Was Stanton a murder target?

[RJNorton]

(12-06-2016 12:45 PM)John Fazio Wrote:  To thicken it still more, there is Julia Grant's account of a "White House messenger" who came to her suite in Willard's about mid-day, whom she later identified as probably Herold (and who fits the description), and of four men, one of whom was certainly Booth, another Herold and the other two most likely Powell and Atzerodt, in the dining room of Willard's, eavesdropping on her conversation with Mrs. Rawlins and her daughter.

Perhaps this is too far out, but I wonder if Julia Grant could conceivably have saved Abraham Lincoln's life on April 14, 1865.

1. A strange "messenger" (probably Herold) comes to her door at the Willard Hotel. He is wearing a shabby hat. Julia does not like the looks of him. She is suspicious of him - something about him does not seem right. The "messenger" says he's been sent by Mary Lincoln to tell the Grants they will be picked up at 8 to go to Ford's that night. Julia tells the "messenger" that the Grants will not be going and to convey this information to Mary Lincoln.

2. Shortly thereafter, at lunch, Julia again sees this strange "messenger" (probably Herold). He is sitting with four men, one of whom is dark and pale (probably Booth). The dark, pale man seemed very intent on what Julia was saying to her companions. He played with his soup spoon. He looked like he would eat his soup, but over and over never lifted the spoon more than half-way - never ate the soup at all. Julia thought the man acted crazy.

3. As the Grants were riding in a carriage to the train station the dark, pale man (Booth) again appears. In her memoirs, Julia Grant wrote, "Afterwards, as General Grant and I rode to the depot, this same dark, pale man rode past us at a sweeping gallop on a dark horse - black, I think. He rode twenty yards ahead of us, wheeled and returned, and as he passed us both going and returning, he thrust his face quite near the General's and glared in a disagreeable manner.' Mrs. Ruckner said, 'General, everyone wants to see you.' Grant replied, 'Yes, but I do not care for such glances. They are not friendly.' "

I realize Julia Grant did not want to go to the White House because she had turned down the theater invitation, but I wonder if she could have overcome her feelings about Mary Lincoln.

I wonder if she could put these 3 strange events together. "Why would the strange messenger be eating lunch with the strange man now harassing our carriage?"

I wonder if she could have ordered the carriage driver to go to the White House so she could tell Abraham Lincoln, "Something's up. Danger lurks. Stay home tonight."