Louis Weichmann

[Susan Higginbotham]

(09-08-2015 04:26 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(08-28-2015 02:06 PM)Pamela Wrote:  Booth and the Surratts also stole the Father Menu letter and either Booth or Surratt commissioned the phony Clara letter to compromise Weichmann.

I had the text of the "Clara letter" in my files - thank you to Mike Kauffman who sent it to me in 2006.

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NY Feby 15, 1865

Yr hurried note Mr. Weichmann just before your return ^ from Philada ^ to W City ^ Jany 7th^ gave promise of one of your ever welcome “lengthy” letters which has not as yet reached me. I hope you could not possibly have been offended by any part of my reply on Jany 9th, which I suppose our mutual friend Mr. S --- tt found in same envelop with his little note. How sorry I should be to have anything disturb the disinterested friendship existing between us. Mr. Weichmann -- I regretted to hear of any annoyances to you that gave so little leisure & caused yr trip to Philda. Is it all “sunshine” again with you, & how did you enjoy yr trip to Baltimore end of Jany? Will you please write to me directly & explain why Mr. S has not been to NY or if he is still at Home. I have often thought of you lately, and sincerely hope yr prospects are fair for gaining the heart you seemed to covet. You see I understood your affectionate remark about Mr. S --- tt & the conclusion, “I love him, indeed I do, & his _____ too.” Now I hope you wont mind telling me if your suit is favored. I will promise to keep it a profound secret, so ‘do tell.’ You know none would rejoice more sincerely than I over any event you desired. Allow me to congratulate you on yr apointment abroad. Do you pass through Philda or N Y ^ in July^ to embark? Will you oblige me by an immediate reply to this, especially about Mr. S --- tt, for I shall bid adieu to N Y on the 21st inst. & desire yr reply on 20th if possible. Now before you read the next page promise yrself not to tell anyone. [next p.] I expect to pass through W. City n the 23rd or 24th, ^P.M> ^ & if you will ony write in reply to all my questions the hour this reaches you, I promise to send you a line on arrival to inform you where to find me. The Dr. & Mrs. R dont know yet if we shall be at Willard’s or elsewhere, or I would tell you now; however you can find out even if yr letter dont come, but I should prefer the answer requested. I shall probably leave again on 25th & dont wish a word of this spoken of. Will you oblige me by sending information of the health of my Uncle & his family. I have not written him of my visit, but shall arrange to see him if ‘all’s well.’ We will talk over :surprising” him. I hope you will bring dear Miss S --- tt with you to call on me. I could love her for yr sake & her brother’s; two of my best kindest, and most sincere W. City friends.
Watch the papers for name of R in “arrivals” on 23rd. I hope our friendly relation obviates the necessity of apology for addressing you without an unanswered letter to reply to. The distance that will separate us after our possible interview on the 23rd or 24th will be far greater than ever before, we shall no longer be able to correspond, though the ties of friendship will ever remain unchanged, I hope & feel it will be so if you are willing.
May yr future be all you wish. I know & feel Miss S --- tt is worthy of you, & they are all favorably disposed towards you I believe. Give my kindest regards to all friends. Love to Cousin L & Mrs. D & Mrs. M----r’s family.
The early reply I ask will be esteemed a great favor. Hoping your health is improving, I am as ever

Most sincerely yr Friend
Clara

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Also, Susan posted the text of the Father Menu letter over a year ago. Credit to Susan for this!

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St Charles College
March 29, 1865

Dear Friend,

Your last letter relieved me from great anxiety, for I was not sure to have guessed well. Why do you not speak more fully? Again in the letter I have just had the honor of receiving from you, you speak in a obscure way of Mr. Surratt, as if he were a rebel; could you not have said openly what is the perilous trip point which he is soon to depart? What is that last? What is the meaning of that restrictive? Between us there should be no secret. For speaking of little Dalton, you speak of his condition as being truly deplorable, in what sense? Is it in the personal welfare, or in the spiritual? Or in both? His brother at Charlotte Hall cannot do much at present for his support; but I hope he will soon be ordained, and will not, when ordained, forget the only relation he has upon earth. I have not the wisdom of Solomon to guess his role, my faculty of understanding is rather bland than sharp; therefore if you wish me to comprehend your reticence's, you must provide me, if you can, with quite sharper visions.

As to the conditions which, you say, Mr. Dubruel joined to your admission, I think there is no need for you to be uneasy, for next September Richmond will be able to communicate with Baltimore, and therefore your Bishop will arrange the matter himself with the auspices of Baltimore.

The draft has not yet taken place at Ellicott Mills, and consequently I know not yet what will become of me. In case I am drafted, I will have recourse to your influence with the Government to obtain my exemption.

As you go next year to Philosophy, you will be pleased to hear who are those who will be with you or who may be with you in the same class. They are now in my first Latin Class; their names are J. Duffey, Galvin, McPaul, Moran, Morris, Mullin, Noonan, W. O'Brien, O'Connor, besides those others who you do not know; I do not mention Shoffey, who has left us some weeks ago on account of headache, and by neuralgia. Nor do I speak of Clarke. Dear Clarke lost his mother last year, and finds himself quite destitute, perhaps as mostly of pity as Dalton. He was working on a farm lately in the neighborhood of St. Charles, but with his incapacity and unfitness for such a work and the fear of being drafted made him fly lately. I do not know where.

You recommend me to pray for you in one of my masses. I have already told you that I pray for you in every one; it is not for the sake of making a compliment or filling up a letter I mentioned it; it is the truth. You may unite your intentions to mine at five o'clock and twenty-five minutes, it is then I present your needs to Almighty God.

My best regards to Mr. Surratt, if he is not gone already on his trip. Our College will be in jubilee this week, and we all hope to gain the grace of it next Saturday.

Your Most Devoted Friend in J.C.

J. B. Menu

(From The Lincoln Assassination: The Evidence, ed. by Edwards and Steers)

I need to correct the date of the Menu letter to March 19, 1865--my typograhical error.

I read that "Clara" had been identified as Clara Pix Ritter. I saw that there's an article about her in the 2007 Prologue, a publication of the National Archives, but the only site that has it for download is behind a paywall--anyone know if it's worth reading?