River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-09-16

the vestry room. There, in that dark
corner, hangs upon the wall picture of
John Wilkes Booth, in long clerical
garments. The sexton says that it is a
picture of Rev.Joh G.. Armstrong, who
was pastor of Monumental church from
1875 to 1854.
The photograph plainly shows, in
every line and curve, the broad high
forehead and long straight hair, the
handsome chin and exquisite profile of
John Wilkes Booth. The man is in the
prime of life, standing beside a table,
with serious mien. He is undoubted-
ly clergyman. but that is the face of
John Wilkes Booth. Every picture eN-
tan; shows the sembance, and people
who saw Booth on the stage, when he
was well-known actor, say that the
photograph of Rev. John &. Armstrong
is peril, ct picture of Booth.
There is the mystery, but there is ro-
nance also connected with the story,
for nobody ever knew where the rever-
end gentleman came from. 1t was said
that he had been ordained in Ireland.
An investigation of his past did not
produce satisfactory results. lie came
to Richmond a comparative stranger.
Every body wondered at the likeness of
the man to John Wilkes Booth, and
some accused him of being that man.
Finally the clergyman was accused of
irregularities in his habits, and this
started afresh the story that he was not
what he claimed to be. At last, i'm de-
spair. he left the ministry, lived in
private and died i'm obscurity. The
doubt of his identity hung over him
like a pail. On his deathbed, his last
words were denial, an earnest, tear
full denial, that he was John Wilkes
Booth.
There were many men ia Richmond
who had heard Booth on the stage. and
who heard Dr. Armstrong in the pulpit.
| no declared that two men could not be
so much alike; in face, form. voice,
! gesture, everything; for the preacher
was a man of such dramatic manners,
that it would have been almost inn
/ possible for any man 70 have acquired
them anywhere except upon the stage.
/ Moreover. il was remarked that he was
slightly lame, as Wilkes Booth would
undoubtedly AdNt Atttii. dlttI sustain
ing the injury which befeH him as he
| jumped from the box o the tage of the
I theater on the night of the commission
| of his awful crime
1t is well known that there were
doubts expressed by many people in
/ Washington, in 1865, as 10 whether or
{ not the assassin, Booth, had really been
killed. These doubts were often ex-
pressed in public prints. When Rev.
/ DIR. Armstrong appeared in Richmond.
all Of those rumors were revived; and
there was such a general dissemination
OF gossip and rumor that the preacher
found himself surrounded by mystery.
When an attempt was made TO investi-
gate his antecedents. he gave no as
sistance.
1t is known that he had daughter
whom he trained in eloeution. and she
went upon the stage, after her father
had died. II is said that whatever the
secret Of his life may have been. before
! he appeared in Richmond, he told il
10 his child; for she often said that she
alone knew her father, and only her
could be trust
But the mysterious priest Of the
/ Mob&aiental church has gone to his
grave: and there is no stone TO mark
his last resting place. Just before he
left the ministry he mad two photo
graphs taken; one for his daughter. the
other for the church. And there, "a that
dark corner. in the shadows that sur
round IL. as the shadows of mystery
surrounded his life, in the yestry room.
the photoi raph shows the features Of
/ John W hes Both Whoever he
was, por. fellow. his was an unhappy
/ life; his was a pathetic death.
SMITH ID FRY