The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-28

ship 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 say
ing 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 Theater, Wash
ington. The stage carpenter picked 1t
up and kept 1t for some time. Then
he gave 1t to George K. Goodwin, man
ager of the playhouse. Mr.. Goodwin
ana Mr. Plowman We're associated in
the theatrical business for many years
the latter having designed twenty
theatres and owned several.
When Mr.. Goodwin died Mr.. Plow-
man acted as executor of the estate
AS ne declined to accept compensa-
ton for his service Mrs. Goodwin gave
Mr.. Plowman the Deringer as a token
OF her friendship and appreciation. It
bears plate inscribed with this name.
~ Wilkes Booth The spring of the
trigger has lost most of its strength.
ana the portion which sets off the cap
is chlpped. Otherwise the historic
weapon is in good condition
Col. Deringer Tells His Side.
Colonel Deringer, a member of the
family which for many years manu-
factured the famous weapons bearing
the family name. says that he once
before had occasion to look into the
matter, and that when the Plowman
claim was put forth again he decided
to get official data to back his state
ments. He has just received this litter
from the Assistant Secretary of War:
Answering your letters of 18th ulti-
mo and I'd instant. in which you request
certain information concerning the
pistol with which President Lincoln
assassinated. I beg to inform you that
the weapon in question is in the Office
OF the judge advocate general of the
army and has been in the custody Of
the War Department since the proceed
lngs or the military commission which
tried the conspirators were received for
ME, the pistol having been found just
after the assassination on the floor Of
the box occupied by the President.
1t 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 "Deringer, Philadel," in front Of
the rear sight. and the name words
in rear of the hammer on the lock
plate"
Speaking of the matter YESTERDAY
Colonel Deringer said:
II propose now effectually to settle
this claimant ambition by my state
ment and the letter which / hand you
for publication from the Assistant
Secretary of War to me, which just
received from him. This full and ex-
plicit letter, I presume, will put
quietus on this claim.
The facts are that the spurious
pistol may have been made. as claimed
at krediers 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 firearms were made for the
indian and War Departments and NJ
dividuals from the year 1906 down n
the death OF the ingenious inventor
OF the world-renowned rifles and pistols
Familiarity called the Deringer. The gun
barrels were always stamped 'Derlnger,
PhilG,' on the breach OF the barrel and
on the side Of the lock plate. as stated
by The Assistant Secretary of War 20
be on the pistol in his department TIE
letter T. referred 20 on the harrel
means proved and WAS always stamp
81 on each barrel after they were
tested and proved, There II q little tAr
box IN the butt Of the pistol. when
examined u there were two percussion
caps IN n. let there by Booih, ihai hp4
not been used