Assassination Trivia

[RJNorton]

Good guess, Joe, but it's not him.

[J. Beckert]

Tom Pendel?

[RJNorton]

Nope.

Hint #1: Only the man's last name is mentioned in Ed Steers' assassination encyclopedia.

[RJNorton]

Hint #2: He was originally a botanist. He once operated a fruit stand in Washington. He was born c.1811-1812.

[RJNorton]

Hint #3: He is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

[RJNorton]

Hint #4: He specialized in pound cakes and fruit cakes at Christmas time. He catered food to the White House for social events.

[Linda Anderson]

James Wormley?

[RJNorton]

Nope.

Hint #5: He was a naturalized American citizen.

[RJNorton]

Hint #6: In 1870 he listed his occupation as "liquor dealer."

[RJNorton]

Hint #7: There are 7 letters in his last name.

[BettyO]

Gautier ?

[RJNorton]

You got it, Betty. Pierre Charles Gautier was born in France. He died in 1884 of an enlarged prostate....almost certainly prostate cancer....and was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery. His restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue was where the conspirators met the night of March 15, 1865. This was the same night Lewis Powell and John Surratt earlier had attended Ford's with two of Mary Surratt's boarders...Nora Fitzpatrick and Appollonia Dean.

[RJNorton]

What is this building?

[BettyO]

The Old Capitol Prison - where Mrs Surratt (and others including the Bransons) were incarcerated upon their arrests -

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Here are original floor plans of the Old Capitol and Carrol Annex -

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You got it, Betty. Pierre Charles Gautier was born in France. He died in 1884 of an enlarged prostate....almost certainly prostate cancer....and was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery. His restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue was where the conspirators met the night of March 15, 1865. This was the same night Lewis Powell and John Surratt earlier had attended Ford's with two of Mary Surratt's boarders...Nora Fitzpatrick and Appollonia Dean.

Thanks, Roger! That was a tough one!! It was the "liquor dealer" which got it for me -

Here is an original 1860 Ad for Gautier's Saloon and Restaurant -

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Betty! The article I used as a source says that business fell off so much at Gautier's Restaurant that by 1870 he was listing his occupation as "liquor dealer."

And, you are correct on the Old Capitol Prison.

You win one free night and two free meals at any prison of your choice in the USA.