James Tanner

[RJNorton]

Regarding Tom's question about Tanner's presence in the room when Lincoln died...Tanner wrote:

"The Reverend Dr. Gurley stepped forward and lifting his hands began "Our Father and our God" and I snatched pencil and notebook from my pocket, but my haste defeated my purpose. My pencil point (I had but one) caught in my coat and broke, and the world lost the prayer, a prayer that was only interrupted by the sobs of Stanton as he buried his face in the bedclothes. As "Thy will be done, Amen" in subdued and tremulous tones floated through the little chamber, Mr. Stanton raised his head, the tears streaming down his face. A more agonized expression I never saw on a human countenance as he sobbed out the words: "He belongs to the angels now."

I also think I recall John Hay, who was present at the deathbed, verified Tanner's presense in the 1890 biography titled Abraham Lincoln: A History.