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Pamela · (This post was last modified: 09-07-2015 07:59 PM by Pamela.)

(09-07-2015 05:54 PM)L Verge Wrote: Somewhere, Ste. Marie makes reference to leaving D.C. because of problems with Mr. Weichmann. Does anyone know what the problem was?

In an above post, Pamela comments to Susan, "I don't know why the envelopes were in his room and neither do you." I suspect that we could eliminate 'the envelopes' and make a general statement about much of what is said and inferred about Louis J. Weichmann. There are too many elements of his association with the Surratts and the crime of the century that are not known for certain. I see his role as one based on theory either way. The preponderance of scholarly research to-date, however, generally casts a lot of doubt on his veracity. Pamela, you certainly have a tough row to hoe, in my opinion, if you intend to prove Weichmann completely above board.

When historical assessments of Weichmann's involvement or lack of involvement in the conspiracy is based on what Surratt and Booth said, and is repeated over and over again accompanied with snarky and suggestive innuendo, that's a poor reflection on those historians when it comes to Weichmann, no matter what their credentials are. Michael Schein's sources listed are Isacsson and Moore. What information did they dig up on Weichmann? How about nothing! Those are sources? And Professor George talked about self preservation? Is that history or philosophy? I haven't come across much scholarly research on Weichmann, certainly little to none by Ewald, who wrote a lot of nonsense and tabloid fodder. Chris Ritter, geesh. And he hasn't sent me the article that he claimed would answer my questions or told me if he enjoyed watching Louis's niece in the Munsters, lol. Has your librarian found Joseph Abel's 6 page article yet?

(09-07-2015 07:29 PM)Pamela Wrote:
(09-07-2015 05:54 PM)L Verge Wrote: Somewhere, Ste. Marie makes reference to leaving D.C. because of problems with Mr. Weichmann. Does anyone know what the problem was?

In an above post, Pamela comments to Susan, "I don't know why the envelopes were in his room and neither do you." I suspect that we could eliminate 'the envelopes' and make a general statement about much of what is said and inferred about Louis J. Weichmann. There are too many elements of his association with the Surratts and the crime of the century that are not known for certain. I see his role as one based on theory either way. The preponderance of scholarly research to-date, however, generally casts a lot of doubt on his veracity. Pamela, you certainly have a tough row to hoe, in my opinion, if you intend to prove Weichmann completely above board.

When historical assessments of Weichmann's involvement or lack of involvement in the conspiracy is based on what Surratt and Booth said, and is repeated over and over again accompanied with snarky and suggestive innuendo, that's a poor reflection on those historians when it comes to Weichmann, no matter what their credentials are. Michael Schein's sources listed are Isacsson and Moore. What information did they dig up on Weichmann? How about nothing! Those are sources? And Professor George talked about self preservation? Is that history or philosophy? I haven't come across much scholarly research on Weichmann, certainly little to none by Ewald, who wrote a lot of nonsense and tabloid fodder. Chris Ritter, geesh. And he hasn't sent me the article that he claimed would answer my questions or told me if he enjoyed watching Louis's niece in the Munsters, lol. Has your librarian found Joseph Abel's 6 page article yet?

I believe Ste Marie mentioned that he didn't agree with Weichmann and so he left with no notice. He showed up with no notice as well. Interestingly, Ste Marie, age 41, dropped dead on a street in Philadelphia in 1874, while Louis was living there, penniless, and was buried in a paupers' cemetery.

(09-07-2015 06:22 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:
(09-07-2015 04:50 PM)Pamela Wrote:
(09-07-2015 04:01 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote: Does this sound like a man who would conspire to kidnap the President?

"I had almost forgotten to tell you that I called on your friend. Mr. Wm. Underwood, at the Carver Hospital. He has nearly recovered from his wound, though it has not yet quite healed. He intended going home in a week or two, and perhaps he may be there now, as it has been over a week since I saw him.

"Have you heard from your Uncle James [a Union soldier] lately ? There has been some very hard fighting out West recently, and you know, Cousin Bell, that the foe has very little regard where he directs his bullets. May God preserve him, and grant that he may see the end of this unholy war without harm."

Yet the writer of this letter (and other quite charming letters), John Surratt, certainly did plot to kidnap the President, and perhaps worse than that.

I think that under the right (or perhaps more aptly, wrong) circumstances, particularly in wartime, just about anybody is capable of anything.

I can't claim as a proven fact that Weichmann supplied John Surratt with confidential information, but I think it's possible that he did. Gilbert Raynor, the clerk whose statement you kindly pointed me to, did mention that Surratt visited Weichmann at work and that Weichmann boasted of ways he could make a large sum of money, and Colonel Foster mentioned "large quanties of envelopes, with the official frank of the office of the Commissary General of Prisoners," being found in the room Weichmann and Surratt shared. Maybe two or three envelopes were used by Weichmann as bookmarks, but large quantities?

Yes, his letter does sound consistent with someone who could conspire against the President. He talked about bullets, and an unholy war, compared to Weichmann who talked about sunshine, courage, a romantic village, complements of the season, influential acquaintances, succeeding through his exertions and writing in French. If you don't see the difference, I do.

Here's a letter to Ste. Marie written at the same time:

Dear sir,

I received a letter from Mr. Wiechmann yesterday, stating your intention to leave Texas by the first of May. I spoke to Mr. Hill about a teacher. He said he wanted one and was willing to have you as our teacher, but he could not build a schoolhouse for some time.

If you have made up your mind to go S---- I can send you all safely. Do not have the least doubt of it. Times are better than they were. All you have to do is let me know the day you will be in Washington, and I will meet you. You can carry a hand trunk with you.

There will not be the least difficulty, only perhaps you will have to remain among us some two or three weeks. Still, we can easily make the time pass agreeably. I suppose "Texas" looks as dreary as possible. My kindest regards to Father Mahoney. Do not fail to come to Washington.

Your friend,
J. Harrison Surratt

This is a letter written by a hardened blockade runner boasting about his skills. Texas isn't romantic, it's dreary. He isn't encouraging Ste Marie to obtain a respectable position by his own exertions, perhaps aided by influential friends; he told him there was no job available and encouraged him to head south, and presumably join the Confederacy. This difference between the two men is distinct, at least to me.

I haven't read anywhere that Weichmann was questioned about the envelopes although I presume he was. Louis was teaching himself phonography at home with daily lessons, considered to be incredibly difficult to do by Pittman. Perhaps Weichmann took some work home with him, rather than stay late and miss meals that his board paid for. I don't know why the envelopes were in his room and neither do you. To you it suggests something dark, to me something conscientious. Weichmann did answer to the money making comment. Have you read it in The Evidence?

Since Colonel Foster wrote in his report mentioning the envelopes that "It seems extremely improbable that Wiechmann was ignorant of the entire plot, if he was not an accomplice," I'd say that the envelopes suggested something dark (or at least suspicious) to him. And at this distance his opinion would seem to count as much or more than mine or yours. (I must say, though, that a franked government envelope strikes me as a good place to carry clandestine correspondence--if I were a courier and my friend and roommate offered to bring some home, I'd be most appreciative.)

Speaking of going South, didn't Weichmann acknowledge wanting to go to Richmond to study for the priesthood? That sounds like an odd choice for someone whose loyalties were firmly with the North, especially given the hardships of living in the South at that time.

I don't dislike Weichmann, by the way. But I just can't view him as an abject innocent.

I don't know if Weichmann was an "abject innocent" or not; I just want some solid proof that he was knowingly involved in the conspiracy. Even Surratt said he wasn't, just that he gave him the run of the War Dept at night and gave him dispatches. None of the conspirators said Weichmann was part of the conspiracy, and they had an ax to grind with him. I've never been a spy so I don't know if it would have been wise to carry stolen dispatches in official envelopes or not. Why not just stuff a dispatch in your coat pocket? The bishop who had the authority to approve of where he studied was located in Richmond. Louis said he was approved to resume his studies in Baltimore, but I think (just speculation based on his writings, although I think he made some mention of this) he wanted to continue his studies with a pastor and didn't want to return to school. Perhaps since he had been a school principal for a year, clerked for another year, and continued his studies on his own, he felt he would be going backward to return to school. He mentioned that several of his friends finished their education with pastors. And school costs money.

Why would Foster have been suspicious of Weichmann? He lived in the boarding house, shared a bed with John Surratt, took Mrs Surratt to deliver her shooting irons messages, got a telegraph from Booth, ran back and forth with messages to the conspirators, had a fake mustache and a cipher in his trunk--oh, yeah, that's why.