Distribution of Some of the Death Clothes

[Laurie Verge]

Under the Trivia topic, I promised to highlight parts of a letter of April 17, 1865, which can be found in the National Park Service files. It was written by Mose Sandford, who was employed (I think) in the War Department's division that handled carpentry work. This letter was found by Joan Chaconas about thirty years ago.

Dear Friend Johnnie
You must excuse Me for Not Writing You befor but as the Old saying says better late than Never, so here goes, I hardly think a letter from this City Especially at this time and from an Old Friend will be apt to be thrown to one side and forgotten. I also send You Enclosed in this letter a piece of the Shirt Bosom worn By the President on the Night of his Murder and remained on him until he died. I wish you to give a piece of it to Billy Denver and Tom Greene. I could sell every inch of it for $5, But prefer dividing it among My Friends and More Especially You Billy and Tom for I know you will keep and appreciate it also remember the donor and while looking upon it recollect that he Never forgets his Old and True Friends, I have his Nec tie and would not take $50 for it have been offered $10 for it several times. I suppose You would like to know how I came by his clothes, Well the Morning he died, Genl Rucker came immediately to Our Shop and had a Common pine box Made to bring him from 10th St to the White House in after they arrived at the House they Cut his Clothes off of him and threw them in the Box we made and Sent the Box back to the Shop for Safe keeping it was placed in my Charge in My Room the Hardware Department, and Just as soon as the Coast was clear I unscrewed the lid and went through the Ward Robe for relics, I found on one of the Sleeves of his Shirt one of his sleeve Buttons Black Enameled trimed with gold and the letter L on the out Side with A.L. underneath that I sent to the Sct. of War the Bosom of his Shirt was the next thing which Met My Eye as it had considerable Blood upon it so I Just confiscated the whole of it the piece I send You and another about the Same size is all I have left. The Nec tie I wouldn't part with under any consideration I have taken all the Screws out of the Box which wer turned down on him from 10th St to his house and have put others in their place, I will give You one when I come Home. the Box he was brought up in is within 5 ft of My Desk where I am Now Writing. don't forget to give Tom and Billy a piece of it the ("Shirt bosom").
The Murder took place Just 25 Minutes to Eleven on last Friday Night at Fords Theatre on 10th St. the play was Our American Cousin. I was at Grovers Theatre Next to Jim Lamberts Just 3 1/2 blocks from Fords. they were playing Aladdin or the Wonderful Lamp and had Just commenced the 4th Act I was at the time Sitting between 2 Detectives Friends of Mine and one of them had Just asked me the time which was 20 Minutes to Eleven Miss German had Just finished a Song called Sherman March down to the Sea and was about to repeat it when the door of the Theatre was pushed violently open and a Man rushed in Exclaiming turn Out For Gods Sake the President has been Shot in his private Box at Fords Theatre. he then rushed out Every boddy seemed glued to the spot I for one and I think I was one of the First who attempted to Moove ("it was Either Me or Apple Jack for I was full of that") Every body followed I made straight for Fords and Such another Excited Crowd I Never before whitnessed. I asked who did it and was informed Wilks Booth they were Just Bringing the President out when I arrived on the Spot I will leave the papers to tell You the rest Business is Entirely suspended and the Whole City is draped in Mourning the Excitelent has pretty well died out, they have embalmed the Boddy of the President and it will lay in State tomorrow and Next day and the Funeral takes place on Thursday. We had a Big time last Week in the illumination line but that is all Forgotten the Theatres Stores Every place of Business and the Gin Mills are all closed and perfectly inundated with crepe it dont do for a Man to Open His Mouth unless he talks the right way. $30000 reward has been Offered here for the arrest and conviction of the Murderer and up to date they are still at large, Seward's House is Just 5 1/2 blocks from Fords Theatre. in the rear of Jackson Square and Nearly Opposite the White House on 15 and 1/2 St. he is getting allong finely but his boy is very low indeed Friday Night Was a Night long to be remembered by Me I was on the Streets all Night. its impossible for Me to discribe the scenes as they Occured here the City was in one continual whirl of Excitement crowds on every corner and 10th st was one solid Mass of Excited Men flourishing knives and revolvers and Yelling down with the Traitors instead of hunting for them.

At this point, Mose begins personal messages. The letter was addressed to John Beatty, Esq, Exchange Broker, Jersey City. A copy was made from the original and then transcribed. A piece of the "Bosom" was attached to the letter, but covered the salutation so it is not clear as to whether the spelling is Johnny or Johnnie.

I'm not sure if the original still exists. The transcript was done by Robert P.L. Frick of Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA in 1953, and sent to Mr. Truett of the NPS on Dec. 7, 1953.

My friends on this forum know that I am very picky about good grammar, spelling, and punctuation. May I just say that it drove me CRAZY typing this piece as it appears on the original transcription!!! I'm going to have to have a Jack and Ginger to calm my nerves.