The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-01
ghes. Of all in Leavenng PoweELatest Us. Cove Report
REV. J. @. ARMSTRONG,
Formerly Pastor ofSt. Matthew'S Church,
Ih this City-Another Revival OF the Old
Time Discussion In Regard to Him.

Ih this City-AnOthcr REVIVAL OF inc Oiu
Time Discussion In Regard to Him.
RIchmand Letter in Philadelphia
Times: From romantic point OF view
the most interesting object OF all about
the old Monumental church Mt Rich
mond, Va, Is the photograph of Wilkes
Booth's double. It hangs In u dark corr
ner OF the old-fashioned vestry room
and represents u man In the prime OF
life. standing beside a table, his long
clerical garments giving him increased
height and dignity The long, straight
hnIr is brushed straight back from the
kEh. broad forehead, and the face--in
liz every lineament-is said to be the
image OF Wilkes Booth as he would
have appeared at that time. The re-
sembinnce Is certainly most remarka :
b!e-the deep, black eyes, the shape OF
chin, mouth. cheeks. forehead, eye
brows and nOsc-and moreover there Is
n subtle similarity Of expression to
members Of the Booth family that de-
ties description.
This man was Rev. John G. Arm
strong, pastor OF the church from 1873
To 1884, But even TO this day strange
rumurs of the final end OF Wilkes Booth
ARE to be heard in places where his
his friends and intimates lived and
talked long after the assassination OF
President Lincoln had passed into his
tory. There are tnies OF mysterious
grave, OF body that tailed in some of
Its marks with those OF Wilkes Booth
and differed materially In others, and
an Intangible fabric of superstition
built about n series Of goSsiped Incl
dents. However valueless these may
be historically. they show an under
current that found an outbreak In the
romance OF Mr.. Armstrong, of Monu-
mental church.
The likeness OF Mr.. Armstrong TO
Wilkes Booth was 30 startling that
some people who had seen both men
found II hard 10 believe that they were
not the same. The preachers manner
might be called dramatic. His move
ments and gestures had the reposc and
breadth that most actors acquire In
following their art and living and
working constantly before an audience.
He was. moreover, slightly lame. as
Wilkes Booth would probably have
been in consequence OF the Injury to
his leg sustained In jumping from Pres
ident Lincoln's box. Aside from this
fact. Mr.. Armstrong; manner, voice
and temperament led to the convlc-
ton that were he not priest he would
have been n great actor. 1t Is said that
his daughter did subsequently go upon
the stage and met with great success.
No subject OF discussion was more
constant In Richmond than the posi-
bility that Mr.. Armstrong and Wilkes
Booth were one and the same man.
Mr.. Armstrong strenuously denied the
Identity, but such deniAls could not ST.
lence the rumors. There seemed, more
over, TO be a shadow over his antece-
dents. He came to Richmond COM
pnrative stranger. and claimed that he
was priest ordained In Ireland. An
investigation was quietly started to
clear up the facts rs to his past. but
did not give entire satisfaction. In the
midst OF the constantly reiterated dec
larations and denials the clergyman
was accused of Irregularities in his
habits, and this again called forth the
charge that he was not all he seemed 20
be. He finally resigned the rectorsnip
OF Monumental church and went TO n
city in the extreme south. Shortly after
he left the ministry he sank out OF sight
and died in ohscurity. But even TO the
did the doubt as to his identity hung
like u shadow over his life and when
on his deathbed his last words were n
denial-a pathetic. heart-broken denial
that he was Wilkes Booth.