The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-14

ESAWnR. the truth of this has Deer aoes
ttoned by many and chance rrfa@SS
foceutly made in the Chicago h's'oE :
1rn4 society museum ny two men re-
I y4ved ! story whScA may change an
narratives surrounding the 3e~Sh o.
the Great. Ersaacirasor.
N % Craig ara ! Harley craig,
4 nrcshera o. ossSacT-S SssH. c"s@ .
we're the rwe wse@ S=re}aae aosH'
nys,nnr she exASests sAsy came 20
nictur~ ~ 1ch- Wilkes Booth. ara
one Of them posaTgms 20 the pie'&:e'
remarked 10 a hystandsr
1--WE lived with that man when ne
was 4 house painter In Ensd ana 1"'
Reno. Okla We knew him well
IRE oystander was Colonel f.. 4.
weed. 4 evil war veteran and In
charxe Of certain important historical
researches conducted by the society.
Al eret he was incredulcus but seine
the two men were serious. ne inv'tso
them into his Office and they told the
starry that follows;
On January IA, 1909. = man, known
- David E. George, committed suicide
~ taking arsenic while at the Srano
Avenue hotel In Enid. Okla he re-
NAMED conscious for some time after
swallowing the poison. and shortly
before he died he confessed both YER
hal;y and In writing that he was John
wilkes Booth. the murderer OF Ian
coin Persons At his bedside refused 10
believe what he said. but he showed
them a letter addressed to Finis l..
Bates an attorney OF Memphis, Tenn,
and declared that Mr. Bates would
confirm his confession. soon AFTER
making the statement he died.
Rumors having gone around that tho
dead man was Lincoln's slayer, a moh
~ Mad the hGIS.
they might burn It. The rioters were
told 10 wal. more positive identth-
cation, and the body was taken 90 the
Pehnaman undertaking establishment.
The remainder of the story Is told
a. gathered from statements and let
tiers of Mr.. Bates, who was called
from Memphis 70 identify the body.
Arriving in Enid 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
esta blishment There he identified the
body of George az that of the man he
had me, In Gienrose Mills. Texas 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 as
reciter OF shakespearean dialogue
and for his eloquence as public
speaker. Except when in company
he was of a tacturn and gloomy tenn
permanent
The so-called st. Helen became des-
perately Ill In the fall OF 1872 and one
night secretly called Bates to his bed
side and announced he had a confess
sion to make.
Il am dying" he whispered. My
name Ii John wilkes Booth. i am the
assassin OF President Lincoln. Get
the picture of myself from under the
pillow. leave 1t with you for my
future identification. Notify my
brother. Edwin Booth. OF New York
city"
Bates took the picture--a tintype
made by a Gienrose Mills photogra-
pher, but paid little attention to the
statement. thinking tho man deliri-
Gus.
ST. Helen recovered. however. and
vince he 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 Lincoln.
Eates spent years investigating the
II lsnwing story. that was told to him
ny ST. Helen. and says that he is con-
4tinced OF It's 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
wfth David F. Herold Booth made
his way through the military lines
by using the password that had been
given him by a high official who was
among the plotters.
He first stopped At the former home
cf q friend Mrs. Suratt. then pro-
coded TO the residence Of DIR. Samuel
Mudd, who frst--and this part IL i'm
portAnt--cut away the boot, then put
Kplinta on the leg, SO the SLAYER was
forced to continue his flight wearing
hut one boot
Booth and Heroid met man named
Rudy who agreed to guide them TO
Rudy went ahead TO arrange meet
the Confederate lines for $500 While
tnE with certain officers of Col. Mos
by.s forces. encamped on the other
side OF the Rappahannock river. the
fugitives lay in hiding.
After four days Rudy returned
with news that everything was ready
and Booth reached and crossed the
RAppahannock safely, being CON
cealed beneath a pile of straw In a
nEgrofs cart.
Ruddy Slain as Booth.
He met Moshy's men at the Garrett
homestead and then discovered that
M had lost his diary, soms letters
and the check with which BUDDY was
- have been paid. Rudy volunteered
10 return with Herold and search for
the missing articles. being anxious to
get the check
st. Helen BOOTH told Bates that
1t was upon this incident that the
III .ise identification OF the man killed
hy Corbett in the corn crib rested
Two days later. upon being warned
M the approach Of the federal troops.
Booth fed TO the woods nearby and
Rudy and Herolc were the men sur
rounded in the Garrett corn crib.
HGr0ld gave himself up without a
ftru8wle hu, Rudy decided to fight
ri out
According to the story Of St. Helen
s3t was Rudy who was killed by pri-
NAte Boston Corbett Booth had
shaved off his mustache during the
S6ight while Rudy, who was Of the
sA-le size and build as Booth. did
MOT. Carrying Booths papers which
had been found in the Negroes wagon.
slt was only natural that he should be
sxntGtAkep for the assassin
Assassin Fled to Texas.
Booth Ned westward from Virginia
z3n various DISCUSSES. reaching Texas