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Typescript draft of a 31 January 1897 edition of ''The Morning Herald'' newspaper, the local paper of Anderson, Indiana. In this inflamatory account, Christopher C. Ritter makes a claim that John Wilkes Booth, the actor who shot President Abraham Lincoln was still alive, nearly 32 years after the April 15, 1865, assassination. Booth was shot by a New York Calvary sergeant at a Virginia farm on 26 April 1865, yet in this alternative account, it is argued that a man named Boston Corbett shot Edward Fuchs, an actor resembling Booth. Ritter claims he helped Booth escape to South America and the two sailed to Brazil on 2 May 1865. Interesting sections from the article include: A mention of Louis Weichmann, one key witness against those convicted of conspiring to assassinate Abraham Lincoln, on p. 1, ''...In every history of these trials his is one of the most prominent witnesses mentioned, and flee as he would from the notarity that has been heaped upon him, every year brings something to wound his hypersensitive feelings in this regard, and serves to keep a shadow over what otherwise might be a more useful life. But, it is not with Weichman that this article concerns...'' And Ritter's account of Booth still alive: ''He says Booth is living [?] yet, or was five months ago, and is on the stage in South America, traveling under the name of Enos. His revelations concerning the whole circumstance are thrilling in their interest and one who talks to him and knows him is bound to believe him? There is not a link in the chain that is missing. There is not a place that his story does not tally with facts that have come out in the trials and he has documents and letters to support all he says.'' The article goes on to detail Ritter's upbringing and his introduction to Booth. It then describes at length the Knights of the Golden Circle, ''...There was an inner circle in the order. Ritter was not told of it at once but felt he realized it. That circle desired to kidnap the President and hold him until jurisdiction could be forced from Congress which would require the Union to pay for the slaves that were liberated...'' Then of the night of the assassination, ''About ten o'clock a great noise was heard on the streets below. Bells soon began tolling and out of the bedlom there could be heard up stairs the cries that Lincoln was killed...Booth threw up his hands and cried 'Men I have killed Old Abe; but I broke my leg doing it'...'' goes on to describe how they escaped. It concludes describing his life in Brazil, ''Booth began playing in Brazil under the name Enos. He had an illegitimate child in this country and for years gave it an allowance of $800 annually. This was paid to it through Ritter...'' The article concludes, ''The story above being true the first question that will appear in the reader's mind will be 'Why has he not told it sooner?' answers this question himself. The oath of his lodge bound him to secrecy for thirty years. That time was up a year ago last April. He some time after this told a few of the facts to a Newark paper and notwithstanding that no extended publication was given the article, he received many letters from interested parties and life was a burden to him because of the notoriety. He is naturally and by judgment reticent and what is given above is only published after an earnest solicitation of the part of the writer...'' Signed ''Edward C. Jones'' in pencil to p.10 after crossing out, in pencil, the last sentence. Top of page 1 someone has written in ink, ''Anderson, Ind. Jan. 29,'' and ''Jan. 31 1897'' in pencil. 10pp. document on thin rice paper measures 8'' x 13'' with very minor folds and tears to edges. Very good.
''Morning Herald'' Indiana Newspaper Draft of a Story That Ran in 1897 -- Claiming John Wilkes Booth Was Still Alive & Had Fled the Country
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