The Arkansas Banner

BOOTH, THE HORSE THIEF, AND THE JAILOR.

Booth had been playing at Mobile. At the close of his engagement he accepted an offer from Mr. Eberly, to play at a town a few miles from Louisville, and as pedestrianism was one of his peculiarities, he started on foot with the intention of walking the whole distance.

While on his journey he encountered an officer with a runaway slave on horseback, who he was conducting to the town where Booth was to play.

The officer, with his slave, had dismounted at an inn to take breakfast, and let the horse standing at the door, which Booth after having concluded that riding was much easier than, and preferable to walking, mounted and rode away. The horse, of course, being afterwards missed, Booth was pursued, overtaken and made prisoner. On being questioned relative to his name, he answered "Lovett."

Lovett was a notorious horse-thief, who had long eluded the officers of justice, and for whose apprehension a reward of five hundred dollars was offered. Previous to his execution, (or he has since been arrested and hung.) he bequeathed his head to Booth, and it was conveyed to the representative of "Richard" by Mr. Rice, the comedian and the skull still adorns the mantel of one of Mr. Booth apartments, as a curiosity

Booth, on answering "Lovett" was immediately rushed upon by several persons, anxious to secure him first. for the purpose of obtaining the reward. He was conducted back to Louisville, where he still gave his name as "Lovett," and was fully committed to jail, which was under the charge of a burly individual by the name of Major Parsons (uncle to the Parson Parsons, formerly an actor) not remarkable for his acuteness, and somewhat decrepit from age.

Booth was lodged in the second story. with several individuals of considerably large dimensions than himself, who assisted him in his mischievous pranks.

It was the custom of Parsons to count his prisoners every morning, before going to market, with great precision, and while going through this operation, he always, during the confinement of Booth, gave the tragedian an indescribable stare of contempt. regarding him as his worst, but most important prisoner, and looking carefully at his dress in order to identify him in case of accident.

One of the bars of the prison window had become detached, so that it could be removed without any difficulty allowing any one of moderate dimensions to get through the aperture.

During the absence of Parsons, who daily went to market, Booth managed to get through the window, and by the means of blankets tied together, was lowered to the ground. He at once made his way to the market, when he met Parsons, who immediately recognized him.

"Holloa," said Parsons, "how the devil came you here?"

"I never saw you before," said the tragedian, looking him steadfastly in the face.

"Stay here a moment then;" returned Parsons, and away he went as fast as he could conveniently walk to the prison. In the meantime Booth had repaired to the jail and was hoisted to his place of confinement.

Parsons entered to see if "Lovett," was there,-and the first individual he encountered was Booth. His hair almost stood erect with wonder and astonishment.

"Why, fellow," said Parsons, did not I leave you in the market ten minutes since?"

"I never saw you before said the tragedian, with his unalterable gaze, and in his deep and peculiar tone of voice.

Parsons was incredulous, as he hastened back to the market, and there stood Junius Brutus, alias 'Lovett, who had left the jail before and arrived first.

"How are you, Parsons?" said Booth, "How is your nephew, the parson?"

Parson's cheek began to pale. He thought there was some necromancy of witchcraft in the matter. "Stop but a moment here, said he, 'and I'll come back.' He wended his way home almost delirious with excitement and incredulity, where he found Booth, which almost drove him frantic. The day passed, and nearly every hour, Parsons entered the apartment to see that Lovett was safely secured.

The next morning, Parsons counted his prisoners as usual, eyeing Booth with the most intense scrutiny. The tragedian had a large patch upon his boot, which Parsons noted particularly. Finding his prisoners all safe, he went to market as usual, meditating upon the extraordinary occurrences of the previous day, and there, to his utter amazement and horror, stood Lovett, the identical horse-thief whom he had just left.

"How did you get out?" said Parsons.

"Out of where?" echoed Booth.

"Why out of jail, where I left you to be sure."

"Fool," said Booth. "do you wish to insult me; I never saw you before."

"Why, rascal," says Parsons, "I know you by that patch upon your boot."

Parson's wits began to turn-he could hardly believe his senses. He walked, he ran until out of breath. to the jail, and there was Lovett, with the patch upon his boot as before.

Parsons was taken ill. and continued so for several days, and Booth resorted to another stratagem to recover him. He feigned illness and death, and having made an arrangement with a friend, at his lodgings, he was taken from the jail in a coffin, bored with holes, which allowed him to breathe and conveyed from the jail-which satisfied Parsons that he was effectually rid of "Lovett."

A short time afterwards. the tragedian met Parsons, and inquired why he had circulated a report that he (Booth) was Lovett.-

Parsons explained the resemblance, and apologized to him for having acted so rudely in the market.