New Development in Booth Case Coming Soon

[Steve Whitlock]

FM Steve,

Since you mentioned Baltimore I have a note for Laura Ida Booth playing an engagement in Baltimore:

The New York Dramatic Mirror Feb 13, 1904

Vaudeville Correspondence

Baltimore, MD

“The new faces at the Odeon are Edwards and Kernell, Laura Ida Booth and Teresa Moritz. Harry Montague’s productions, The Black Birds and Gibson’s Hotel, are presented.”
[/quote]

FM Steve, I have made inquiries as to what became of Dolly (Baker) Booth's family album, but have gotten no response. If you, or anyone, has a photo of the John Wilkes Booth that died 1916 in Leadville, CO I'd love to see it. I also understand that there may have been a painting of JWB of Leadville on the 2nd floor of a hotel in Leadville, which looks "suspicious", but I haven't seen it. It seems that paintings of some older citizens were made and put on the 2nd floor of the Delaware Hotel.

"There are several cemeteries in Leadville, one which has a marker with J.W. Booth. It would not surprise me if John Wilkes Booth the assassin of Abe Lincoln is buried in Leadville. If you just shot the President of the United States would you stay in a tobacco barn for two days until U.S. troops came to get you? I'd be in Leadville, CO!!! As a matter of fact if you go to the second floor of the Delaware Hotel, there are paintings of people who lived in Leadville, CO. but there is one which looks awfully suspicious!!! J.W. Booth. We'll also be visiting the Mining Museum and where Doc Holliday shot and killed his last man on the front steps of the Heyman Hotel."

I'd just like to know what he looked like if people in TN were actually believing he was the assassin JWB. I guess Louisa J. (Price) Payne never got a marriage photo either, since no mention of one from Laura Ida Booth or her older half-brother, McCager Payne. Don't forget in 1910 census JWB in Leadville does show he is on his 2nd marriage.

My efforts to find a living descendant of Laura Ida Booth aren't looking good, so dna testing won't help this mystery. Charles Wilson Asburn Jr is supposed to have had a daughter, Virgina Elizabeth (Asburn) McCrea, who married a much younger John Robert McCrea in 1956.

"CHARLES W. ASBURNE

"ATLANTIC CITY - A retired actor, Charles W. Asburne, 69, of the Inlet Towers, died Sunday in Atlantic City Medical Center.
"Mr. Asburn's career spanned 50 years. He had appeared on radio and in Vaudeville and motion pictures,
"He was born in Boundbrook and had been a local resident 30 years.
"He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Virginia McCrea, of Los Angeles, Calif.
"Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m.Wednesday in the Church of the Holy Spirit. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Mays Landing. Arrangements are by the H. M. Gormley Funeral Home, Albany and Winchester avenues."

From The Press of Atlantic City for Tuesday, March 10, 1977, page 6:
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Virginia F Asburn

in the California, Marriage Index, 1949-1959

Name: Virginia F Asburn
Gender: Female
Estimated birth year: abt 1921
Age: 35
Marriage Date: 17 Feb 1956
Marriage Place: Los Angeles, California, USA
Spouse: John R McCrea
Spouse Age: 24
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Virginia Elizabeth McCrea

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VIRGINIA ELIZABETH MCCREA "GINNY" (NANA) , 83, a 55 year resident of San Bernardino, passed away on Jan. 6, 2006. She was born in Springfield, Missouri. She is survived by her daughter, Lynda Britton; granddaughters, Kathi, Kimberly, Shari & Cherish; grandson, John Slough; and many great grandchildren. Memorial Service will be held Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006, 1 p.m. at Mt. View Memorial Chapel, 570 E. Highland Ave., San Bernardino.
Published in San Bernardino Sun from Jan. 17 to Jan. 18, 2006
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Lynda L. (McCrea) Britton was born in 1948 (8 years before John m: Virginia Asburn) and her birth record indicates her mother's maiden name was Lee, so either I have the wrong Virginia (Asburn) McCrea, or Lynda (McCrae) Britton, in CA or Lynda wasn't her natural daughter. Notice also that according to her obit Virginia was born in MO, so perhaps C. W. Asburn/Lavine Jr was passing through. I haven't found him in 1920 or 1930 census, so no idea whether Virginia b: abt 1921 was with him in 1930. She isn't with him in 1940 census, but she was 18-19 by then.