Evening star., 1896-01-04
WILKES BOOTH's DOUBLE.
The Curious and Tragic Story of Rev
John G. Armstrong.

W
John G. Armstrong.
Richmond Letter in Philadelphia Times
From a romantic point of view the most
Interesting object of all about the old
Monumental Church at Richmond, Va, is
the photograph of Wilkes Booths double
1t hangs In dark corner Of the old fash
ioned vestry 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 Hneamentis said to be
the image of Wilkes Booth as he would
have appeared at that time. The resem-
blance is certainly most remarkable-the
deep. black eyes, the shape of chin, mouth,
cheeks, forehead, eyebrows and nose-and
moreover, there is a subtle similarity of ex-
preston to members of the Booth family
that def1es description.
This man was Rev. John G. Armstrong
pastor of the church from 1878 to 1854
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-
ton of President Lincoln had passed into
history. There are tales of a mysterious
grave. Of a body that Tailed in some of its
marks with those of Wilkes Booth and DIFF
fered materially in others. and an intan-
gible fabric of supposition built about a
series of gossiped Incidents. However
Valueless these may be historically they
show an undercurrent that found an out
break in the romance of 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 1t hard to
believe that they were not the same. The
preachers manner might be called dra-
matte His movements and gestures had
rPnOSa hraa6th hat
quire 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 conse-
quence of the injury to his leg sustained In
Jumping from President Lincoln's tox
Aside from this fact, Mr.. Armstrong's
manner, voice and tempera ment led to the
conviction that were he not a priest he
would have been a great actor 1t Ia said
that his daughter did subsequently, 90 up-
on the stage and met with great success
NO subject or discussion was more con-
slant In Richmond than the possibility that
Mr.. Armstrong and Wilkes Booth were one
and the same man. Mr. Armstrong stren-
uously denied the identity, but such denials
could not silence the Iumors. There seemed,
moreover, to be a shadow over his ante
cedents- He came to Richmond a COM
parative stranger, and claimed that he was
a priest ordained in Ireland. An investiga-
Uon 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 denials the cler-
gyman was accused of Irregularities i'm his
habits. and this again called forth the
charge that he was not all he seemed to
be- He finally resigned tie rectorship of
Monumental Church and went to a city in
the extreme south. Shortly after he left
the ministry he sank out of sight and died
In obsCurity. But even to the end the doubt
as to his Identity hung like a shadow over
MS life and when on his death bed his last
words were a denial-a pathetic heart
broken denial-that he was Wilkes Booth.