April 2015 Auction Ends Thursday, April 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2015
Very rare letter by a witness at the assassination trial of Abraham Lincoln. Almarin C. Richards writes to fellow witness Louis Weichmann, whose testimony helped give Mary Surratt the dubious distinction of being the first American woman hanged. The handwritten letter reads in part, ''...I plead guilty of unwarranted delay in responding to yours of the 12th...Please find enclosed herewith the newspaper slip relative to 'Billy Williams'...I never knew of his doing any real detective work - nor did I ever hear of his being connected with any work in the great conspiracy trial...Since reading John H. Surratt's 'vindication' by 'Hiss' [Washington Post article by John Surratt, writing under the name of Hanson Hiss] and your response to the same I have read J.B. Stewart's [Colonel Joseph B. Stewart] testimony on the trial of the assassins as published in the official record of the trial. I do not understand why he gave his imagination such full play in embellishing the part he performed that night. I note also that his testimony in some minor particular does not harmonize with that of certain other witnesses. I have heard nothing from [assassination Detective James A.] McDevitt recently. He is not much of a letter writer however good a detective he may be...Yours truly, A.C. Richards''. Colonel Stewart, to whom Richards refers, was in the audience at Ford's Theater and is known as the only eyewitness who immediately started in pursuit of John Wilkes Booth (though Richards here disputes the known record). Booth was grabbed by Lincoln's companion Henry Rathbone just after firing the gun but managed to struggle free. Booth then crossed the stage with Stewart reportedly in pursuit, and escaped out a back door. 8'' x 10'' 2pp. letter is datelined from Eustis, Florida, 31 July 1898. Some chipping and toning, overall in very good condition and clearly legible.
Abraham Lincoln Assassination Witness Accuses Another Witness of Lying: ''...I do not understand why he gave his imagination such full play in embellishing the part he performed...''
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