New-York tribune., 1903-06-07
IDENTIFIED BY TOOTH.
John Wnkes Booths Body Rec
oeuised Three Years after Death.

Tho rtorv that John Wilkes Booth, under an
assumed name had been living in the west
until last March. when he committed sulcioe'
which has been recently printed, has once more
called attention to the Identification OF the pooS
of the supposed murderer of Lincoln by EDWIN
Booth and Junius Brutus Booth In Baltimore
three wears after his death. One of the few liv-
ing witnesses Of that Identification is no" IN 'hs
CITY. and Yesterday he told the graphic story OF
the occasion:
This witness is Frank Oakes Rose. an actor
and stage manager by profession. a lifelong
friend of James ONeilI. He is at present stage
manager for the Pain Fireworks Company anu
will produce 1.-The Last Days OF Pompel DIT
Manhattan Beach this summer. he is aiSo
rnemher of the board Of directors OF the Actors
Society of America
"At the time OF the Identification MI fSoSe
said Yesterday "I was member OF Fora $ stocA
company at the Holiday Street Ihealre' IN
Ra1tirnore There was an undertaking estao-
Ishnent surrounded by high fence, just OPP
posite the stage door One morning as w. L.
r,,rton o ralIouy pIayer and friend of ]. Wilkes
raoo+b and were about to enter the stage door
for q rehearsal Burton seized my ar1n' crleo
Come with me. quickr and pulled me across the
street.
1--WE scaled the high fence about the under
taking establishment and dropped down Oh LILO
inside Standing backs to US were scofe VI
more people. including two army officers Ed
win Booth and Junius Brutus Booth IhoIhaS
A Hall Oast year with James K HacKett)' QUIZ
stage manager, and Mr.. Ford. They dld not
see us but waited in silence in front Of the door
of the place. Presently the door opened. anu
they filed in. we after them. The room was
darkened and two dim gas jets nickered at
either end. In the centre, on two horses. was q
p1aiu coffin not mouldy, but evidently dug up
from a long confinement in the ground 1t was
unopened I got near the head. close to EDWIN
Booth.
"I can identify my brother. John wilkes
Booth by gold plugged tooth on the rlght slut
of his Jaw. next to the eye tooth, SAID EoWln Tln
Booth and the coffin then opened. Inc
remains of a man evidently long dead were us
closed Edwin Booth and the undertaken e4
amined the skull and found tne gold All fne
teeth were fine, white and strong. ana the ID"
was unmistakably that of the Booth IaHnyi my,
even 1 could see that. who did not know John
Booth personally. The body was shod with
riding boot on foot and a slipper on the
other. Burton then spoke up Inau ln Doos 1,o
went skating he said. If it is one of the
PAIR there will be hole in the heel made by
the screw of the skate
THE boot was examined and the screw hole
found There was doubt in the mlnd OF
anybody present that the body was thal OF Jonn n
Wilkes Booth. and we then filed out nave
never at any time since heard one OF those tnen
present express the slightest doubt as to the
completeness of the Identification.
rOnce / had the misfortune to refer TO that
day to Edwin Booth, and shall never forget II.
I was engaged to play Horatio win MN. anu as
&c stooS in fhe wings 7 asked him II he re-
rnembered me. He said he did not, and stupid
ly told him where had first met. Hls race
underwent a horrible change. Then ne saiu
slowly: .Oh yes: that was sad occasion. Rose.
After long pause. he added I am as Vel Wen &C.
huainted with you now as ever was WIN IoIn my
brother John. He was peculiar L never
seemed to know him."