The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-24
Death of Man Who DeCIin-
ed 100000 Bride.
ALMAE'S STORY OF The INCIDENT
Approached While on Milk
Wagon in Morning.
SHOWN ROLL OF MONEY
Thought the Matter "A Joke. hut De
clined to Accept-Tratts of the
Martyr President.

Mr.. James Altman. whose death occurred
Thursday at his home in this city. refused
100000 to put poison in cream which he
served President Lincoln
Mr.. Altman was a well-known and high
ly respected citizen Of Washington. and
man OF considerable wealth He guarded
carefully the fact that he was in any way
mixed up with any plot or attempt on the
lie OF President Lincoln and but few men,
his most intimate friends. knew Of il.
Mr.. AImHn's own story.
Some months ago. speaking Of the mat
ter TO a newspaper man. Mr. Altman said.
'ie- J suppose ii is true. but 1 was
under the impression that this incident
In my life-which is a very unpleasant
one 20 me-was known only TO myself and
two or three intimate friends. It is
something / dislike to talk about and
have always tried 10 keep IL from the
public. because 1 realized that no good
could come Of its publicity. 1 don't
want to be mixed mp with the matter
thirty-siX years ago. and certainly don't
now.
Il knew and loved Mr.. Lincoln, and
there was no man sorrier than myself
when the assassin's bullet ended his life
The fact is about this story Of MY being
offered 500 900 10 put poison in the Presi-
dents milk or cream. I thought at the
time that it was an effort to play joke
on me. I did not take it seriously. OF in
its true light, until after Mr. Lincoln
was killed.
Big Roll of Money
4 do not know whethc- it was hun
6red thousand dollars or not which was
offered. I do know that that was the
sum the men said they would give me,
and the money they showed me made a
big roll Az that time was running a
dairy right where the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing now is and my
family occupied house which was torn
down when the property was bought for
its present purposes Ny dairy was about
the largest around here at that time. and
among my regular customers was Presi-
dent Linct IN, Secretary Stanton and many
other gentlemen in official life. fur
nished them all the milk cream. and but
ter they used, and many times Mr.. Lin
coin complimented me on the freshness
and purity of my milk and butter Mr.
Lincoln was a good. everyday man. and
nobo4y would have ever thought he was
President IF they simply had not already
known that he was.
Took Early Morning Walks.
1T was his habit in the early spring
to walk over in the mornings 70 Score
tary Stanton-s and take a cup Of coffee
with him while they discussed public
matters. He generally went TO the Sec
retary's about OF o'clock. and some
times earlie~ than that had received
Instructions from the Sccretary's family
TO be sure TO get around every morning
early enough TO leave cream for the
Presidents coffee.
zone morning in the early part Of
April-not two weeks before the Presi-
dent was assassinated-I was driving
along in my wagon when Two men stopped
me and one Of them asked If didn't want
10 make 500. COO easy and quick. scarce
ly knew what 10 say. but told him that
guessed did if il could be done on the
level Well. he then asked me il could
keep a secret and told him I thought I
could Then he got right dose up to me.
leaning over the side Of the wagon. and
said:
Well. my man. here's 500. GOO in good
money Every cent Of il is yours 81 you
will take this little box Of powder and
put II in the cream you serve 70 Presi-
dent Lincoln this morning Pour out the
cream IN the measure and put this powder
IN it. Nobody will ever suspect any
thing and the slO0at5 is yours
Gould Not lie Tempted.
"He showed me a tremendous big roll
Of money, and Il looked mighty nice but
1id-'t want any Of that kind. II il had
been as large as the Treasury building Il
woUi1 not have tempted me. I told the
men / wanted and needed the money but
could have nothing 20 do with any such
business, u they really meant what they
said. They tried 70 argue the matter
with me. but I wouldn't listen to them
and drove away. while they cursed me. J.,
II not true that they assaulted me either
then or al. eTward. Al the time 1 could
not believe that the men were in earnest
but thought they were trying 10 play an
early morning joke on me- 7 kept Inc
transaction 20 myself but must confess
kr.m ID