The Atzerodts in the 1860 census?

[Dave Taylor]

(08-07-2016 11:24 AM)L Verge Wrote:  

(08-07-2016 11:19 AM)Dave Taylor Wrote:  

(08-07-2016 11:11 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Is John Leonard Smith the Atzerodts' Union brother-in-law who happened to be at Surratt Tavern on March 18, 1865, when George, Herold, and Surratt stopped in to hide the kidnap weapons? Is he also the one who was with the troops who arrested Atzerodt in Germantown?

Yes, John Smith was a deputy U.S. marshal under Baltimore Provost Marshal James McPhail. He was present at the tavern when his brother was there hiding weapons. In addition to giving information which led to his brother-in-law's arrest, Smith actually took down George's "lost confession" which Joan found. I've been working on a blog post about the Atzerodt boys.

Must have been fun going home that night and, when his wife asked, "What did you do at work today?", having to answer, "I arrested your brother as a murderer."

In his later years, John Smith gave at least two interviews (one published posthumously) about his role in the manhunt. Like our friend Mr. A.C. Richards, Smith's role became exaggerated greatly and many parts of his story are untrue, but he does mention that his wife, "begged me not to capture" her brother.