Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-09-17
THE MYSTERIOUS PORTRAIT.


THE MYSTERIOUS PORTRAIT
erected by public subscription, and
Chief Justice Marshall, of the United
States supreme court, assumed charge
of the movement. A building fund was
raised. Then the remains of the lost
were gathered together and placed in
vault beneath the center of the ruins,
and around this tomb the people built
the Monumental church.
Having said that there is history, mys-
terry and romance connected with this
building, and having viewed the history
of its wonderful and pathetic origin, let
us look into the mystery and romance
of Monumental church. Let us go into
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
picture of Rev. John G. Armstrong, who
was pastor of Monumental church from
1878 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 mieu. lie is undoubted-
ly a clergyman, but that is the face of
John Wilkes Booth. Every picture eX-
tant shows the semblance, and people
who saw Booth on the stage, when he
was well-known actor, say that the
photograph of Rev. John G. Armstrong
is perfect 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. He came
to Richmond a comparative stranger.
Everybody 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 be was not
what he claimed to be. At last in de-
spair. he left the ministry. lived in
private and died in 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 in Richmond
who had heard Booth on theastage. and
who heard DR.. Armstrong in the pulpit
who 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 i'm
possible for any man to have acquired
them anywhere except upon the stage.
Moreover, it was remarked that he was
slightly lame. as Wilkes Booth would
undoubtedly have been. after sustain
ing the injury which befell him as he
jumped from the box to the stage of the
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 to whether or
not the assassin. Booth. had really been
killed. These doubts were often ex-
pressed in public prints. When Rev.
DR.. 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 elocution. and she
went upon the stage. after her father
had died. 1t is said that whatever the
secret of his life may have been. before
he appeared in Richmond. he told II
to his child; for she often said that she
alone knew her father, and only her
could he trust.
But the mysterious priest of the
Monumental church has gone to his
grave; and there is no stone to mark
his last resting place. just before he
left the ministry, he had two photo
graphs taken; one for his daughter. the
other for the church. Andthere, in that
dark corner in the shadows that sur
round it, as the shadows of mystery
surrounded his life. in the vestry room.
the photograph shows the features of
John Wilkes Booth. Whoever he
was, poor fellow, his was an unhappy
life; his was a pathetic death.
SMITH ID. FRY.