Mary's Reputation

[RJNorton]

(09-23-2015 02:01 PM)Gene C Wrote:  Has any one heard of this incident? The Memoirs of Henry Villard are in Internet Archives, but I could not locate the second part of Stashower's quote from Villard's Memoirs.

Gene, I found this description on p. 701 of Herndon's Informants:

"The latter (i.e. Mary Lincoln) was on the floor in a sort of hysterical fit, caused by L's refusal to promise the position of Naval officer of the NY Custom House to Isaac Henderson, who had sent a diamond brooch to a Springfield jeweler to be given to Mrs. L. in case she could secure the promise of this office. The fit continued until the promise was obtained. Henderson was, in fact, appointed. He was afterwards indicted by the Grand Jury for defrauding the Government, & tried before Judge Nelson, but was saved from conviction by some technicality."

This description was in a letter from Horace White to Herndon dated January 26, 1891. White was quoting what Hermann Kreismann told him. From what I can tell Kreissman and Villard knew each other, but the description stated above came from Kreissman, not Villard. I assume Kreissman told Villard the same story (and that is how Villard heard of it). Thus, it appears to me that the alleged incident was witnessed by Kreissman, not Villard. It allegedly happened in the Lincolns' home during the period when Lincoln was President-elect. Kreissman said it happened after the election but before departing Springfield.