The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-18
Remains of Lincoln's Assassin
Property Of an Un-
dertaker? ..s.
EXHIBITION is ASKED FOR
r. L, BATES WRITES TO THE WAR
DEPARTMENT ASKING THAT
UNITED STATES SOLDIERS
GUARD THE BODY.


shop in Enid, Oklahoma, and not oc-
cupying an unknown grave, he has
long been generally believed, a repu-
table attorney OF Memphis, Tenn,
F1nis l.. Bates. recently wrote to
prominent official OF the District OF
Columbia to arrange for the exhibit
ton Of the body of the famous as
sassin 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 fired 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.
Officials Reticent.
Mr. Bates also wrote to the war de-
partment asking that he be furnished
an escort of United States troops to
in Enid, Okla, to its exhibition place
here and to also prevent any possible
attempt on the part Of the excitable
individuals to attack the remains
when placed on exhibition. The war
department refuses to say whether or
not the request will be granted. Of
ficials OF the department are extreme
ly reticent concerning the Bates let
ter.
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.
Mr.. Bates says: Il have long hest
tated to give the world the true story
coin 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 a doubt
II first met John Wilkes Booth, or
self, while practicing law in Hood
county, Texas, in 1872. st. Helen was
keeping a country store at a place
called Glen Rose Mills. He was my
client In case in the federal court.
Our acquaintance grew into warm
friendship. st. Helen fell sick, and
sent for me. He believed he was dy.
ing. On, as he then thought, his
death bed. he confessed to me that
he was John Wilkes Booth. Strange
and as improbable as this may seem.
later events and long and painstak-
Ing examination on my part convinced
me that his story was absolutely true.
Under Name Of George"
st. Helen, instead Of dying, recov.
cred and moved to Enid, Okla, where
he went under the name of D. E.
George. On July 10. 1908. st. Helen,
or George Booth. committed suicide
in an Enid hotel by means OF arsenic
I had kept his secret. for he was my
client and besides before he had di.
vulged his identity to me at Glen
Rose Mills he had pledged me to 81.
lence. AS soon as he was dead
went to Enid and identified the body
The body of Booth. preserved by an
embalming process. has been lying in
the undertakers' shop in Enid, ever
SlnC0. IL Is tueTo HOW, dCCOTOluS 10
Mr.. Bates. It was afterwards identi.
fled at various times by the late cele.
brated actor, Joseph Jefferson. Junius
Brutus Booth, a nephew OF John
Wilkes Booth and other reliable per.
sons, who could not have been mis-.
taken, so Mr.. Bates declares.
According to the story. st. Helen, OF
Booth, told Mr.. Bates, after shooting
President Lincoln. he escaped to the
far southwest while another man who
resembled him was killed by Serg
cant Boston Corbett at the Garrett
home, when the soldiers overlook, as
they thought, Booth in the barn
where it has always been claimed the
assassin was killed.
1t is not known whether the District
of Columbia health authorities will
permit the body Of Booth, if such it
is, to be placed on exhibition here.
1t is also thought for reasons Of pub
lie policy the federal government will
not permit the body in question to be
placed on public exhibition any.
where.