investigations

“This man BOOTH”

John Wilkes Booth was identified by a hat and a spur he left behind at the crime scene.

From The New-York Times April 16, 1865:

THE ASSASSINATION.; Additional Details of the Lamentable Event.

WASHINGTON, Saturday, April 15.

The assassin of President LINCOLN left behind him his hat and a spur.

The hat was picked up in the President’s box and has been identified by parties to whom it has been shown as the the belonging to the suspected man, and accurately described as the one belonging to the suspected man by other parties, not allowed to see it before describing it.

The spur was dropped upon the stage, and that also has been identified as the one procured at a stable where the same man hired a horse in the evening.

Booth’s spur (photo by Carol M. Highsmith; Library of Congress)

Two gentlemen who went to the Secretary of War to apprize him of the attack on Mr. LINCOLN met at the residence of the former a man muffled in a cloak, who, when accosted by them, hastened away.

It had been Mr. STANTON’s intention to accompany Mr. LINCOLN to the theatre, and occupy the same box, but the press of business prevented.

It therefore seems evident that the aim of the plotters was to paralyze the country by at once striking down the head, the heart and the arm of the country.

As soon as the dreadful events were announced in the streets, Superintendent RICHARDS, and his assistants, were at work to discover the assassin.

In a few moments the telegraph had aroused, the whole police force of the city.

“Ford’s Theatre, scene of the assassination” (1865; Library of Congress)

Maj. WALLACH and several members of the City Government were soon on the spot and every precaution was taken to preserve order and quiet in the city.

Every street in Washington was patrolled at the request of Mr. RICHARDS.

Gen. AUGUE sent horses, to mount the police.

Every road leading out of Washington was strongly picketed, and every possible avenue of escape was thoroughly guarded.

Steamboats about to depart down the Potomac were stopped.

DC-Police-Blotter-4-14-1865-evening

The Daily Chronicle says:

“As it is suspected that this conspiracy originated in Maryland, the telegraph flashed the mournful news to Baltimore and all the cavalry was immediately put upon active duty. Every road was picketed and every precaution taken to prevent the escape of the assassin. A preliminary examination was made by Messrs. RICHARDS and his assistants. Several persons were called to testify and the evidence as elicited before an informal tribunal, and not under oath, was conclusive to this point. The murderer of President LINCOLN was JOHN WILKES BOOTH. His hat was found in the private box, and identified by several persons who had seen him within the last two days, and the spur which he dropped by accident, after he jumped to the stage, was identified as one of those which he had obtained from the stable where he hired his horse.

This man BOOTH has played more than once at Ford’s Theatre, and is, of course, acquainted with its exits and entrances, and the facility with which he escaped behind the scenes is well understood.

The person who assassinated Secretary SEWARD left behind him a slouched hat and an old rusty navy revolver. The chambers were broken loose from the barrel, as if done by striking. The loads were drawn from the chambers, one being but a rough piece of lead, and the other balls smaller than the chambers, wrapped in paper, as if to keep them from falling out.

A Seneca County, New York newspaper also published most the preceding article and then followed in the same column with:

the assassin’s derringer (by Carol M. Highsmith; Library of Congress)

WASHINGTON, April 16.

The extra Star has the following:

Developments have been made within the last twenty-four hours showing conclusively the existence of a deep laid plot on the part of a gang of conspirators including members of the Order of the “Knights of the Golden Circle,” to murder President Lincoln and his cabinet. We have reason to believe that Secretary Seward received intimation several months since from Europe that some thing of a desperate character was to transpire at Washington, and it is more than probable that the intimation had reference to the plot of assassination.

The pickets encircling this city on Friday night to prevent the escape of the parties who murdered President Lincoln and attempted the assassination of Secretary Seward and his sons, were fired upon at several places by concealed foes. Arrest of the parties charged with the offence will be promptly made.

A number of rebel officers who arrived here this morning by the mail boat from City Point, asked permission to take the oath of allegiance, which request was not granted for the present, and they were committed to Old Capitol Prison.

NY Herald 4-15-1865

It was ascertained several weeks ago, by personal friends of the President, that he had received several private letters warning him that an attempt would be made upon his life; but to this he did not seem to attach much, if any importance. It has always been thought that he was not sufficiently careful for his individual safety in his last visit to Virginia. It is known that on frequent he would start from the Executive mansion for his summer residence at the Soldier’s Home, without the usual cavalry escort, which soon hurried and overtook him before he had proceeded far. It has always been understood that escort has been accepted by him only on the importunity of his friends as a matter of precaution. The President, before retiring to bed, would, when important military events were progressing, visit the War Department alone, passing over the dark intervening ground even at late hours on repeated occasions; and after the warning letters had been received, Seward, Chase, and intimate friends, armed for any emergency, were determined that he should not continue his visits without their company. For himself, the President seemed to have no fears.

It didn’t take long for the authorities to figure out that John Wilkes Booth was the culprit:

The Evening Telegraph 4-15-1865 (Philadelphia)

You can pretty much read Philadelphia’s The Evening Telegraph of April 15, 1865 at the Library of Congress and get another look at the DC police blotter from the evening of April 14th at the National Archives.

“Washington, D.C., April, 1865” (Library of Congress)