A little-known person

[Steve Whitlock]

(07-24-2021 03:37 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  IMO, the two most likely possibilities are (1) McDevitt told the truth and our mystery person in the street suggested to the group of detectives that they go to the Surratt boardinghouse or (2) Superintendent Richards was already suspicious of the boardinghouse (maybe acting on Gleason's information) and specifically ordered Clarvoe, McDevitt, and the other detectives to go to the Surratt boardinghouse.

Steve, the John Surratt trial testimony is here

https://archive.org/details/trialjohnhsurra00surrgoog

but my old computer does not seem to be able to find Clarvoe's testimony. I have numerous books that say he did indeed testify. All I am curious about is if he is asked about how the detectives ended up at the Surratt boardinghouse.

Roger,

I made a pdf file of the trial testimony from the link you sent. You can do the same, or I'll try to copy the pertinent pages. Clarvoe's testimony starts at pg 688 for a short statement, then has a much longer testimony starting on pg 696. He does not mention McDevitt's tipster, or any tipster. McDevitt starts his testimony on pg 707 and only mentions that he received information that J. Wilkes Booth had fired the shot, then the attorney guides him to the arrival of himself and others at Mary Surratt's house, without examining why he went there.

As for the Richards letter, there are documents that say Richards sent the detectives, and no mention of accompanying them. I think Richards wanted to upgrade his involvement for reward purposes. McDevitt and Clarvoe wrote a statement that they, and nobody else (which isn't true) went to the Surratt house.

That last information, plus more about Lewis Weichman is in:

The Lincoln Assassination - The Rewards Files
By William C. Edwards

I'm trying to slow myself down on the jump to wrong conclusions track, so I'll take a little time to get you those pages with the Clarvoe and McDevitt testimony. Another individual getting a lot of questioning from the Surratt household is John Holohan, who accompanied Weichman on the morning of the 15th to the Metropolitan Police Station, where they worked with Clarvoe and McDevitt, even so far as going with them to Canada to find John H. Surratt. All that while under arrest and represented as government agents.