Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-06
BY GEORGE M. BATTEY, JR.

A beaver hat. believed to have been
the property Of President Abraham
Lincoln. and three fishing lines, a halter
and saddle blanket. the property Of
John Wilkes Booth, we're brought to
Metropolitan police headquarters, Wash
ington.- after the assassination of the
emancipation at Ford's Theater on the
night of Friday. April IA. 1865.
So far asNis known. the fact that
these articles figured in this case has
never been published. Reference to
them was discovered by Sergt. Thomas
McGrath In report book of 1865 OF
the detective corps of the Metropolitan
police, which was unearthed from a
mass OF debris in the subbasement Of
The Municipal Building.
The item listing the beaver hat, writ
ten In the bold. somewhat flowing long
hand Of the desk sergeant OF that day.
reads, as follows:
tFriday, April IS. 1865. IL midnight
Articles found in the vicinity of the
assassination OF President Lincoln,
picked up at Ford's Theater: Pistol, hat.
spur and opera glass; one pistol, one
.louch hat one opera glass case. two
buttons zone a brass and the other an
India rubber button), also hat. sup
posed to be the Presidents. Brought
to Office by Supt. A. G. Richards and
Acting Assistant Supt. Reed. The above
articles, except the beaver hat, are sup
posed to be connected with the
assassination: also cape"
Relics Have Disappeared.
At 10 o'clock Monday morning, April
II. tho sergeant faithfully recorded this
entry In his log:
Property found in the stable Of
j. Wilkes Booth, back of Ford's theater:
value, SIS; turned over to superintendent
for investigation: One halter and one
saddle cloth and three fishing lines.
taken from the stable Of j. Wilkes
Booth, and which are known to be
Booths property. were brought TO the
office by Sergt. Johnson on the morning
of the 18th Of April and delivered up
to Officer Drill. Claimed by no person
at present. Turned over to properly
clerk by order Of Supt. Cornelius Noonan
for Sergt. johnson"
The halter and saddlecloth were useo
by Booth on the spirited bay mare
which he rode furiously INTO io"el
MARYLAND in his effort to escape tne
bursting Federal Cavalry. No doubt
he bought fishing lines to square WIN
his claim that his presence on several
occasions In Charles and Prince
Georges Counties had to do with q
fishing expedition. These articles OF
Booths were delivered to Secretary OF
War Stanton. They are not now a
part of the conspiracy relics Kept by
the War Department and evidently
have disappeared.
AS for the beaver hat. 1t probably
was taken in charge as priced relic by
a friend OF Mr.. Lincoln. who mad
fondness for hats Of this character.
When Mr.. Lincoln was passing through
New York City on the way to WASH
ington from Springfield TO be inaugu-
rated the first time friend presented
him with two hats~-one q beaver ana
the other q soft felt such as he never
had worn before. This was the day
that Mayor Fernando Wood welcomed
Mr. Lincoln to New York and Mr.. Lin
coin responded SO guardedly that 1t
was impossible to tell what his admin
istration policy toward the rebellious
Southern States would be.
When Mr. Lincoln reached Phitadel-
phia he was warned OF plot TO take
his life at Baltimore. He proceeded
on to Harrisburg. After having met
the State Legislature he was again
auguration and reluctantly he gave
heed. According to a statement: he
made at Washington late in 1854 to
Benson j. LOSING. the historian, he
put on an old overcoat he had with
him. stuck the soft hat in pocket and
passed unobserved out OF the rear Of
the hotel. His guard and transporta-
ton had been arranged for and In this
unexpected rig he caught the regular
train the night OF February % at Phila-
de1phia passed through Baltimore With
out getting Oft and arrived safely at
Washington at 6 the next morning
His special train followed at the time
set and. to the great disappointment
OF Baltimoreans, they found no Presi-
dent-elect on board.
Plots Continued.
Plots continued to brew around Mr..
Lincoln after his Inauguration. and his
beaver hat figured in at least one
more OF them: the story was told by
Capt ID. II. l.. Gleason. who was at
tachcd 10 the Office Of Gen William
Hoffman. cominissary general OF prison.
ers. After MIR. Lincoln had begun TO
stay at the Soldiers Home to avoid q
steady stream OF ONCE seekers at the
VtbL0 xAOhaC AID lluk tatt &Whr "AtAA
him one night about midnight. The
horse ran snorting up TO the gate where
stood the guard. and Mr. Lincolns coat
tails were Tapping behind. The guard
stopped the horse and led him by the
bride toward the stable. and upon
alighting Mr.. Lincoln told how some
one at the foot OF the hill had fired of
q gun at distance too close for COM
fort. The horse got beyond his control
and took him up the hill In kind Of
Ichab0d Crane fashion Mr. Lincoln ex-
planned the shot by saying he supposed
someone had fired OF his piece after q
hunt. However. the corporal and pri-
vate investigated at the bottom OF the
hin. where they found no providers. but
they picked up Mr.. Lincoln's beaver hat.
and 1t had bullet hole through the
crown. After that MIR. Lincoln was at
tended by guard OF cavalry furnished
by Secretary Stanton.
The beaver given him In New York
and the hat he left behind near the Sol
diefh Home were doubtless the same
the nat found In the box on the night
OF the assassination probably was am
nther which had served him on his
richmond trip and elsewhere ut the
front.
Hat Found on Stage.
f. u. Wfay OF the once Of Surg. Gen
Joseph X. Barnes picked up a black
nlouch hat on the stage. believed TO have
been Booths. and brought II to head
quarters OF the metropolitan police Ac-
cordlng 10 the ancient detective book
to'ihd by Hrrgt Mcdrath, other wit
iifsseh who came 10 the police desk and
made statements that tragic night we're