
long, clerical garments giving him increased
height and dignity. The long, straight hair
is brushed straight back from the high,
broad forehead, and the face, in its every
hneament, is said to be the image of Wilkes
Booth as he wauld have appeared at that
time. The resemblance is certainly most
remarkable-the deep. black eyes. the shape
OF chin. mouth. cheeks. forehead, eyebrows,
and uose-and Moreover there is n subtle
similarity of expression to members Of the
Boo'h family that defies description.
This man was Rev. John G. Armstrong,
pastor OF the echurchfrom S7S to 1884. But
even to this day strange rumors OF the
final end OF Wilkes Booth are to be heard
in places where his friends and intimates
lived and talked long after the assassina-
tion OF President Lincoln had passed into
history. There are tales OF a mysterious
grave, OF body that tailed in some of its
marks with those OF wilkes Booth and DIFF
fered materially in others. and an fnfangf-
BILE fabric of suppositions built about a
series OF gossiped incidents. However
yalueless these may be historically, they
show an undercurrent that found an out
break in the romance or Mr.. Armstrong
OF Monumental Church.
The likeness OF Mr.. Armstrong TO Wilkes
Booth was so startling that some people
who had seen both men found it bard to
believe that they were not the same. The
preachers manner light be called dramatic.
His movements and gestures had the repose
and breadth that most actors acquire IN
following their art and living and working
constantly before an audience. He was,
moreover. slightly lame, rs Wilkes Booth
would probably have been in consequence OF
the injury to his leg sustained in Jumping
from President Lincoln's box Aside from
this fact. Mr.. Armstrong; manner. voice.
and temperament led TO the conviction that
were he not n priest he would have been o
great actor. 1t Is said that his dan gflter did
subsequently go upon. the stage. and met
with great SUCCESS.
No subject OF discussion was more con-
stant In Richmond than the possibility that
Mr.. Armstrong and Wilkes Booth were one
and the same person. Mr.. Armstrong stren-
nously denied the identity, but such denials
could not silence the ruInors. There seemed.
moreover. to be a shadow over his antece-
dents He came to Richmond compara-
tive stranger and claimed that he was
priest oriained in Ireland. An inyestiga-
ton was quietly started to clear up the
facts as to his past. but did not give entire
satisfaction. In the midst of the constantly
reiterated declarations and deaials. the
clergyman was accused of Irregularities In
his habits. and this again called forth the
charge that he was not all he seemed TO be.
He finally resigned the rect0rship OF Monu-
mental Church. and went to 4 city in the
extreme South. Shortly after he left the
ministry he sank out OF sight and died In
p,,t 20 thx.a
as to his identity hung like a shadow over
his life. and when on his 1eathbed his last
words were a denial-a pathetic heart
broken denial-that he was wilkes Booth.