The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-04-24
BAGSOVER THEIR HEADS
THE TREATMENT GIVEN PRESIDENT
LlNCOlN'S ASSASSlNS.


Extraordinary NJ easurcs Used to Prevent
Esuapc Rescue and Suicide n Significant
Chapter of Unpublished History.
During the exciting times immrdi
ately following the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln the prisoners, who
were arrested in connection with that
affair, were confined on board of
United States monitors anchored in
tho Potomac River, opposite the navy
yard. A history of the Washin gton
navy yard, written by Chaplain Henry
b. Hibben, which has just been issued
as IN executive document by the Sen
ate, contains the orders given to the
commandant of the navy yard as to
the care Of those important prisoners,
and these orders revealed one or two
features Of their treatment, which, it
is believed, have never before been
made public.
The first order was from the Navy
Department to Commodore j. B.
Montgomery, commandant Of the
yard, and dated April Is, 1865. tho
day Of Mr.. Lincoln's death. 1t reads
as follows:
If the military authorities arrest
the murderer OF the President and
take him to the navy yard, put him
i'll monitor and anchor her out in
the stream, with strong guards ON
vessel, wharf and in navy yard Call
Oh commnndant Of marine corps for
guard Have vessel Immediately pre-
pared, ready to receive the criminal
at any hour, day or night. Ho will
be heavily ironcl and SO guarded as
to prevent escape or injury tu hiu-
self
Two days later the department
notified tho commandant thai the
War Department wishes special ut.
tention called this AFTERNOON TO order
OF Saturday, 18th instant Keep y
bont III constant readiness and have
guard ut the gate, that tho prisoner
can bc safely got on board
The first prisoners were received at
the navy yard that night, and the
following day Commodore Mont.
gomcry reported that Mike O'Flnhrr,
ty and Lewis Payne had been deliver
eel during the night and were con.
fined on board the monitor Saucu9.
in double irons and under Il strong
guard. Samuel Arnold was added to
the prisoners ut 80 clock the morn,
ing Of April 10. The samc day the
commandant received orders to per-
NIT no person TO SEQ or hold com
munication with hoprisoncrs without
pass signed Jointly by the Secretary
of War and tho Secretary OF the
Navy.
At lilo p. H., April 20, two more
prisoners were received at the navy
ynrd. They were james Andrew
Mzrrott and Ernest Hartman Ritrhic.
his brothcr-in-law. April % the AS
Slstant Secretary of the Navy sent
this order to Commodore Mont
GOmcry:
1.-The Secretary OF War wishes Atzr.
rott separated from his brother in
law, Ritchic, by putting the former
i'll another vessel, unknown to the
other prisoners; also, that II ball and
Chain to be put on each ankle of
Payne
On the following day the command
ant received directions which showed
that Secretary of War Stanton pro.
posed to neglect no prccaution to-
ward prove lting any sort of com
munication between the prisoners
These directions were az follows:
1.-The Secretary of War requests
that the prisoners on board iron -clads
belonging to his department for bet
ter security against conversation shall
have a canvas bag put over the head
of each and tied around the neck.
with Il hole for proper breathing and
eating, but not seeing, and that
Payne be secured to prevent self-dc
struction.'
Tothis order, which is now brought
to hight for the first time, Command
ant Montgomery replied on the same
day:
THE hoods were made, and have
been applied rs directed. The pris
oncrs arc i'll all respects entirely Sc
cure.
Ned Spanglcr WAS taken from the
old Capitol prison that day and con-
fined on one of the monitors. Three
days later, April 81, the commandment
reported to the Navy Department as
follows:
"David &. Harold, prisoner, and
the remains Of Wilkes Booth were
delivered here at Lib this morning..
The body of Booth is changing rapid
ly. What disposition shall be made of
It? 1t is now on board the iron clad
)Iontauk.'
Later in the day the commandant
Has hando an order, signed by
Secretaries >2clles and Stanton. iii
recting him to permit Surgeon Gene
raj Barnes, Judge Advocate General
Holt, and certain other officers and
civilians. incluatng photographer,
to so on board the Aontauk and see
Booths body. The order also direct
ed that, after the Surgeon General
had made an autopsy, the BODY should
be placed in a strong box, carefully
sealed, and delivered to the change of
Col. l.. G. Baker
A letter sent to the Secretary OF
the Navy tho following day by Com
mandant Montgomery shows that he
had no chance to carrytout Il part Of
this Joint order. The writer com
plains that the body of Booth WAS