New Development in Booth Case Coming Soon

[Steve Whitlock]

[quote='RJNorton' pid='77486' dateline='1561155276']
Thanks to Steve Whitlock for sending these articles. Steve W. writes, "The 1st attachment has information pertaining to Laura Ida (Booth) Levine starting at bottom of 1st column on the left and continuing thru col. 2 & 3. The 2nd attachment alludes to Junius Brutus Booth III identifying the remains of David E. George, which would necessitate going to Enid; however, further on it mentions that Finis Bates went back East and got a positive identification from "the dead man's nephew" (that would be Junius III). I missed that Junius was only identifying a tintype. Personally,I don't think the tintype looks all that much like JWB.

So, why did Finis L. Bates pick only Junius B. Booth III of the Booth family to identify the tintype? I wasn't aware of it, but it seems Junius III had drug and financial problems, which resulted in a 1912 murder-suicide for his wife and himself. I wonder whether Finis offered money for some support from Junius.

Junius Brutus Booth, III
Birth 6 Jan 1868
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA
Death 6 Dec 1912 (aged 44)
Brightlingsea, Tendring District, Essex, England
Burial
All Saints with St. James Churchyard
Brightlingsea, Tendring District, Essex, England
Memorial ID 31880318 · View Source

A short biography provided by John B. Schoeffel, manager of the Tremont Theater in 1912, and Junius Brutus Booth's stepfather.

"Junius Brutus Booth was eldest son of a former manager of the Boston Theatre, also named Junius Brutus Booth, and of Agnes (Perry) Booth, in her later life married to John B. Schoeffel.

He was the grandson of the most famous Junius Brutus Booth of the family, who was born in England, before 1800, and was a contemporary of Edmund Kean. The grandfather died out West, in 1852; the father in 1883.

The mother, Mrs. Schoeffel, died Jan. 2, 1910. Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth were uncles of the suicide.

The eldest Junius Brutus Booth, who died in 1852, was noted for his eccentricities, which at time verged upon insanity; and in acting he was so intensely carried away that the fencing in "Hamlet" and "Richard III" became duels in which Richmond and Laertes were sometimes compelled to defend themselves in earnest.

Junius Brutus Booth was the last but one of the family of actors, Sidney Booth surviving Junius Brutus Booth was an actor of only moderate ability. He had appeared frequently in Boston, having been at one time in the Boston Museum Stock Company and later was seen at the Tremont Theatre.

Mrs. Junius Brutus Booth, killed recently [by Junius Brutus Booth III], was an American. Her maiden name was Noah and she was the daughter of the publisher of the old-time Noah's Sunday Time a newspaper making a specialty of theatrical news, in New York.

Junius Brutus Booth was the eldest son of the late Agnes Booth of Boston, the noted actress. He was born in the South End, in the shadow of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, about 45 or 46 years ago. He was educated in private schools and then, following the example of his illustrious ancestors, he decided to go upon the stage.

His first important stage experience was obtained with the Boston Museum Company, where, with Jack Mason and other great actors and actresses, he remained two or three years playing juvenile roles. About this time an ambition to become a physician seized him and he left the museum to study in a medical school in New York.

His expectations in medicine not being fulfilled, Booth returned to the stage about 10 years ago. He played two seasons at a theatre in London and later formed a stock company of his own and played in the smaller cities and towns, chiefly manufacturing centers in England. One of his greatest successes was in "Monte Cristo".

Success, however, did not remain long, and in recent years Mr. Booth is said to have found it hard to make both ends meet. Mr. and Mrs. Booth had no children. His brother, Sidney Booth of New York, [was] his nearest surviving relative."
Family Members
Parents

Photo
Junius Brutus Booth

1821–1883
Photo
Marion Agnes Land Rookes Booth

1843–1910

Spouse

Photo
Florence Elizabeth Noah Booth

1859–1912 (m. 1894)

Siblings

Photo
Blanche De Bar Booth

1844–1930
Photo
Marie Booth Douglas

1865–1932
Photo
Algernon G Booth

1869–1877
Photo
Sydney Barton Booth

1873–1937
Photo
Barton J Booth

1874–1879
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Florence Elizabeth Noah Booth
Birth May 1859
New York, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA
Death 6 Dec 1912 (aged 53)
Brightlingsea, Tendring District, Essex, England
Burial
All Saints with St. James Churchyard
Brightlingsea, Tendring District, Essex, England
Memorial ID 158358249 · View Source

On 29 Sep 1891, Miss Florence Noah arrived in London, England, on board the ship British Princess.

In 1894 Florence Elizabeth Marie Edviga Noah married Junius Brutus Booth. Junius came from a family of world renowned actors but the families greatest claim to infamy was that Junius's uncle John Wilkes Booth had in 1865 assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.

Junius Brutus had aspirations to be an actor but was largely unsuccessful in his endeavors, it seems that by 1912, when he and his wife had been living in England for some time, possibly because of her bad health, his excitable nature and poor business dealings he murdered Florence and then committed suicide on 6 Dec.1912, a verdict of murder whilst insane was given.

According to news reports on the murder/suicide of Junius Brutus Booth and his wife, Florence Edviga Noah Booth:

New York Times Dec 8, 1912

JUNIUS BOOTH KILLED WIFE

Nephew of Edwin Then Shot Himself,
Probably While Insane.

Brightlingsea, England, Dec. 7,--A verdict of "Willful murder and suicide, while insane," was returned by the Coroner's Jury at the inquest today on the bodies of Junius Booth, and American, and his wife, who were found here yesterday, shot dead in bed.

None of the witnesses called was able to identify Booth, definitely. They all described him as an American, who conducted cinematograph shows, and some of them declared that he was addicted to the taking of drugs. Evidence was given to show that he was very excitable and was much worried because his show had failed to pay.

A note found in the bedroom said:

"I have given my wife a sleeping draught, to ease her pain. As I cannot live without her, I will give myself another."
Family Members
Parents

Robert Phillips Noah

1832–1901

Spouse

Photo
Junius Brutus Booth

1868–1912 (m. 1894)

Siblings

Robert Lionel Noah

1876–1944