The Washington herald., 1919-10-26

Wilkes Booth, the slayer of Abra-
ham, Lincoin2 According to the
Federal government, he was killed In
the corncrib of the Garrett Homestead
in Virginia. on April &c, 1866. How
ever. the truth of this has been ques-
toned by many and a chance remark
recently made in the Chicago Histor-
ical Society Museum by two men re-
vived a story which may change all
narratives surrounding the death Of
the great emancipator
R. D. Craig and J. Harley Craig.
brothers. Of Oklahoma City. Okla.
were the two men. Strolling about
among the exhibits, they came to q
picture OF John Wilkes Booth. and
one Of them. pointing to the picture,
remarked to a bystander.
WE lived with that man when he
was e house painter in Enid and Ell
Rero. Okla. We knew him we'll"
The bystander was Col, E. z. Wood,
civil war veteran and in charge of
certain important historical researches
conducted by the society. At first he
was incredulous, but seeing the two
men were serious. he invited them in
to his ONCE and they told the story
that follows.
Confesses on Death Bed.
On January "A. 1903, a man. known
as David E. George committed sui
eide by taking arsenic while at the
Grand Avenue Hotel in Enid. Okla. lie
remained conscious for some time aft
er swallowing the poison. and shortly
before he died he confessed both YER
hally and in writing that he was John
Wilkes Booth, the murderer of Lin
coin. Persons at his beside refused
TO believe what he said. but he showed
them letter addressed to Finis L.
Bates. an attorney of Memphis. Tenn,
and declared that Mr. Bates would
confirm his confession. Soon after
me king the statement, he died
Ruinors having gone around that the
dead man was Lincoln's slayer, a mob
formed and demanded the body, so
they might burn IT. The rioters were
told to await more positive identifi-
cation. and the body was taken to the
Pennaman undertaking establishment.
The remainder of the story Is told
as gathered from statements and
letters of Mr.. Bates. who was called
from Memphis to Identify the body
Arriving in End disguised as a
furniture agent, so as to divert the
fury of the mob. which was still
watching for Identification to carry
out its purposes of burning the body
Bates proceeded to the undertaking.
establishment. There he identified
the body Of George as that Of the
man he had met in Gsnrose Mills
Tex. in 1871. under the name OF
John St. Helen.
The two men became close friends
st. Helen was not very successful IN
business. but was very popular in
society. being noted for his ability
logue and for his eloquence as a
public speaker. Except when In
company he was of a taciturn and
gloomy temperament.
The so-called ST. Helen became
desperately i'll in the fall of 1917
and one night secretly called Bates
to his bedside and announced he had
a confession to make.
Tells Lawyer His Story.
Il am dying" he whispered. MY
name Is John wilkes Booth. am
the assassin of President Lincoln.
Get the picture of myself from under
the pillow. leave it with you for
my future Identification. Notify my
brother. Edwin Booth, of New York
city"
Bates took the picture-a tintype
rnada hXy (.lanrnSn Mile nhnfn1-
rapher-but paid little attention to
the statement. thinking the man de-
lirious. -
st. Helen recovered. however, and
since ne had already told Bates that
he was Booth. he decided to tell the
story of his life and of his escape
from pursuers after shooting Lin
coin.
Bates spent years investigating
the following story. that was told
to him by st. Helen. and says that
he is convinced of its truth:
Following the shooting Of Lincoln
In the box at Ford's Theater and the
leap to the stage that broke Booths
right leg above the ankle, the assas-
sin made his escape on horseback
with David z. Herold. Booth made
his way through the military lines
by using the password that had been
given him by a high oficial who was
among the plotterS
He first stopped at the former home
Of friend, Mrs Suratt, then pro-
ceeded to the residence Of DR.. Samuel
Mudd. who f1rst-and this part Is I'M
portant-cutNaway the boot then put
splints on the leg. so the slayer was
forced to continue his flight wearing
but one boot.
Booth and Herold met a man named
Rudsy who agreed to guide them In
the Confederate lines for $500. While
Ruddy went ahead to arrange a meet
ing with certain oficers of Col Mos
by's forces, eneamped on the other
side Of the Rappahannock River, the
fugitives lay In hiding.
After four days Ruddy returne.,
with news that everything was ready