The San Francisco call., 1907-02-10
Book That Vividly Recalls the
Lincoln Tragedy

II il be true that generations must
pass after events of stirring political
significance before their history can be
written in fairness and honesty, then
the life of DR.. Samuel A. Mudd Just
from the press, is opportune. Tt is edit
ed by his daughter. Nettie Mudd. who
has lived until an almost iudiciously
cool-headed public is ready to read and
consider her vindicat ton OF her father,
who. charged with conspiracy in bring
ing about the assassination of President
Lincoln, was confined in Fort Jefferson,
on the Dry Tortugas Island, where he
served four years of life sentence be-
fore being hardened by President John
son. This publication emphasizes again
the tremendous political significance of
the death Of Lincoln. Other Presidents
have been assassinated since that fate
full April day in 1865 and every detail
OF the tragedies has been told and the
sorrowful chapters closed. but there has
hardly been a year since Lncoln's death
without the publication of something
direct or collateral relating to IT.
This book really presents for the first
time lot of documentary evidence,
mostly in the form of letters exchanged
by Mudd and his wife that has genuine
bridge Monroe of the Baltimore bar is
at once a sympathetic appreciation of
DR.. Mudd and an appeal for an unbiased
consideration of the documents present
ed Mr.. Monroe's appeal is the more
convincing because apparently he does
nos write from personal acquaintance
with Dr. Mudd. He emphasizes the fact
that the letters were not written for
publication; that the family, with the
exception Of the daughter editing the
volume and born after the assassina-
tion. has passed away. The publication
OF the letters at this time (forty-one e
years ago they were written) is born of
q desire to clear her fathers name
While love and loyalty to her fathers
memory actuated Nettie Mudd in COM
piling this volume, she has unwittingly
given to history a significant chapter of
the most trying years the United States
has ever known. It is book that may
well be added to the Lincoln bibIio-
graphy, now numbering several hun
dred volumes
IT is not amiss at this time to recall
that IL was to Dr. Samuel Mudd's house
in Maryland that John Wilkes Booth
was carried by his friend to have his
broken leg set, the injury he received
when he jumped to the stage of Ford's
Theater after shooting Lincoln. 1t is
told in this book that every member of
the M5ldd family swore under oath that
the identity of Booth was unknown to
them, but the fact that DIR. Audd knew
that he was aiding and abetting some
fugitive told against him. Dr. Mudd
had to suffer, as did all others who had
anything TO do with Booth. There
seems to have been no one to resent his
release from prison, and the simple
narrative in which the daughter tells
OF her fathers Homecoming Is one of
the most affecting bits in this story of
a life's tragedy. She closes her book
with a short. account of her fathers
death (thirteen years after his release
from PRISON. in the fftieth year of his
age.
Added interest is given to this volume
because IL contains the diary of Booth,
which, although in the hands of the
Secretary Of War at the time of the
trial of the conspirators, was not used
1t is regarded by Nettie Mudd as con-
tributing something to her fathers
vindication.
This publication is a striking example
of good printing and bookmaking.
(Neale Publishing Company. Price
So