Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-28

Ex-Detective Geo. W. McEifrssh. who r. now en-
ployed at the city post-orice. acted for q time A.
Especial body guard 20 PRESIDE nj Lincoln 'Durtng
the latter part OF President Ilncolns irst term
said Mr.. McElfresh when q STAR reporter asked
him for some recollections OF hts service az the
White House, Il was detailed al the Executive
Mansion, where sergeant Cron. n A. T. Dom. Thos.
Pendle. A. c. Smith and Wa. IL Crook. who Is now
clerk at the Executive Manson. had been detailed
some time before at the request uf Ward n.
Lamon. United states marshal then for the Dis
trict Oi columbia. Marshal Lanon had some cause
Go fear for the safety OF President Lincoln, and.
upon his application and understanding with the
President this detail was mace from the Netropa-
tan police. I was placed on duty az night inside
bed chambers, with orders That az the President
went out was 20 80 with him, u be did not need
During my oiicial time mp there. nearly year. he
never told me that be did not require my attend
were a haf dozen nights thst he iii not 20 over
10 Tue old War Department about y or 10 O'Clock
70 receive and send dispatches and my orders
right hand siie going and on the lert coming back
50 that would be next 20 the old trees that used
70 stand In the old War Department lot, and
always with my pistol
READY FOR .xr sxsRarscv.
ION many OF those Occasions lie would talk 10 me
rs II i were member OF the family. always good
and kind. as he was 70 every attache OF the house.
One night while was on duty upstairs Mn lin
When told her yes sue assea me WHO va. I'M
charge ana told her sergt c oonin She told me
70 tell MN that she wanted o. see him the next
oayt which did. He saw her and She told MIN 90
SEND another man up there as IL was too hard on
one man sergt Sronin asked me who I would Ike
ana told HIN i would Ike Private Theodore
Hurdle and he had hurdle detailed with me
huruie Is now living and working at his trace
OF timer one night when Tue President received
dispatch OF an important Union yictory--l think
Nicksourg-he came out ~ his bed-cnamoer and
said 70 me: Well let us 81 over and tell secretary
Stewards mouse on Lafayette square: he went IN
and waited until he came Oft, aud we returned
was fond OF me ana was most always In Gay
company nights until he went 10 bed. on several
occasions when we returned from the War De-
partment little Tad would be Ia the anIc-room
Waen the President came In he would say, why
Tad, why aren't you In beds and Ta1's answer
would De-, Psps ! have been waiting for You.
on Ills back, and carry him upstairs
AT THE THrkrER
"My orders were" said Mr. NcElfresh. that
when the President went 20 the theaier should
get there as soon as possible, take st the DIX
door, and let one enter without nrst sending In
his name or card. and often stopped people mat
Snew 20 lie particular friends OF the family until
! had announced them. Ga most OF these occa-
sl1ns little Tad was with N as he used 20 walk
down with me instead OF riding In the carriage. 4
used 10 explain 10 him things that he on the
streets and In the s'ore> aud generally had
~ nc ihru W ~ Win We. b-SNifilt X
tired OF night duty. asked TO be relieved and
was relieved about a month before tue a-sassina-
ton II the ofcer that took my place carried out
| the orders given me doHt think Booth could have
| gotten into The Presidents box. 4 feel, without
| any Dragging, that n had continued on duty
there Boo,h would never have gotten into that
| boK-any how, not without q strugs le-and ma be
Lincoln might have been nving Vet. I have often
regretted IAat asked " Be- relieved Sergeant
Crook ami tendle are SUI eraplOyes at the Ex-
| ecutiye Mansion, and Col LalnJu, Crook aud PEN
die can vOucl tor The trutAla ness OF wnal say.
afterwaId served nearly tbree years at the ENecu-
tive Manslon, detail ed NON TIE police department
4 under President Grant, ani was on duty al the
main door. While there Was prom I'D 90 De 4
detective on the Metropolitan ponce OF tue District
and served Ia that capacity until legslated ~
Office by the act OF con- reSs u January 81, lssl =