Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1865-05-05 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

JOHN WILKES* BOOTH. This is the name of the assassin of the American President, who has obtained a world-wide notoriety by the abominable murder which he has committed. We give in another place some particulars of the horrid catastrophe. We here give some account of the family antecedents of the murderer, whom we believe to be touched with insanity. Booth's father was an Englishman, and an actor who, some fifty years ago, appeared for more than one season upon the Stockton proscenium in the plays of Shakspere. He was a rival of the celebrated Kean, and by some people preferred as a better representative of some of Shaltspere's characters. He was a remarkably fine man, and frequently engaged in liasorrs with the fair sex, in one of which be received a wound the effects of which he carried to the grave. In 181 S be was engaged starring it at Bath, and formed a liasom with a lady of the name of—, whose husband was an iron merchant at Bristol; but who was at Bath during the season. Both the husband and wife were handsome, particularly the lady: Mrs formed an acquaintance with Booth, which caused a jealousy on the part of the husband, who determined to use means to find out the facts of the case. One day he told his wife business had called him to Bristol, and asked that his travelling case should be prepared. A coach was called, and he left the house in it. Going into the next street he discharged the coach, and entered the house of a friend, where he could keep watch over his own door. During the morning Mrs went out, and in her absence he returned to his own house, and secreted himself without the knowledge of the inmates. The wife returned and ordered dinner for two, and iu due course Mr Booth appeared with the wife in the room where the table was prepared. From his concealment in a closet in the room the husband was soon convinced of the infidelity of his wife, and, rushing from the closet, he siezed the carving knife, and, taking Booth by the nose, cut it off while he was in a helpless state, and, putting it into his hand, kicked him into the street. The discomfited actor hastened to a surgeon, and the nose wits sewed on. He told the surgeon that he had fallen upon a scraper. In the course .1 time the parts grew together, but the nose was greatly disfigured for life, a circumstance well known, although the cause has never been made known till now. The husband obtained a 1ea.,,t1 separation from his wife, and Booth, whose handsome face had been spoiled, emigrated to America. where be got rich on the stage and bou.dit, an estate. He took from England a beautiful Italian, the wife of an actor, and the murderer of Abraham Lincoln is one of the three sons he had by her. John Wilkes Booth is considered the handsomest man as well as one of the greatest dandies in America. He was an actor ; a dead shot with the pistol; a very passionate man; a scholar; and a drunkard. He has made property, which he secured to his mother a few days before he committed the murder. The Stereoscopic Company have just received from America a special portrait of Wilkes 1:ootit, given to a la.ly by himself in ellicago. Immense numbers are now being printed from it. The assumed assassin of the President, Wilkes Booth, was very well known to many of his histrionic brethren now in England who have pursued their profession on the other side of the Atlantic. He is described by all as a very handsome and elegant young man, and of particularly fascinating manners and address. He was the first actor ) whose Romeo Miss Bateman ever played Juliet, and I was he in the part that Mr Bateman had serious s of engaging him for the jeune premier characters, . _ aiging him to England to act with Miss Bateman. —The " I, taatur" in. the Star. In person John Wilkes Booth is a younger far-site fie of Edwin. It is needless to say that lie is a rare specimen of manly betuty. Not tall, hut most gracefully formed, with regular features, large dark eyes, dark brown hair, and a perfect complexion, this young main possesses ,the charms of Adonis and almost the strength of Here les. Ile dresses with exquisite taste, and his ordinary mat ller is quiet, reserved, dignified, and gentlemanly. .lle is t married, and much given to immurs. It is said that 1 e an opium eater ; but it is only certain that he freque f. drank to excess. Although so slightly built, 05 men ou of 100 would be no match for him at fighting. He s . dead shot, a fine fencer, a thorough horseman, at d master of the dagger or bowie-knife. llis pars .na bravery has been unquestioned, anal many of his fri: nit have wondered wits he did not join the rebel arm ~ il which his sympathies were already enlisted. If he was the assassin of President Lincoln he had the nerve th skill with weapons, the knowledge of the exits an entrances of the theatre, and the acquaintance witl tb localities about Washington necessary to accomplis a hi *Martens purpose. Nor were the nervous, exci , bit flighty temperament, the unrestrained passions, an a unbridled audacity requisite for the conception and ex, cation of such a deed wanting in his composition. Bi his friends and acquaintances never thought that h. ha he murderous heart, the moral poltroonery, and t e inxpressible wickedness which stamp the assassin ; the 'lest of God's creatures. ATTEMPTEb SUICIDE OF THE ASSASSIN BoOTH'S MIST ES: 'i The Washington Star, of April 11, says :—` El Turner, mistress of John Wilkes Booth, at No. 611, S hi avenue, attempted to commit suicide this moan g I taking chloroform. About eleven o'clock some ati imitates of the house entered Ella's room and foun 1 It lying upon the bed apparently asleep. Efforts toarot oh proving fruitless, several physicians were called in, wh, it was discovered that she hail taken chloroform. T proper remedies were immediately applied, who , Ella soon revival, and asked for Booth's picture, whi It she had concealed under the pillow of her hal, at tit, saute time remarking to the physicians that she did not thank them for saving her life.'  e 11,243  TO