The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-08-30
UNCOLN'S SLAYER
TOOK OWN LIFE
Memphis Attorney Says He Has
Proof Body May Be
Exhibited.

WASHINGTON, August 13.-Declar
ing that the body of John Wilkes
Booth, the slayer of President Abraham
Lincoln, is actually in an undertaker's
shop in Enid, Oklahoma, and not occu-
plying an unknown grave, as has long
been generally belived, reputable at
torney of Memphis, Tennessee, Finis
L. Bates, recently wrote TO prominent
official Of the District of Columbia, to
arrange for the exhibition of the body
of the famous assassin in Washington.
The plan has progressed so far that
the district officials in question have
been negotiating for the rental of a
room not far from Ford s theater,
where Booth fred the shot that ended
the life of the martyred President, and
within a short distance of the Lincoln
museum, where are kept for exhibition
many Lincoln relics.
Mr.. Bates also wrote to the War De-
partment asking that he be furnished
an escort of United States troops to
guard the body from the undertaker's
shop in Enid to the exhibition place
here, and to also prevent any possible
attempt on the part Of excitable indi-
viduals to attack the remains when
placed on exhibition. The War De-
partment refuses to say whether or not
the request will be granted War De-
partment officials are reficent regard
ing the Bates letter.
Strange and wild as the project of
the Tennessee lawyer appears on it's
face, there is plenty of evidence to
back up his assertions in regard to the
Booth story.
Took Lawyer into His Confidence.
Mr.. Bates said:
Il have long hesitated to give the
world the true story of the assassina-
ton of President Lincoln as related to
me IN 1872 by one who called himself
John st. Helen, but who in reality was
John Wilkes Booth. Of the truth of
what he told me | am convinced beyond
doubt.
II first met John Wilkes Booth, or
John St. Helen, as he then called him
self, while practicing law in Hood
County, Texas, in 1872. St. Helen was
keeping country store at place call
ed Glen Rose Mills. He was nv client
in case in the Federal court. Ou1
acquaintance grew into warm friend
ship.
st. Helen fell sick and sent for me-
He believed he was dying. On what
he then thought was his death bed. be
confided to me that he was John
Wilkes Booth. Strange and improbable
| as this may seem, later events and q
long and painstaking examination on
| my part convinced me that his story
was absolutely true.
Committed Suicide in Oklahoma.
st. Helen, instead of dying. recov
cred, and moved to Enid Oklahoma
where he went under the name of D. E
George. On July IS, 1908, st. Heller
or George or Booth, committed suicide
! IN an Enid hotel by means of arsenic
| | had kept his secret for him, he wa:
my client, and besides. before he haC
/ dlvulged his identity to ME at Glen
rose Mills, he had pledged me to 81
lenee. As soon as he was dead | wen
| TO Enid and identified the BODY.
The body of Booth, preserved BY al
embalming process, has been lying il
the undertaker's shop in Enid eve
since. 1t is now there, according t
Mr.. Bates. 1t was afterward identi
ned at various times by the late cele
/ brated actor Joseph Jefferson, Juiiu
Brutus Booth, nephew of John Wilke
Booth, and other reliable persons VIII
could not have been mistaken, so MI
Bates declares.
Health Authorities May Object.
According to the story, St. Helen. O
Booth, told Mr.. Bates that after shoot
| ing President Lincoln, he escaped t
the far southwest, while another ma
who resenlbled him was killed by Ser
geant Boston Corbett at the Garret
home when the soldiers found a ma
supposed to be Booth in the barr
where If has always been claimed tn
assassin was killed
1t IS not known whether the Distrie
of Columbia health authorities will mel
NIT the body to be placed on exhibitio
here. 1t is also thought for reasons o
public policy the government will no
permit the body to be placed on exh
biti0n anywhere.