Newspaper Tidbits - Booth's Brandy, et.al.....

[BettyO]

Found these facinating little "tidbits" in a NY newspaper -- don't know the validity of truthfulness...but it makes for some interesting reading. Wonder whatever happened to that bottle from which Booth drank? If true, do you think Peter Taltavul kept it? It'll probably turn up on eBay someday - so buyer beware!

It appears that there was as much a rush for relics as there is today -


The “relic” fever has caused considerable damage to portions of Ford’s Theatre in Washington, where Booth killed Mr. Lincoln. That portion of the stage carpet upon which Booth leaped from the President’s box has been cut away for a diameter of four feet. The latest “manifestation” of the relic fever is that of a visitor who went into a saloon attached to the theatre [Taltavul’s Star Saloon], and asked the bartender: “Have you the same bottle on hand out of which Booth drank on the night of the assassination?”
“Yes,sir.” “And the same brandy in it?” “Yes, sir.” “Can I have a drink of that same brandy out of the same bottle?” “Yes, sir.” “Let’s have it.”

The visitor takes the brandy, makes up a wry face and continues: “And that’s the same brandy that Booth drank?” “Yes, sir.” “Well, I don’t wonder he killed the President. A drink of that brandy would make a man kill his grandmother!”

Bloomville, NY Mirror, July 18, 1865


Out of the same paper:


It is stated that Mrs. Surratt, before Booth was captured, and while she was at the Carroll Prison, was offered a free and non-conditional pardon for herself and son, if she would accompany an officer in a buggy and point out the road which Booth had probably taken. She protested that she had no idea which road he had taken, and had no knowledge of his intentions to assassinate the President when he visited the house, and positively refused to accompany the officer, as she could be of no service.