Just Trivia

[RJNorton]

Yes, Crook was not the bodyguard at the theater (although he was one of several policemen assigned to White House duty). Rather it was John F. Parker, another White House guard, who went to Ford's. Indeed Crook was critical of the way Parker handled his duties.

It was White House policeman/doorman, Tom Pendel, who comforted Tad back at the White House after Booth shot the President. Earlier Tad was with Alphonso Donn, another of the group of Metropolitan Washington police officers assigned to the White House, at Grover's Theatre watching Aladdin or The Wonderful Lamp.

As I write this my mind is blank regarding Mrs. Lincoln firing someone and Crook getting a promotion. Can you kindly expound on that and maybe my memory will come back. Thanks.

In the fall of 1864 it was decided that a detail of the Washington Metropolitan Police force would be assigned to protect the President. This was at the request of Ward Hill Lamon, United States Marshall for the District of Columbia and a close friend of Lincoln's. Lamon had become increasingly fearful for the President's life. On November 3, 1864, the initial detail was composed of John R. Cronin, Alphonso Donn, Thomas F. Pendel, and Alexander (or Andrew) C. Smith. Changes were occasionally made, although the detail was never more than 5 officers at any one time. Other officers who served in the detail included William S. Lewis, William H. Crook, George W. McElfresh, Thomas T. Hurdle, Joseph Shelton, John F. Parker, and D. Hopkins. Parker was assigned to the detail sometime between late February and early April, 1865.

Tom Pendel wrote, "Previous to starting for the theatre, I said to John Parker, who had taken my place, to accompany Mr. Lincoln, "John, are you prepared?" I meant by this to ask if he had his revolver and everything all ready to protect the President in case of an assault. Alfonso Donn, my old companion at the door, spoke up and said, "Oh, Tommy, there is no' danger." I said, "Donn, you don't know what
might happen." Because I had traveled a good deal in my life, and had seen much of human nature, I said, "Parker, now you start down to the theatre, to be ready for the President when he reaches there. And you see him safe inside." He started off immediately, and did see Mr. Lincoln all safe inside the theatre, and Mrs. Lincoln, Major Rathbone and Miss Harris also reached the building in safety."