Assassination Trivia

[J. Beckert]

I cheated because it was driving me nuts. That's a good one, Roger.

[RJNorton]

Wonderful (and very logical) guess, Laurie, but that's not it, either.

Hint #3: He went running to the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th Street.

[Joe Di Cola]

Major Joseph B. Stewart

[RJNorton]

I am sorry, Joe, but it's not him.

[Laurie Verge]

The Kirkwood was at Pennsylvania and 12th Street, so it had to be someone running to make sure that VP Johnson was safe? Was it Leonard J. Farwell? According to Ed Steers's excellent Encyclopedia, Farwell was Inspector of Patents and a former governor of Wisconsin who lived at the Kirkwood and was friends with Johnson.

[RJNorton]

You got it, Laurie. Kudos. Yes, Farwell ran straight from Ford's to the Kirkwood House to inform Andrew Johnson of the shooting.

[J. Beckert]

In 1894, this assassination witness said the events of April 14th. were never discussed because this person thought as much of Edwin Booth as they did of Lincoln. Who was it?

[BettyO]

Robert Todd Lincoln?

[J. Beckert]

Good choice considering their history Betty, but it's not him.

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Hint # 1 - This person had the same first name as one of the Ford brothers.

[Gene C]

John?

[Laurie Verge]

Harry Hawk?

[J. Beckert]

Looks like class is dismissed early again. That's it, Laurie. Hawk waited until Edwin passed out of respect for his feelings in case he saw a Hawk interview about the assassination and rehashed the thing over yet again.

Hawk said he loved Edwin Booth as much as Lincoln for the kindness he showed him. I wonder how Hawk felt about JWB. On the morning of the assassination, his "How do you do, Mr. Booth?" was returned with a curt "Hello, Hawk".

[Laurie Verge]

Isn't there a story about Hawk saying that he turned and ran when he saw JWB heading towards him with the knife in his hand? Supposedly, Harry thought he was the target because of some competition between the two over a lady? Perhaps that would account for the curtness.

[RJNorton]

This letter was found somewhere. Where was it found?

********************************************


ST. Louis, October 21, 1864

DEAREST HUSBAND: Why do you not come
home? You left me for ten days only, and
you now have been from home more than
two weeks. In that long time, only sent
me one short note a few cold words and
a check for money, which I did not require.
What has come over you? Have you for
gotten your wife and child? Baby calls for
papa until my heart aches. We are so lonely
without you. I have written to you again
and again, and, as a last resource, yesterday
wrote to Charlie, begging him to see you and
tell you to come home. I am so ill, not able
to leave my room ; if I was, I would go to
you wherever you were, if in this world.
Mamma says I must not write any more, as
I am too weak. Louis, darling, do not stay
away any longer from your heart-broken wife.

[BettyO]

It's the Hudspeth letter - found on a New York "Horse (Street) car".....
Supposedly dropped by Lew Powell from his "wife" Leena in St Louis ?!?! Yeah....right!! ("Meet Me in Saint Louie, Lewie"?!?)

You would think that his "wife" would know how to spell her husband's given name - "Lewis"; the Angelian spelling; not the Gaelic "Louis".....