December 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, December 18th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/18/2012
Fascinating Abraham Lincoln assassination letter from Dr. George Loring Porter to Louis Weichmann, dated 15 March 1901. Porter administered to the assassins and was present at John Wilkes Booth's midnight burial by the War Department. Weichmann, friend of the Surratt family and chief prosecution witness at their trial, corresponded with people involved in the events while writing his book on the assassination. Porter, who delivered his lecture about the assassination entitled ''The Tragedy of the Nation,'' writes, ''...I was in Washington recently and was very kindly received at the War Department...I was allowed to make a personal inspection of all the exhibits at the trial...the reference to the final disposition of Booth's body is a memo that in 1869 it, or what remains of it, was given to the Rector of a church. I do not remember what one in Baltimore. The tradition is that it was returned to the family under agreement that there was to be no funeral known to anyone outside of the immediate family and that by no monument, stone, mound, memorial, nor public record was the place of interment to [be] made known. Probably however it was placed somewhere in the family lot...The manner and locality where the post-mortimized remains of Booth were secreted has never been correctly described and very likely may not be until after my death...'' On another topic, Porter adds: ''...That someone was standing at the south door of the President's Box has been frequently stated: I have no personal knowledge of the fact...'' He signs, ''Geo. L. Porter''. Minor soiling to folds of 5.25'' x 8'' card style four-page letter, else very good.
Lincoln Assassination Letter -- Signed by George Porter, Doctor at John Wilkes Booth's Funeral -- ...the...locality where the post-mortimized remains of Booth were secreted has never been correctly...
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