Poisoning Lincoln

[Ed Steers]

In speaking on Lincoln's assassination I sometimes mention that efforts were made to poison Lincoln while president-elect in Springfield. This claim does not appear in most accounts about attempts against Lincoln or discussions of his assassination. The claim comes from a letter by Joshua Allen, editor of the Lacun, Illinois "Journal" following his visit with Lincoln in January 1861 in the capitol in Springfield. Allen was a supporter of the Republican party and as such had access to Lincoln. The relevant part of the letter reads as follows: “He has got stacks of preserved fruit and all sorts of trash which he is daily receiving from various parts of the South sent to him as presents. He had several packages opened and examined by medical men [chemists] who found them to be all poisoned.”
The full letter appears in the publication, "For the People," Summer 1999, vol. 1, no. 2, pagev 4. I thought I might add this to the pot.