Seward Attack

[Dave Taylor]

(08-24-2012 05:08 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Agreed, Laurie. In my brain, anyway, that is as logical as any theory. Too bad we really don't have a source for the "Now, by God! I'll put him through. That is the last speech he will ever make" comment on April 11th. Didn't we we once look into those supposed words of Booth's and cannot find an original source for it?

Roger,

These words come from two different sources. The line "Now, by God! I'll put him through" and was first published in GATH's Katy of Catoctin. GATH actually references this quote with the following, "Frederick Stone, counsel for Herold after Booth's death, told the author this was the occasion of the deliberate murder being resolved upon by Booth, and in the words above."

The "That is the last speech he will ever make" line comes from Thomas Eckert at Johnson's impeachment trial. At the trial, Eckert is recalling things that Powell said to him. He admitted to not writing a lot of it down and was recalling from memory. Eckert stated, "He knew in reference to the intention to assassinate the President, because Booth tried to get him to shoot the President the night of the celebration after the fall of Richmond. The President made a speech that nightfrom one of the windows of the White House, and he and Booth were in the grounds in front. Booth tried to persuade him to shoot the President while in the window, but he told Booth he would take no such risk; that he left then and walked around the square, and that Booth remarked, 'That is the last speech he will ever make'"

This account is at odds with with GATH as GATH places Davy with Booth that night and not Powell. It's hard to know which is correct, but they both have fairly legitimate stories behind them.

On an unrelated note, Eckert also says at Johnson's trial that Powell did not really care for Davy Herold. According to Eckert, Powell called him a, "little blab".

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(08-24-2012 05:49 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  First the stick pin. I believe I saw references to it in the collection when under the control of the judge advocate. There are several letters about items in the collection being transferred to the National Museum (now Smithsonian). If Dave taylor is out there, he has seen the same documents. Dave, Am I correct? So far, I have not found a more modern (after 1890s) reference to it. I could have longago left the collection, or it could still be in the NPS collection along with the 13,000 plus other trinkets.

I'll have to check my files to see if I have anything about the diamond pin in more recent times (off hand nothing is coming to mind) but Eckert also talks about this item at Johnson's trial too:

"Q. Do you know anything of a diamond pin taken from Booth's body?
A. I do.
Q. What of it do you know?
A. I saw it yesterday.
Q. In whose possession?
A. General Townsend's; I hold his receipt for it. It is in exactly the same condition it was when I received it and when I turned it over to General Townsend. That pin was not given to me at the time I received the diary.
Q. From whom did you receive it?
A. I received it from General Baker."

Baker himself also mentions the pin. He stated at Johnson's trial that it was locked up with the elusive field glasses of Booth's so I have a feeling the pin and glasses shared the same fate.