Andrew Johnson - Mistress

[jparkuntz]

Before hooking up with Robert M. Lee, "Eusebia" was the common-law wife of forger James Buchanan Crosse.

The attached article describes Crosse's most famous exploit, with the Civil War as backdrop.

I am working on a biography of Crosse in which "Eusebia" and Robert M. Lee play a prominent part. I have pretty thoroughly mined all digitized newspapers (and some non-digitized) for mentions of all of Eusebia's incarnations, Robert M. Lee, and Cross(e).

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(11-13-2017 05:51 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 05:32 PM)jparkuntz Wrote:  It's the son, the same mentioned in the earlier thread that supposedly "connived" to get JWB out of a breach of promise fix.

The father was a decent, respected man: a Philadelphia judge, respected lawyer, Army Paymaster.

The son, Robert M. Lee was on trial in Philadelphia in early April for forging soldier's bounty papers. On April 7, 1865, he was found guilty. Before his sentence could be read, the courtroom erupted in excitement, "Lee has been captured!" [he hadn't been, but he would surrender a couple of days later]. In the hubbub the other Lee, Robert M., made his escape.

He was a fugitive for the next month. Imagine how he must have felt when he heard about Booth! And when he saw the newspaper bring up his connection to Booth!

Question - Did the elder Robert M Lee die in 1863?

Yes, Robert M. Lee Sr. died in New York in 1863, fortunately before seeing his son drag the family name through the mud.