JOHN WILKES BOOTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 534, 29 July 1865, Page 5

JOHN WILKES BOOTH

The following scraps of information respectingthe assassin of Lincoln, extracted from the Amorican press, appear in an English paper of lato date : — Tho Toronto Globe of April I7th says:—"John Wilkes Booth, the assassin, like tho rest of his family, was chiefly known as a delineator of Shaksperean characters." Some of his personations of those characters at the Washington theatre two or three years ai'o were attended by President Lincoln, and, if we mistake not, the President kindly wroto tho actor a letter criticising his performances favourably, and adding some comments upon Shaksporc's plays which were extensively quoted by the papers at the time. Booth was very prompt to publish the letter as an advantage to himself, and yet is now, if we are not wrong as to the man, the assassin of his benefactor."

Tho New York correspondent of tho Morning Tost writes :—" Some six weeks ago I chanced to bo one of a company which included Booth. Tho impression he made upon me was, I confess, favourable. He seemed to be, and was certainly during that evening a most polished gentleman. Ho is a raro specimen of manly beauty, not tall, but most gracefully formed, with regular features, largo dark eyes, dirk brown hair, and a perfect complexion, and always dresses with the most exquisito taste ; his manner quiet, reserved, dignified, and gentlemanly in tho extreme. Ho is unmarried. Though slightly built, he has almost the strength of a llereulc3, and 99 men out of 100 would bo no match for him in an encounter. He is a dead shot, a fine fencer, a thorough horseman, and a master of the dagger. His personal bravery has been unquestioned, and many of his friends have wondered why ho did not join the Confederate army, in which his sympathies were so strongly enlisted."

"Booth wns ia this city," says the Boston Advertiser of April 17, "no longer ago than last Monday, and on that clay, and perhaps on previous clays, visited the shooting gallery of Messrs. Floyd and Edwards, in Chapman-place, opposite the Parker House, and practised with a pistol, firing with the weapon under his leg, behind his neck, and in other strange positions. Ho is represented as being a frequent visitor to the gallery during his stay in Boston, and as having been very expert with the pistol. From this city he must have pone almost directly to "Washington to have arrived in time to complete the preparation for his fearful crime." ATTEMPTED SUICIDE 0? BOOTH'S MISTRESS The Washington Star, of the 15th April, says: — "Ella Turuer, mistress of John Wilkes Booth, at No. 02, Ohio avenue, attempted (o commit suicide this morning; by taking chloroform. About eleven o'clock some of tho inmates of Ella's houso entered Ella's room and found her lying npon tho bed apparently asleep. Efforts to arouse her proving fruitless, severil physicians were called in, when it was discovered that she liad taken chloroform. Tho proper remedies were applied, wlion Ella soon revived, and asked for Booth's picture which she had conceded under the pillow of her bed, at the same time remarking to the physicians that she did not thank them for saving her life." EIIWXN BOOTH. "We learn from Boston that "Edwin Booth, who had just terminated an engagement there, lias declared in grief and affliction that ho will abandon Ilia public career for ever. There will be no occasion for such action. No community would be so cruelly unjust as to allow the stigma of Wilkes Booth's crime to tarnish the fame of so true and loyal a citizen as Edwin Booth. The intended engagement at tho Winter Garden, which was to have commenced in a few we eks, will doubtless be relinquished; but Edwin Booth's friends will not consent to his sharing the odium or the disgrace which must be visited upon his wretched and unworthy brother.—iVfic York Tribune, April 17. HE. AXDItEW JOHN3O>* AN'D ITIS FAMILY. Mr. Johnson's family reside at present in Nashville) Tennessee, and consists of his wife and four children —two sons and two daughters. Ilis son Bobert ia 29, and Andrew Johnson, jun ,is 12 years of age. His two daughters, with their families, also resido in Nashville, having been driven from their homes in Eastern Tennessee. One of Mr. Johnson's sons (Charles), a surgeon in the army, was thrown from his horse in the year 1863, and killed; and Colonel stover, a son-in-law, commanding the 4th Regiment of Tennessee infantry, was killed in tho battle of Nashville, while gallantly leading his command on tho 18th of December. ISfvt. Judge Pattesan, who is also a son-in-law of the President, lives in Nashville. Mrs. Johnson has been in very delicate health for some time past, and it is probable Mrs. Colonel btover will preside over the presidential household. A. correspondent who visited Mr. Johnson, at Nashville, in last July, writes " I found him a very quiet, plain, unassuming man, of only medium height, with a broad and well-balanced forehead, intelligent but not striking face, and in conversation flow and restmined. Ho had no theories, and Boemed particularly to avoid them, but addressed himself to tho great work of generation. lie deplores the condition of the people, the oppressive aristocracy, and the want of any middle class ; spoke very wisely of Governor Bramlctto ; and in all that lie said seemed a sagacious, practical man. I felt much better a'ter seeing him, for if ho should be elected, Mr. Lincoln will have a most uncompromising supporter, and if he dies & very wise successor."