Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-15

history of the Washington navy yard has
been prepared by Chaplain H. B. Hibben of
the navy and published as Senate public
document In few formal military orders is
given one view of the circumstances attending
the most tragic event i'll OUT history, of which
today is the twenty-ffth anniversary. 1t gives
in short official form an account of the confine-
ment of prisoners in the yard arrested as ac-
cessory to the murder of President Lincoln
and Of the sudden bringing of Booths body on
board the Montauk and its as sudden and mys-
terious taking away. On the 18th of April,
! 1865, the following order was received by the
| commandant of the yard:
| If the military authorities arrest the muir
derer of the President and take him to the
| navy yard put him in a monitor and anchor
| her out in the stream, with strong guard on
vessel. wharf and in navy yard. Call on com
mandant of Marine Corps for guard. Have
! vessel Immediately prepared, ready to receive
the criminal at any hour, day or night. He
| will be heavily ironed and so guarded to
| prevent escape or injury 10 himself"
Two days later the following was received:
The War Department wishes special atten-
ton called this afternoon to order of Saturday.
! 18th instant. Keep boat in constant readiness
and have guard at the gate, that the prisoner
can be safely got on board
RECEIVING THE PRISONERS.
On the 18th the commandant, J. B. Mont
gomery, announced to the Navy Department
that:
Two prisoners, Mike O'Flaherty and Lewis
Paine, during the past night have been de-
hvered at this yard, and are confined on board
the monitor Saugus in double irons with strong
guard
The next day the confinement of Samuel
Arnold on the same vessel was announced.
The department then, on the 18th of April,
! sent the following order to the commandant
Until otherwise ordered permit no persons
| to see or hold communication with the prison.
ers confined on gun boat without pass signed
| jointly by the Secretary of War and Secretary
of the Navy. Give this order to officers of YES
sells without delay
April n the commandapt reported to the
| department: Two prisoners-James Andrew
! Atzerott and Ernest Hartman Ritchie-were
delivered by Col. Ingraham at 10 minutes past
II o'clock last night
The exctemen: and anxiety in the War De-
partment and the terrible uncertainty of the
times is strongly portrayed in the orders from
the Assistan. Secretary of the Navy on the 23d
and 2ith OF April. The first says:
The Secretary of War wishes Atzerott sepa-
rated from his brother-in-law law ter-by
putting the former in another vessel unbe-
known to the other prisoners: also that q ball
and chain be put on each ankle Of Payne
The order of the oath says: THE Secretary
of War requests that the prisoners on board the
lron-clads. belonging to his department, for
better security against conversation shall have
a canvas bag put over the head of each and
tied around the neck, with hole for proper
breathing and eating, but not seeing, and that
Payne be secured to prevent self-destruction."
The cOmmandant replied to Assistant Secre-
tary Fox: The hoods were made and have
been applied directed. The prisoners are
IN all respects entirely secure"
On April a the commandant announced that
prisoner. brought from
Old Capitol by Capt. Pets order of Col
lngraham and is confined as directed"
THE REMAINS OF BOOTH.
The next dispatch, dated 9th April, tells its
story: David c. Harold, prisoner, and the
remains of Wilkes Booth were delivered here
at AS this morning The body of Booth is
changing rapidly. What disposition shall be
made of II! 1t is now on board iron-clad Mon
tauk."
OF the same date as this telegram we find the
following order, signed by the Secretary of the
Navy and the Secretary of War, dated 10 o'clock
a. m, April u. 1865:
ITO the Commandant of Washington Navy Yard:
You will permit Surgeon General Barnes and
his assistant, accompanied by Judge Advocate
General Holt Hon. John A. Bingham. Major
Eckhert, VIM. q. Moore, clerk of War Depart
ment; Col l.. c. Baker, Lieut.. Baker, Lieut..
Col COnSer, Chas. Dawson. j. l.. Smith. Mr.
Gardner. photographer, and an assistant, to go
John Wilkes Booth. Immediately after the
surgeon general has made his autopsy you will
have the body placed i'll a strong box and de-
liver 1t to the charge of Col. Baker, the box
being carefully sealed.
GIDEoS WELLEs, Secretary Navy.
EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Secretary War;"
THE SUDDEN REMOVAL.
At 2:45 same day, without the least intima-
ton to the commandant, as will appear by the
following letter to the Secretary Of the Navy.
the body of Booth was suddenly and secretly
taken from the Montauk by Col. Baker, who
had brought it:
NAVY YARD. WASHINGTON,
"COMMaSDANT'S OFFICE, April 20. 1865.
"SIR: BY telegram yesterday pm. reported
to the department the removal of the body of
the assassin Booth from the MOntauk to the
United States Arsenal in this District Gas sup
posed). have to report that the removal was
made entirely without my knowledge or any
reference to me by the party Of officers and
others commissioned by the War and Navy De-
partments to visit the iron clads and the first
Intimation given me of the removal was from
the executive officer, who accompanied me i'm
mediately to the wharf with the view of deter
mining the fact. L called at once for explana-
| ton from the marine officer, who reported that
| the body was SO suddenly and unexpectedly re-
moved to the boat which conveyed it away
! that he had no opportunity OF reporting before
| the work was accomplished. This unusual
TRANSACTION deprived me OF opportunity OF IN
| closing the body in box prepared for it. as or
| dered by the department. The box is now on
| board tine Montauk and ready for delivery
when called for. JB.M"
The compiler of this history which tells its
tragic story with the cold formaIity of military
| orders. says:
There was no reply to this complaint Of the
| commandant from the Navy Department. In
| deed the records plainly show that the Secre-
| tary of War ASSUMED aud maintained supreme
| control of the prisoners even after their deliv-
I cry TO the keeping of Commodore Montgomery
| Maj. Gen. Augur was ordered TO station guard
| III the navy yard near the iron clads day and
| night, to be stationed and relieved as Gen
| Angur may direct The Secretary of War
| seemed to be under state of great fear that
/ the prisoners would escape or be rescued from
| his hands. This fear extended even to the
body OF the dead assassin, and his apparently
arbitrary restrictions Ill regard TO it and the
| enjOinment OF secrecy III regard to the DISPOSE
ton OF 1t were strained TO a degree that
amounted to disrespect to the commaudant
| and disregard OF the authority that had been
! imposed upon him as custodian OF the body of
| Booth"
INVESTIGATING THE CASE.
In view of the above joint order of April 81,
given to the commandant by the Secretaries OF
War and Navy. to allow the surgeon general.
accompanied by dozen army officers aud
civilians. with a photographer and assistant,
to go on board the Montauk to see the body OF
Booth. the following two kilograms. addressed
TO the commandment by the Secretary of the
Navy on the same day, seem in spirit unneces-
A rA a aTf.9 ihA.A faia