auction

[ReignetteC]

"But did she ever give away (or even worse, sell) anything related to the assassination? Anything as morbid as bloodied gloves? Would she have handled such a thing? Or sending "my little Taddie" with such items? Maybe it was in a box, and she didn't realize what was in it? As you can see, I am confused and have more questions than answers."

1. Charles Forbes claimed that Mrs. Lincoln gave (or shunned) the black suit her husband wore that fateful evening.

See his Affidavit (September 17, 1892):

"...Shortly after his death, when Mrs. Lincoln was packing her things preparatory to vacating the White House, she gave me the full suit of clothes which the president wore the night of his assassination... I asked her, 'What shall I do with them?' She said, 'Do anything you like with them. Don't let me see them again."

2. The suit's frock coat ended up with Thomas Pendel. Yet he claimed that Tad Lincoln gave it to him.

See his Affidavit (January 14, 1878):

"I certify that on or about the 222nd of April 1865, Tad Lincoln, the son of the President, presented me with the frock coat worn by the President when he was assassinated in Ford's Theatre..."

3. Then there are the heirs of Alphonso Donn who, for more than seventy years, claimed that Mrs. Lincoln gave him the bloody suit. He also held the president's greatcoat (overcoat). They produced several affidavits supporting their claim.