The Montreal Link

[L Verge]

For many years, Lincoln assassination researchers have had an interest in Montreal's part in the conspiracy. A new book on the subject is now available, thanks to the research and literary skills of another "amateur historian" (which is what the college professors like to term those without a degree in the field).

The new book is entitled Montreal: City of Secrets and is authored by a businessman (not a conspiracy nut) by the name of Barry Sheehy. Several weeks ago, I received an intriguing article based on the book, and now the book is on sale at Surratt House for $30 plus $4 p/h. I also hope to negotiate a speaking engagement with Mr Sheehy for the 2019 Surratt Conference.

Speaking of the 2019 Conference, it will be held on the weekend of April 5-7 at Colony South Hotel and Conference Center in Clinton, MD. Believe it or not, we have an extensive list of folks who have indicated a desire to speak, as well as ones such as Mr. Sheehy. My being on medical leave for so long is slowing things up, but we will be prepared.

Laurie:

I haven't read Mr. Sheehy's book, yet, but I am already favorably disposed toward it inasmuch as I have long argued for a Richmond-Montreal axis in connection with the year of Confederate terror against the North (spring of 1864, through spring of 1865) and the assassination and attempted assassinations that occurred in Washington on April 14, 1865. Recall, particularly, the assignment to Montreal by President Davis, in the wake of the Wistar and Dahlgren-Kilpatrick raids on Richmond, of James Holcombe, Clement Clay and Jacob Thompson, carrying drafts for $1 million in gold ($2.2. million in Federal greenbacks at the time) and only verbal instructions to carry out such operations as shall conduce the interests of the Confederate States of America. Recall, further, that according to the testimony of Godfrey Hyams at the trial of the conspirators, he, Hyams, was employed by Dr. Luke Pryor Blackburn, also in Montreal, to spread yellow fever in the North, a scheme that included sending "infected" shirts to the White House, as a gift from an anonymous benefactor, and that in connection with this scheme, Hyams met regularly with Davis's appointees, Holcombe, Clay and Thompson. These men, said Hyams, promised him extraordinary amounts of money as compensation for his services and advised him that the Confederate government had appropriated $200,000 for the scheme. Despite efforts by Confederate agent Kensey Johns Stewart, also in Montreal, to persuade Davis to desist from the scheme, it was at least partially carried out and the shirts were in fact delivered to the White House, according to Hyams. A smoking gun? Yes, and one that has been there, in the trial transcript, for 153 years.

I have expanded on the foregoing facts in an article, which includes Stewart's letter to Davis.

John

There have been a few historians over the years who have doggedly followed any trail to link Montreal to the conspiracy. Since the 1970s and 80s, many of them have utilized the research of James O Hall and William Tidwell, who were really the trail blazers in this field. Jane Singer and Ed Steers are two that assisted also.

In the Sheehy article that I was sent (courtesy of Ed), the author acknowledges that several collections that are pertinent to the study have now been placed in public institutions and are more accessible to interested parties. Let's hope that accessibility is the key to finding the missing clues.