Assassination Trivia

[BettyO]

You got it, Roger!

[Laurie Verge]

Re: John Howard. I still don't know who he was, but he's listed as giving testimony in the LAS file 6:429. Those of you with The Evidence book can check that - I'm heading out of the office. Or, better yet, Fred - please fill us in.

[Frederick Hatch]

Roger, Laurie, et al: The names of the waiters at Gautier's Restaurant are recorded in the "Investigation and Trial Papers Relating to the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln," better known as Microcopy 599. If you have access to Edwards' & Steers' book, "The Lincoln Assassination - The Evidence," you will find John Howard on pp. 714-15, John Thomas Miles is on pp. 899-901, and Thomas Manning (the watchman) is on pp. 836-7. To the best of my knowledge, our John Howard, tour guide, autopsist, and bon vivant, is not related. Fred Hatch

[BettyO]

Great! Thanks so very, very much Fred! I'm so very glad that you're posting here! Welcome!!

[RJNorton]

Betty, I have subscribed to Fred's Journal of the Lincoln Assassination for as long as I can remember. I think I am correct in saying a one year subscription is $12 and two years is $20. To subscribe to Fred's excellent journal the address is:

Autograph Press
P.O. Box 2616
Waldorf, MD 20604.

[RJNorton]

What was the name of the person who played bass in the Ford's Theatre orchestra?

[J. Beckert]

Peter Taltavul? I think he played something part time.

[RJNorton]

Excellent guess, Joe, but I think his specialty was the French Horn. It wasn't him.

[Frederick Hatch]

What was the name of the person who played bass in the Ford's Theatre orchestra?

The bass player was George M. Arth (c.1838-1886). Other musicians we know of as of 4-14-1865 were: Samuel Crossley, violin, William Musgrine, Salvadore Petrola (1835-1916) cornet, Paul schneider, Sr., violin, Rueben Withers (1844- ? )drums, and William S. Withers, Jr. (1836-1905) Orchestra leader. It was W. Withers (brother of Rueben) whom JWB encountered back stage as he fled from the scene of his crime. Withers' coat was slashed by JWB's knife. Peter Taltavul (c.1825-1881) managed the saloon next door to the theatre, where JWB took a few drinks before the deed. Fred

[RJNorton]

You win, Fred. Kudos.

[L Verge]

I believe that many of the musicians were actually with the Marine Band and moonlighted at Ford's. Wasn't Taltavul part of the Marine Band?

[Rsmyth]

Henry Donch played the clarinet the night Lincoln was shot. It is not known if Louis Weber played that night but shortly afterward he petitioned the War Dept. to obtain his violin which was locked up at Fords.

[RJNorton]

Yes, Laurie, he was in the Marine Band. Here is his obituary:

-------------------------------------------

OBITUARY: 04/11/1881
___________________________
Taltavull, Peter
b. 1825 - d. 8 Apr 1881 55 yrs.
Taltavull. On the 8th of April 1881, Peter Taltavull, aged 55 years. Funeral from his late residence, No. 723, 8th street southeast, Sunday, the 10th inst. at 3 o'clock; p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.

The Evening Star, April 11, 1881

Mr. Peter Taltavull, a well known resident of East Washington, who died last Friday, was buried yesterday from his late residence on 8th street between G and H streets southeast. Mr. Taltavull was 55 years of age at the time of his death, and had resided since his early boyhood near the Washington navy yard. For over a fourth of a century he was a member of the Marine band, was a fine performer on many instruments and one of the best soloists on the French horn in the country. He will be pleasantly remembered by many of our music-loving citizens. He had many friends throughout the city. He leaves a family of six sons and three daughters. Forman, Stephen M., A Guide to Civil War Washington, Washington, DC: Elliott & Clark Publishing, 1995.
___________________________
Taltavull owned the Star Saloon next door to Ford's Theatre. He testified that he had served John Wilkes Booth a drink about ten minutes before Booth shot President Lincoln. Booth usually drank brandy, but Taltavul said that Booth drank whiskey and water before he left the saloon.

More About Peter Taltavull:
Burial: 10 Apr 1881, Historic Congressional Cemetery, Washington, DC
Obituary: 11 Apr 1881, Evening Star, Washington DC
Occupation: 1880, Paper Hanging

[L Verge]

Taltavul was also a neighbor of the Herolds.

[RJNorton]

Who is this man?