Food for Thought

[mike86002000]

William Keeler was aboard the ship that took Dr. Mudd to Ft. Jefferson. Keeler was a Navy Paymaster. He was concerned about the possibility of Mudd receiving a pardon, so he wrote his congressman, B.C. Cook. Does anyone know if Congressman Cook shared Keeler's letter with President Johnson? Does Mr. Prindle mention this letter?

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La Salle, Ill.
Jany 21, 1869

Hon. B.C. Cook

Dear Sir

I learned by yesterday’s Chicago Tribune that efforts are being made to procure the pardon of Dr. Mudd. The U.S. Steamer Florida, to which I was attached conveyed him and his associates from Hampton Roads to the Tortugas. In conversation with myself, & I think with others on our passage down he admitted what I believe the prosecution failed to prove at his trial - viz - that he knew who Booth was when he set his leg & of what crime he was guilty. I have thought it might be well to have these facts known if they are not.

Very truly yours

W.F. Keeler

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Mr. Prindle mentions Keeler as a crew member on the Florida who overheard a conversation between Dr. Mudd and Captain Dutton, commander of the military escort. That's on pages 190 and 191. He doesn't mention Keeler's letter, at all. He also says Dr. Mudd admitted he had recognized Booth in a New York Times interview, while imprisoned in Washington. I don't remember reading about that else ware, and it isn't footnoted. As I remember all Captain Dutton claimed Dr. Mudd said, was that he recognized Booth, not that he knew about the assassination at the time, when he treated Booths broken leg and let him stay in his house. At his home, before he was arrested he volunteered that he then realized his visitor was Booth, to troops pursuing him.
Mike