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jparkuntz · 11-13-2017, 05:19 PM

Attached is one of those apocryphal assassination stories that interests me for reasons not connected to that event.

In late 1885, stories surfaced that a certain woman, Eusebia Fitzgerald, had been a mistress of Andrew Johnson, and that he snuck out his hotel the night of the assassination for an assignation with this woman.

If this item had surfaced anytime earlier, I would discount it as another smear of a very unpopular president.

In truth, I think this was meant to smear both the woman and Johnson. I suspect this story originated from a Philadelphia detective who was briefly imprisoned in 1865 thanks in part to this woman. He knew that she had gone to Washington twice in 1865 to get pardons for her bounty forger husband, Robert M. Lee.

She actually did meet twice with Johnson. And newspapers even then strongly implied that she used sex to procure the pardons.

This woman had a very long history as a courtesan. But the headline is accurate: she was more a professional blackmailer than an escort. In Philadelphia, she was known as Annie Melville. In Washington, she was known as Nora Woolley, claimed to be a sister to R. W. Woolley.

She married Robert M. Lee before 1865. She divorced him in 1873, then married Edward Fitzgerald.

As mentioned, I don't put any credence in the assassination night story. But I would be curious to know if that story ever surfaced before 1885; or whether the names of Andrew Johnson's alleged mistresses are known (besides the sisters he was said to have shared with Booth!) Or if anyone recognizes these names.

Steve · (This post was last modified: 11-13-2017 05:25 PM by Steve.)

Is this Robert M. Lee the same person as either the father or son with the same name that was mentioned in your earlier thread?

http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...-3531.html

jparkuntz · 11-13-2017, 05:32 PM

It's the son, the same mentioned in the earlier thread that supposedly "connived" to get JWB out of a breach of promise fix.

The father was a decent, respected man: a Philadelphia judge, respected lawyer, Army Paymaster.

The son, Robert M. Lee was on trial in Philadelphia in early April for forging soldier's bounty papers. On April 7, 1865, he was found guilty. Before his sentence could be read, the courtroom erupted in excitement, "Lee has been captured!" [he hadn't been, but he would surrender a couple of days later]. In the hubbub the other Lee, Robert M., made his escape.

He was a fugitive for the next month. Imagine how he must have felt when he heard about Booth! And when he saw the newspaper bring up his connection to Booth!

Steve · 11-13-2017, 05:51 PM

(11-13-2017 05:32 PM)jparkuntz Wrote: It's the son, the same mentioned in the earlier thread that supposedly "connived" to get JWB out of a breach of promise fix.

The father was a decent, respected man: a Philadelphia judge, respected lawyer, Army Paymaster.

The son, Robert M. Lee was on trial in Philadelphia in early April for forging soldier's bounty papers. On April 7, 1865, he was found guilty. Before his sentence could be read, the courtroom erupted in excitement, "Lee has been captured!" [he hadn't been, but he would surrender a couple of days later]. In the hubbub the other Lee, Robert M., made his escape.

He was a fugitive for the next month. Imagine how he must have felt when he heard about Booth! And when he saw the newspaper bring up his connection to Booth!

Question - Did the elder Robert M Lee die in 1863?

RJNorton · 11-13-2017, 05:57 PM

(11-13-2017 05:19 PM)jparkuntz Wrote: (besides the sisters he was said to have shared with Booth!)

Bill Richter once made an interesting post about this here.

Steve · 11-13-2017, 06:19 PM

I found this 26 December 1876 Inter-Ocean (Chicago) article about Eusebia. Although it doesn't mention Johnson.

jparkuntz · (This post was last modified: 11-13-2017 06:33 PM by jparkuntz.)

Before hooking up with Robert M. Lee, "Eusebia" was the common-law wife of forger James Buchanan Crosse.

The attached article describes Crosse's most famous exploit, with the Civil War as backdrop.

I am working on a biography of Crosse in which "Eusebia" and Robert M. Lee play a prominent part. I have pretty thoroughly mined all digitized newspapers (and some non-digitized) for mentions of all of Eusebia's incarnations, Robert M. Lee, and Cross(e).

(11-13-2017 05:51 PM)Steve Wrote:
(11-13-2017 05:32 PM)jparkuntz Wrote: It's the son, the same mentioned in the earlier thread that supposedly "connived" to get JWB out of a breach of promise fix.

The father was a decent, respected man: a Philadelphia judge, respected lawyer, Army Paymaster.

The son, Robert M. Lee was on trial in Philadelphia in early April for forging soldier's bounty papers. On April 7, 1865, he was found guilty. Before his sentence could be read, the courtroom erupted in excitement, "Lee has been captured!" [he hadn't been, but he would surrender a couple of days later]. In the hubbub the other Lee, Robert M., made his escape.

He was a fugitive for the next month. Imagine how he must have felt when he heard about Booth! And when he saw the newspaper bring up his connection to Booth!

Question - Did the elder Robert M Lee die in 1863?

Yes, Robert M. Lee Sr. died in New York in 1863, fortunately before seeing his son drag the family name through the mud.

Steve · (This post was last modified: 11-13-2017 06:49 PM by Steve.)

I found this 22 May 1867 Philadelphia Inquirer article that said that Robert was convicted again in October 1866 for another forgery case under the name "Steele".

Also do you have a Fold3 account? There's several Army documents there about both Robert M. Lee's work as a paymaster.

jparkuntz · 11-13-2017, 06:51 PM

Yes, Lee/Steele was convicted in Chicago in Oct 1866. This time it took a little while for Eusebia to get new Governor Palmer of Illinois to pardon him. He was let out in January of 1869. This time Eusebia didn't use charm--she provided the witnesses to convict a much bigger fish than Lee, none other than her ex-paramour James B. Crosse.

RJNorton · 11-14-2017, 05:42 AM

(11-13-2017 05:19 PM)jparkuntz Wrote: In late 1885, stories surfaced that a certain woman, Eusebia Fitzgerald, had been a mistress of Andrew Johnson, and that he snuck out his hotel the night of the assassination for an assignation with this woman.

Is it possible that Johnson was not alone in his room the night of the assassination, but the woman with him was Ella Starr and not Eusebia Fitzgerald?

Jerry Madonna postulates that Booth sent Ella Starr to "entertain" Johnson at the Kirkwood House the night of the assassination in A Threat to the Republic: The Lincoln Assassination Secret that Preserved the Union. In Jerry's theory, Booth sent Ella to Johnson's room as a "present" for a favor Johnson had done for Booth.

Johnson did not answer the door immediately when Wisconsin Governor Leonard Farwell rushed from Ford's to the Kirkwood House to tell Johnson that Lincoln had been shot. Here's the way Farwell told it:

"And then darting up to Mr. Johnson's room, No. 68, I knocked, but hearing no movement I knocked again, and called out with the loudest voice that I could command: "Governor Johnson, if you are in this room I must see you!" In a moment I heard him spring from his bed and exclaim: "Farwell, is that you?" "Yes, let me in." I replied. The door was opened, I passed in, locked it, and told him the terrible news, which for a time overwhelmed us both, and grasping hands, we fell upon each other as if for mutual support."

The fact that there was a delay in Johnson answering the door could conceivably mean he was not alone. Didn't Johnson have a suite of rooms at the Kirkwood House? The delay could be due to the woman needing time to gather herself and hide in another room before Johnson could answer Farwell. I realize there could be other reasons for the delay.

Several years ago I brought this up, and I admit there was not much support for the delay meaning Johnson had a woman in the room. But I thought I'd try again to see if anyone thinks it possible.

In the Johnson chapter of his book Through Five Administrations, William H. Crook (who was working at the White House when Lincoln was president) wrote, "Johnson had an amiable weakness for women, particularly for pretty women. Those of us who were on duty in corridors and anterooms saw many evidences of this fact."

I do not know if the woman was Eusebia Fitzgerald, Ella Starr, or someone else. But, IMO, it's possible Johnson had a woman with him when Farwell frantically ran from Ford's to the Kirkwood House and knocked on Johnson's door. And she was hiding when Farwell entered.

jparkuntz · 11-14-2017, 08:03 AM

The biggest reason that I discount that it was Eusebia Fitzgerald was that, prior to the date of the assassination, her husband Robert M. Lee had been found guilty in a Philadelphia court, but had escaped the courtroom and was a fugitive. He had not yet been sentenced. Johnson was not yet president, and couldn't issue pardons on his own--and even if he could, I don't think even Johnson would have pardoned a fugitive. So there was no good reason for her to be in Washington, and every reason for her to be in Philadelphia trying to establish contact and help her runaway husband.

But I do think she had a relationship with Johnson, probably dating back before the war when he was a senator; and revived later in 1865 when she did seek pardons for R. M. Lee.

What time did Farwell knock?

Gene C · (This post was last modified: 11-14-2017 08:10 AM by Gene C.)

I just can't believe it. What president would be foolish enough to have an improper relationship like that while president in the White House?

.......... never mind

RJNorton · 11-14-2017, 08:34 AM

(11-14-2017 08:03 AM)jparkuntz Wrote: What time did Farwell knock?

There is some relatively small variance in assassination books as to exactly when the shot was fired, but I think Ford's Theatre was only a few blocks from the Kirkwood House. Depending on how fast Farwell moved, and the fact that he apparently did not wait at Ford's to hear the seriousness of Lincoln's injury, I would guess he arrived at Johnson's residence c.10:40 P.M.

jparkuntz · 11-14-2017, 08:57 AM

Here's how the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph described Eusebia's meeting with Johnson to get a second pardon for her husband. It's just dripping with irony:

"The President could not withstand the irresistible and fascinating influences that were brought to bear in behalf of the prisoner, and that extraordinary generosity and magnanimity of soul that prompted the first pardon induced him to grant a second, and once more was the culprit released from custody.
"It is no more than just to remark that both these pardons were in a great measure attributable to the indomitable and persevering efforts of the prisoner’s wife. She is represented as a woman of more than ordinary persuasive powers, and she left no means unemployed that a woman can employ to accomplish the release of her convicted husband. She was almost ubiquitous, restless, sleepless…it would have been impossible for even a sterner nature than that of our susceptible President to have avoided yielding to the pressure and power of so much beauty, eloquence, and matrimonial solicitude."

L Verge · (This post was last modified: 11-14-2017 01:54 PM by L Verge.)

(11-14-2017 08:08 AM)Gene C Wrote: I just can't believe it. What president would be foolish enough to have an improper relationship like that while president in the White House?

.......... never mind

Says Gene with tongue in cheek...

(11-14-2017 08:57 AM)jparkuntz Wrote: Here's how the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph described Eusebia's meeting with Johnson to get a second pardon for her husband. It's just dripping with irony:

"The President could not withstand the irresistible and fascinating influences that were brought to bear in behalf of the prisoner, and that extraordinary generosity and magnanimity of soul that prompted the first pardon induced him to grant a second, and once more was the culprit released from custody.
"It is no more than just to remark that both these pardons were in a great measure attributable to the indomitable and persevering efforts of the prisoner’s wife. She is represented as a woman of more than ordinary persuasive powers, and she left no means unemployed that a woman can employ to accomplish the release of her convicted husband. She was almost ubiquitous, restless, sleepless…it would have been impossible for even a sterner nature than that of our susceptible President to have avoided yielding to the pressure and power of so much beauty, eloquence, and matrimonial solicitude."

Does a picture exist of this persuasive woman?

As for the theory that Booth had sent Ella to keep Johnson "occupied" and at home, Jerry knows that I have serious reservations about that. First, I don't think that even Booth was that big a cad to ask her to do something like that and second, that he would subject her to witnessing a murder if Atzerodt or Herold did get up enough nerve. You can just call me a romantic at heart.