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SpruceCreekHawk · 10-01-2014, 02:59 PM

(10-01-2014 02:08 PM)RJNorton Wrote: Jean, welcome to the forum! I cannot answer your questions about James Pumphrey, but my favorite Pumphrey story is the charge of trying to cheat the gas company!

http://www.congressionalcemetery.org/sit...mphrey.pdf

The Evening Star, April 14, 1883
Mr. Pumphrey's Gas Economizer
How He Was Victimized by a New Invention
James W. Pumphrey, the well-known livery stable man, of No. 485 C street, was put on trial before the Police Court today on the charge of fraudulently obtaining gas from the Washington gaslight company by conducting gas to his stable otherwise than through a meter.
John P. Meyers, an employee of the gas company, testified that when he went to take the state of Pumphrey's meter he found a rubber pipe attached to it, which conducted the gas around instead of through the meter. Mr. Pumphrey's counsel said they did not deny that this was a truthful statement, but the defendant would explain the whole matter. Mr. Pumphrey said that he had been troubled with a leaky pipe. He sent for a plumber, who refused to remedy it, saying it was the gas company's business to do so. Mr. Pumphrey complained to the gas company, who put in a new meter, but the pipe still leaked. Afterwards a man, giving his name as Dougherty, came along and claimed to have an invention that would save twenty-five per cent of the gas bills. He called his invention a "governor," and Mr. Pumphrey allowed him to put one in; but the gas meter is kept in a box, and Mr. Pumphrey said he had not seen it since the "governor" was attached. It was this invention which the gas company complained against. "I can hardly believe that Mr. Pumphrey--a business man--would undertake to cheat the gas company in this way," and Judge Snell, "and his explanation shows that he has been the victim of a practical joke. The case may stand suspended for one week, that Mr. Pumphrey may settle the matter satisfactorily with the gas company.

(thanks to Dave Taylor for that discovery)

James Pumphrey didn't just cheat the gas company. From everything I've been able to find about him, he never married the mothers of his children, either the first one, Margaret, or the second, Beulah Simpkins. I guess he counted common-law as good as a J.P. or the church.

Dave Taylor · 10-01-2014, 05:44 PM

(10-01-2014 12:40 PM)SpruceCreekHawk Wrote: If anyone knows when James Pumphrey was arrested (following his statement on April 15 to Col. Henry H. Wells), if he was, indeed, incarcerated at Old Capitol Prison, and if he was released prior to his testimony at the conspirators' trial (or after?) I would appreciate it very much.

From my records, it doesn't appear that Pumphrey was ever arrested. His name does not appear on any of the lists I have regarding those imprisoned or released from the Old Capitol Prison. He had practically nothing to do with assassination story so I doubt there would have been any reason to arrest him.

L Verge · 10-01-2014, 05:55 PM

Does anyone know where he was from or where he is buried? The reason I ask is because there were Pumphreys around Surrattsville at least into the mid-1900s.

Dave Taylor · (This post was last modified: 10-01-2014 05:57 PM by Dave Taylor.)

I don't know where he is from but he is buried at Congressional:

http://boothiebarn.com/2013/02/28/the-gr...-pumphrey/

SpruceCreekHawk · (This post was last modified: 10-01-2014 09:02 PM by SpruceCreekHawk.)

(10-01-2014 05:55 PM)L Verge Wrote: Does anyone know where he was from or where he is buried? The reason I ask is because there were Pumphreys around Surrattsville at least into the mid-1900s.

Do you know if there's any basis for the oft' repeated story that Pumphrey had a horse waiting to deliver a stay of execution for Mrs. Surratt?

According to the 1850 Federal Census, James Pumphrey was born in Maryland, but according to the 1870 and 1880 in DC.

(10-01-2014 05:44 PM)Dave Taylor Wrote:
(10-01-2014 12:40 PM)SpruceCreekHawk Wrote: If anyone knows when James Pumphrey was arrested (following his statement on April 15 to Col. Henry H. Wells), if he was, indeed, incarcerated at Old Capitol Prison, and if he was released prior to his testimony at the conspirators' trial (or after?) I would appreciate it very much.

From my records, it doesn't appear that Pumphrey was ever arrested. His name does not appear on any of the lists I have regarding those imprisoned or released from the Old Capitol Prison. He had practically nothing to do with assassination story so I doubt there would have been any reason to arrest him.

In the Kunhardt book, Twenty Days , Pumphrey is named as among the arrested (pp. 187-188). It is possible he wasn't put in Old Capitol Prison? His obituary didn't mention prison but that he was under surveillance until after his testimony. He's a witness for the prosecution on May 15.

Jim Garrett · 10-03-2014, 08:15 AM

Pumphrey is indeed at Congressional. I believe the residence listed on C St in his obituary is the address or next to the livery business. This was located directly behind the National Hotel. As for the spurs, world re-known spur expert Sanford Potts of Columbia Tennessee states that the spur at Ford's is a 1858 cavalry spur. Potts also examined the spur on display at the U S Naval Academy museum and according to Potts, it is an English spur manufactured in the 1880's. Mr. Ferrell's earlier posting makes sense. You may not need spurs at all on a high-spirited horse and may well make the horse more difficult to manage.

LincolnToddFan · 10-08-2014, 08:20 PM

Hi Jean, welcome to the Forum! May I ask about the lovely woman in your avatar...who is she? Thanks!

Jim Garrett · 10-11-2014, 06:53 AM

(10-08-2014 08:20 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote: Hi Jean, welcome to the Forum! May I ask about the lovely woman in your avatar...who is she? Thanks!

Maybe it's not an Avatar. Wink

SpruceCreekHawk · 10-30-2014, 01:34 PM

Hi, I've been away on travel and then my wi-fi was down, so sorry to be so slow to reply. The lovely lady is unknown. She is the subject of a daguerreotype my parents purchased in Winter Park, Florida about 30 years ago.

(10-11-2014 06:53 AM)Jim Garrett Wrote:
(10-08-2014 08:20 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote: Hi Jean, welcome to the Forum! May I ask about the lovely woman in your avatar...who is she? Thanks!

Maybe it's not an Avatar.

L Verge · 10-30-2014, 04:09 PM

(10-30-2014 01:34 PM)SpruceCreekHawk Wrote: Hi, I've been away on travel and then my wi-fi was down, so sorry to be so slow to reply. The lovely lady is unknown. She is the subject of a daguerreotype my parents purchased in Winter Park, Florida about 30 years ago.
(10-11-2014 06:53 AM)Jim Garrett Wrote:
(10-08-2014 08:20 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote: Hi Jean, welcome to the Forum! May I ask about the lovely woman in your avatar...who is she? Thanks!

Maybe it's not an Avatar.

The gentleman who wrote the only known biography of Metro Police A.C. Richards lived in Winter Park, Florida. I have not communicated with him in years. Those who are longtime subscribers to the Lincoln Herald may remember him - Gary Planck - because he kept us up to date on everything that was going on in the Lincoln world. Judge Frank Williams now holds that position for the magazine.

Jim Garrett · 11-08-2014, 02:09 PM

A.C. Richards is another fascinating person. He spent most of his professional career before becoming police superintendent as a teacher. He had only been superintendent for a few months at the time of the assassination. He swung immediately and decisively into action and was at the Surratt boarding house around midnight of the 14th. He suspected that Mrs. Surratt was the #2 person in the plot.