Frederick Demond

[John Fazio]

Everyone:

Following up on the research re Henry Lipman, please be advised that I received the following communication from Professor (of History) Giancarlo Onorati, from Rome, who kindly did the research for me:

Carrissimo professore
Oggi sono stato all'Archivio di Stato di Roma, ho consultato gli elenchi degli zuavi pontifici e l'unico Lipman che ho trovato e' Lipman Zenone nato in Olanda l'8 ottobre 1845, arrivato al corpo degli zuavi il 10 febbraio 1866, arruolato con il numero di matricola 2209 e posto in carico alla 6a compagnia. Egli fu promosso caporale il 21 giugno 1868 e il 22 ottobre dello stesso anno fu trasferito al corpo di artiglieria. Questi dati sono nel registro di arruolamento degli zuavi pontifici (Archivio di Stato di Roma, Ministero delle Armi, b. 49, reg. 1637, matr. 2209: Lipman, Zenone)

Translation:

Dear Professor:
Today I was at the Archives of the State of Rome, where I consulted the records of the Papal Zouaves. The only Lipman I found was Lipman Zenone, who was born in Holland on October 8, 1845, who arrived at the corps of the Zouaves on February 10, 1866, enlisted with the number of matriculation 2209 and placed with Company 6a. He was promoted to corporal on June 21, 1868, and on October 22 of the same year was transferred to the artillery corps. These data are in the Registry of Enlistment of the Papal Zouaves (Archives of the State of Rome, Ministry of the Army, book 349, registry 1637, matriculation 2209: Lipman Zenone)

It will be seen that this information exactly confirms the accuracy of the information supplied earlier from the Museum in Amsterdam. We can now be 100% certain that John Surratt and Henry Lipman served in the Papal Zouaves in Italy at the same time. This information, coupled with the information we have recently been given re Hanson Hiss, lends great credibility to the Lipman account of Surratt's escape even if it does not establish the same with 100% certainty. It all fits quite well, in my opinion: Lipman attended Surratt's lecture in New York. Surratt knew he was there and therefore said nothing about his earlier account, which Lipman knew to be false. When he finished, Surratt made it a point to talk to Lipman and express his gratitude. Gratitude for what? For helping him to escape. What else?

John