Image of Lincoln with Noose

[Dennis Urban]

While recently re-reading Lincoln in the Telegraph Office by David Homer Bates (1907) I was struck by the description of an image of Lincoln with "red ink-spots on the shirt front, with a rope around the neck, the ends being drawn tautly upward" (page 297-298). This image, described as a photograph, was supposedly received through the mail by Mary Lincoln and also found in an envelope on a streetcar in New York City on November 26, 1864 by Thomas Eckert. The image had a connection to Lewis Powell and was again supposedly admitted to by Powell. I don't believe I have read about this image and it's Powell connection elsewhere. While such an image could have been duplicated and sent to the White House and lost by Powell in NYC, I would think such a story, if credible, would have been recounted numerous times. Although Bates story is convincing, I tend to question the veracity of the story and wonder if there is any truth to it.

[LincolnMan]

Betty, any thoughts on this?

[BettyO]

As far as is discernable, Powell was not in New York in November of 1864. He was with Mosby in the Valley during this time period. The particular image of Lincoln mentioned is connected with witness Charles Selby and the "Leena Letter" discovered in a New York horse car in which someone named "Louis" (not Powell's proper name of the English spelling of "Lewis") was supposed to assassinate Lincoln. This was presented as evidence at the Conspiracy Trial. "Louis" was reportedly married to a lady in St Louis, MO. who pleaded with him to "return home to his wife and child." The whole canard is spurious. Powell never went out west to Missouri that we know of. He was not married nor did he have a child of which we are aware. He may have been engaged, but that is an entirely different story....

[Jim Garrett]

BTW. Bates' diaries are in the Library of Congress and have been digitized, however I don't believe they are on line. I was fortunate enough to be at the LOC with Clark Evans (curator of the rare books collection at LOC, now retired) and was given the honor of being able to read the entries from April 1865. This was absolutely amazing to read the accounts that Bates was getting, most likely directly from Stanton and Eckert. He accounts are concise and extremely accurate.

[BettyO]

Jim -

Bates' accounts may be accurate - but I think he missed the mark on the Selby/Leena letters - what are your thoughts on this?

[Jim Garrett]

Sorry, all I had time to read was his diary entry on the 15th.