The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-13
WILKES BOOTHS DOUBLE.
rhe Curious and Tragic story of Rev
John G.. Armstrong.

Richmond Letter in Philadelphia Times
From a romantic point OF view the most
interesting object OF all about the old Mon
umental Church at Richmond. Va Is the
photograph OF Wilkes Booths double. 1t
hangs in a dark corner OF the old-fashioned
vestry room and represents a man in the
prime of life standing beside 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 every
Iineament-is said to be the image of
Wilkes Booth as he would have appeared
at that time. The resemblance is certainly
most remarkable-the deep, black eyes. the
shape OF chin, mouth. cheeks, forehead.
eyebrows and nose, and, moreover. there
bers of the Booth family that defies descrip-
ton.
This man was Rev. John G. Armstrong.
pastor of the church from 1873 to 1884. But
even to this day strange rumors of the
final end OF Wilkes Booth are to be heard
I'm places where his friends and intimates
ton of President Lincoln had passed into
history. There are tales Of mysterious
grave. OF body that tailed in some of its
marks with those OF Wilkes Booth and
differed materially in others, and an in
tangible fabric OF supposition built about
series of gossiped incidents. However
yaluelesS 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 II hard to believe
that they were not the same The preach
er's manner might be called dramatic His
movements ard 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. as 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 priest he would have been
a great actor. II Is said that his daughter
did subsequently, go upon the stage and met
with great success.
No subject of discussion was more con-
sfant in Richmond than the possibility that
Mr. Armstrong and Wilkes Booth were one
and the same man. Mr.. Armstrong siren
could not silence the rur,ors. There seemed
moreover 20 be a shadow over his ante
cedents. He came to Richmond a compare
tive stranger and claimed that he was a
nriest ordained In Ireland. An investiga-
ton was quietly started 70 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
clergyman was accused OF irregularities in
his habits. and this again called forth the
charge that he was not all he seemed to be-
mental Church and went TO 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 shadow over
his life, and when on his deathbed, his last
words were a denal-a pathetic heart
broken denial-that he was Wilkes Booth.