The Washington times., 1901-12-15
WHERE THE PISTOL IS
WHICH BOOTH USED.
HELD BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Has Not Been Out of Its Possession
Since the COuspirntors Against
tie Life of Lincoln and 9th
ers Were Tried.

Colonel Calhoun NJ. Deringer, of 1919
Spruce Street, takes issue with Architect
George Plowman on the interesting ques-
tion of Mr.. PIowman's ownership of the
pistol with which J. wilkes Booth shot
President Lincoln.
Soon after the assassination of Presi-
dent Mckinley Mr.. Plowman was quoted
in the North American" as saying that he
had the Booth weapon in his possession.
He said that after shooting the President,
Booth in his nervous excitement dropped
the pistol on the stage OF Ford's theatre,
Washington.
The stage carpenter picked 1t up and
kept it for some time. Then he gave it
to George X. Goodwin. manager of the
playhouse. Mr.. Goodwin and Mr. Plowman
were associated in the theatrical business
for many years. the latter having design
ed twenty theatres and owned several.
The PIowmnn Pistol.
when Mr.. Goodwin died Mr.. Plowman
acted as executor Of the estate. As he
declined to accept compensation for his
service Mrs. Goodwin gave Mr. Plowman
the Deringer as a token Of her friendship
and appreciation. 1t bears plate in
scribed with this name: -. Wilkes
Booth" The spring of the trigger has
lost much OF its strength. and the portion
which sets off the cap is Clipped. Other
wise the historic weapon is in good condi-
tion.
Colonel Deringer. a member OF the FAM
lily which for many years manufactured
the famous weapons bearing the family
name, says that he once before had oc
casion to look into the matter, and that
when the Plowman claim was put forth
again he decided to get official data to
back his statements.
An oTciaI Statement.
He has just received this letter from
the Assistant Secretary of War:
answering your letters Of 18th ultimo
and I'd instant, In which you request GER
tain information concerning the pistol
with which President Lincoln was assas-
sinated, beg to inform you that the wea-
pon in question is in the office of the
Judge Advocate General of the Army and
has been in the custody of the War De-
partment since the proceedings of the
military comm -sion which tried the con-
spiratOrs were received for file, the pistol
having been found just after the assas-
sination on the floor of the box occupied
by the President.
ut does not have the name of Booth on
any part of it, but has the letter "P'' on
the left side of the barrel, the words
"Deringcr. Philadel." in front of the ear
sight, and the same words in rear of the
hammer on the lock plate"
Speaking of the matter Colonel Derin-
ger said:
Colonel Deringcr's story.
81 propose now effectuGlly to settle this
claimants ambition by my statement and
the letter which hand you for publica-
tion from the Assistant Secretary of War
to me. which l just received from him.
This full and explicit letter. l presume,
will put n quietus on this claim.
The facts are that the spurious pistol
may have been made. as claimed. at
Kreider's gun shop. Second and Walnut
Streets, but not the genuine Deringer
which shot the President, for that was
made at the old factory in the Northern
Liberties. where all the Deringer fire.
arms were made for the Indian and War
Departments and individuals from the
year 1906 down to the death of the in
cenious inventor of the world-renOwned
rifles and pistols familiarly called the
Deringer.
The gun barrels were always stamped
'Deringer, Phila.,' on the breech Of the
barrel. and on the side of the lock nlate.
as stated by the Assistant Secretary of
War. to be on the pistol In his depart
ment The letter p referred to on the
barrel means proved, and was always
stamped on each barrel after they were
tested and proved. There is little cap
box In the butt of the pistol. When | eT-
amined It there were two percussion caps
in it. left there by Booth. that had not
been used Philadelphia North Ameri-
can.