Arrest of Atzerodt

[BettyO]

Atzerodt was captured at the home of his cousin, Hartman Richter (no longer standing, unfortunately).

Here is a rather in-depth account of his capture in which he is described as being rather snide, calm and collected! If this is true, then ol' George had a lot more gumption then was previously thought! Another account has him going up to Gettysburg, before going to Richter's!

Unfortunately, for George, if he had this much time on his hands - it's a shame that he didn't alert authorities as to just what was going on and who was involved. It may have saved him from a hemp necktie....

Arrest of Atzerodt, One of Booth’s Accomplices

Atzerodt, the accomplice of Booth, has been captured.

He was taken about 7 o’clock yesterday morning at the residence of his uncle near a village called Germantown, in the upper end of Montgomery County, Maryland, by a company of cavalry under the command of Captain Townsend, and brought to the Relay House which point was reached about 7 o’clock last evening.

Atzerodt is represented as cool and collected, reticent, and when questioned, responded only with a laugh. At the time of his arrest, he was in bed.

Atzerodt arrived here last night about half-past none o’clock, in a special train and in double irons. He was placed in a safe place, the location of which, for prudential reasons, we withhold.

Another Account

At 10:25 last night, the train brought Geo. Andreas Atzerodt and Ernst Hartmann Richter, arrested about 4 o’clock yesterday morning at Richter’s farm, near Middleburgh, P. O. Montgomery County, Maryland. They were received at the depot by Col. T. Ingraham and Captain William N. Wermerskirch, and taken to a safe place. Richter stated that Atzerodt, who was his cousin, slept on the 14th instant at the Pennsylvania House, formerly the Kimmel House, in C Street; that he left Washington on Saturday, and went to Rockville by stage, there hired a buggy, drove to Gettysburg, and then rode on a farmer’s wagon to Kloppersville, where he arrived late at night, and remained till next morning; thence he walked to Richter’s farm.

Atzerodt is twenty-eight years old, five feet five inches in height, has a swarthy completion, and dark hair, moustache and imperial (goatee). He seems to be shrewd and was very reserved in his answers. Richter said that he had not seen him for about three months until he came to his farm on Sunday last.

--- National Daily Republican, April 21, 1865

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From The National Police Gazette


Do you think that if Atzerodt had gone to the authorities, even after the fact, that he would have been spared the hangman? Perhaps a prison sentence aka Mudd, Spangler, Arnold and O'Laughlen?