November 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, November 20th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/20/2014
Letter by Almarin C. Richards, D.C. Police Superintendent and lead detective for the Lincoln assassination plot. Richards writes to Louis Weichmann, former friend of the Surratt family who testified against the conspirators and helped convict them. Richards reviews his account of events for Weichmann's book on the assassination in this 5 October 1899 letter. Anti-Catholic sentiment ran high during the Civil War and, here, Richards refers to a theory that the assassination was a Catholic plot and to statements of Father Walter, the priest who ministered to Mary Surratt, who was ultimately hanged. He ends with a statement about John Surratt, Mary's son, a conspirator who fled Washington, D.C., avoiding conviction for the crime. In part, ''...the manner in which you handled Father Walter's relations to the case against Mrs. Surratt surprised me. Knowing as I do that you are a Catholic and Father Walter's being a Catholic priest I naturally did not expect you to handle him 'without gloves' as you do...You proclaim to the world his...very questionable conduct. He has exhibited a recklessness in his statements of facts sufficient to put truths to a blush. You call him down by pointedly and justly giving the historic account without fear or favour leaving him to his conscience and his God...It has been claimed by some not familiar with the history of the assassination...that it was a Catholic plot...Your unvarnished statements do much to vindicate the Catholic church from...complicity in that great crime...After reading your presentation of the trial of John H. Surratt, I am led to more than suspect, in fact to almost believe, that he was in Washington on the night of April 13th 1865...'' Minor chipping to bottom of 7.75'' x 9.75'' two page letter, written front and verso. Overall very good.
Lincoln Assassination Letter Regarding the Guilt of Father Walter -- ''...It has been claimed by some not familiar with the history of the assassination...that it was a Catholic plot...''
Click above for larger image.