Lincoln in the Telegraph Office on April 14, 1865

[Anita]

I first read Bill's article in the Surratt Courier and recently saw the discussion here. Bill, thanks for an informative well researched article. I did some searching to try and corroborate the Bates story and only found more reasons to doubt its credibility.

For example, in "Lincoln Stories" Bates
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=u...;size=150,
the companion book of "Lincoln in the Telegraph Office",
is the following:

"The last story told in the telegraph office, vouched for by Cipher-Operator Tinker is as follows: On April 14, 1865, the day Lincoln was shot, he came to the telegraph office while I was transmitting a cipher dispatch that was couched in very laconic terms. Lincoln read the dispatch and after taking in the meaning of the terse phrases he turned to me with his accustomed smile and said, 'Mr. Tinker, that reminds me of the old story of the Scotch lassie on her way to market with a basket of eggs for sale. She had just forded a small stream with her skirts well drawn up when a wagoner on the opposite side of the stream called out, "Good morning my lassie; how deep's the brook and what's the price of eggs? She answered, "Knee deep and a sixpence."' "Mr. Lincoln, still with a smile, lifted his coattails in imitation of the maiden and crossed into Mr. Stanton's room adjoining. That was the last time I saw Mr. Lincoln alive." p 64

Yet in "Lincoln in the Telegraph Office," he states the above took place on April 13, 1865.

In his "Lincoln Stories" he ends with "My war diary dated April 15, 1865, the day Lincoln died, contains the following entry. James 3:17" There is no mention of the Eckert bodyguard episode here or in his diary nor in Eckert's diary.

There is the following story, one of many that makes me believe if Lincoln thought that in anyway he would be in danger at Ford's Theater that fateful night, he never would have subjected Mary, family or guests to harms way without assurance of proper security. As mentioned by others in this thread, none of the guests Lincoln invited to the theater were intended to act as body guards.

"Distressing Mrs. Lincoln"

Once, not more than 60 days before his death, Lincoln came into the telegraph office with a picture of himself, which had been addressed to his wife and sent to her by mail. The sender had added to the picture a rope around the neck, then upward tautly drawn to indicate his hellish desire. Mr. Lincoln remarked that it had caused Mrs. Lincoln some anxiety, which he did not share, although he added some words of regret that any human being could be so devoid of feeling as thus to wound an innocent women. He said that he had received many communications of like import and had come to give them only a passing thought. " p.61 "Lincoln Stories" Bates.

Still, Bates had a successful career and I haven't found an example where his credibility was questioned. Also, what was to gain by making up such a story. In his own right through his position in the cipher office and the War Dept. had personal contacts with Lincoln and Eckert, Tinker and Chandler, and enough legitimate stories to interest the public. It's possible the story is a composite of bits and pieces of his recollection as an old man.

If it is assumed Eckert was too old to be aware of the Bates article telling the story of how
he, Eckert, refused to go with Lincoln to Ford's on April 14, I wonder why Eckert's family didn't never commented or denied the story.

As Bill stated, the Bates account should be moved to the myth column until more is revealed.