March 2012 Auction Ends Wednesday, March 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/28/2012
Almarin C. Richards, Washington, D.C. Police Superintendent, who was watching the play at Ford's Theater the night President Lincoln was assassinated, writes an historically-important letter to Louis Weichmann, chief witness for the prosecution at the assassination conspirators' trial. In his official capacity, Richards began the search for the suspected assassins, a search which continues to be clouded in controversy, as the first time the police visited the Surratt boardinghouse continues to be in dispute. In this letter of 18 September 1899, Richards reviews his account of events for Weichmann, who was writing a book on the assassination. Richards writes at length, ''...I note that in the matters of the writ of habeas corpus served out by Mrs. Surrat [sic] you state in one place that the writ was issued out of the Supreme Court of the U.S. instead of D.C. yet the matter following shows that the writ was issued out of the Supreme Court D.C...Of course the writer of [a newspaper] article is one of the Washington party who are creating sympathy for the Surrats [sic] so far as they can. I am also inclined to think they have captured [Detective James] McDevitt. I am led to this view from the fact that in the last letter I had from McD. he indicated a doubt that I visited Mrs. Surratts house on the night of the assassination. While he (McD.) might not have been with me at that visit I know that I spoke of incidents connected with my visit immediately thereafter not only to him but to others about police headquarters, as well as to people not connected with the police force. You know that within a day or two subsequent to the assassination large rewards were offered by the government for the capture of the assassins. From that moment onwards [Union spy Lafayette] Baker and others connected with the War Dept. undertook to Montpelier all movements and information regarding the assassins - I know that on the Sunday morning following the assassination Baker called at my office and with considerate swagger demanded that I turn you over to him as the representatives of the War Dept. also a similar demand was made upon me for the hat, pistol and some other articles of the Presidents that were handed to me in the theatre box that night. You may remember that at about 11 o'clock on the night of the assassination I sent to the War Dept. for a detail of a dozen cavalry horses to mount a a squad of my men to send down into Md. to pursuit of some persons whom we had learned from the guard at the Navy Yard bridge had crossed into Md. Soon after 11 o'clock that night - After being baffled for an hour or two my officer was told that the horses would be sent to my office at once. As a matter of fact it was 11 o'clock next morning when they were delivered to me. I think [Detective John A.W.] Clarvoe had charge of the squad I sent. There is a strong probability that had the horses been furnished promptly Booth and [fellow conspirator David] Herold would have been overtaken on their way to Dr. Mudd's...Yours truly, A.C. Richards''. Dr. Samuel Mudd was convicted for his help in setting John Wilkes Booth's leg, which had broken during his escape with Herold. Six page letter is written on front and verso of three 5'' x 7.75'' paper-clipped sheets. A 5'' x 2.75'' initialed postscript is also included. In very good condition with bold, legible handwriting. A fascinating and scarce account of the President's assassination and the manhunt for this killers.
Incredible Account of Lincoln's Assassination -- ''...with considerate swagger demanded that I turn over...the hat, pistol and other articles of the Presidents that were handed to me in the theat
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