The Fathers and Saviors of Our Country: A Presidential Sale

Comprising:

1) JOHNSON, Reverdy (1796-1876). Autograph note signed ("Reverdy Johnson") to Robert E. Harris, Jr., Philadelphia, 13 September 1864. One page. [With]: Carte de visite of Reverdy Johnson. Reverdy Johnson was an American politician and jurist who in 1865 acted as defense attorney for Mary Surratt during the trial of the Lincoln conspirators.

2) HUNTER, David (1802-1886). A Military Commission pass to the trial of the Lincoln conspirators, signed by Major General David Hunter. Washington, ca May-June 1865. David Hunter was an American military officer who served as president of the military commission which tried the Lincoln conspirators.

3) FISHER, George Purnell (1817-1899). Autograph letter signed ("Geo. P. Fisher") to Judge Edwards Pierrepont, Washington, D.C., 15 August 1867. 3pp. Judge Edwards Pierrepont conducted the 1867 case against John Surratt for his role in the kidnapping conspiracy against President Lincoln.

4) [ROBINSON, George Foster (1832-1907)]. A bronze copy of a Congressional medal presented to George F. Robinson for saving the life of Secretary of State William H. Seward on 14 April 1865. [Washington, D.C., 1871]. George Foster Robinson was assigned to guard Secretary of State Seward while he recovered from a carriage accident. Following the attack Robinson provided first aid which is credited with saving Seward's life.

5) HOLT, Joseph (1807-1894). Autograph letter signed ("J. Holt") to Judge J.A. Bingham, Washington, D.C., 18 February 1873. 2pp. Holt writes to Bingham regarding evidence suppressed by Edwin Stanton during the trial of the conspirators. In part: "It would have been fortunate for me indeed could I have had this testimony in my possession years ago. Mr S's advice to you was, under all the circumstances of the case, most extraordinary. It was neither more nor less, than urging a Suppression of the truth, at the very time, when, alike the interests of public justice, the honor of the military administration & the [illegible] reputation of one of its officers - who was also his personal friend - required that truth to be made public. The asking you to await the final judgment of the people, & at the same time withholding from them the proof on which that judgment - to be just must be formed - was a sad, sad mockery. [With]: Carte de visite of Holt, signed ("Holt").

6) BINGHAM, John Armor (1815-1900). A fair copy manuscript addressed to Joseph Holt, Yakahama, Japan, 19 February 1874. 7pp. Bingham discusses with Holt the trial of the conspirators and, in particular, the prosecution of Mary Surratt: "...I may be accused to say that that the fuss that President Johnson had refused to commute the sentence justly pronounced upon Mrs. Surratt...was publicly stated by [m]ine in a speech made by me in Bangor, Maine..."

7) WEICHMANN, Louis (1842-1902). Autograph letter signed ("L.J. Weichmann") to Judge J.A. Bingham, Anderson, IN, 31 January 1889. 2pp. Weichmann discusses wishing to re-enter government service and appeals to Bingham for help. In part: "My life has been one of trial and persecution - persecution by the Democratic Party and, I regret to say, by leading church dignitaries in the Church in which I was reared. This has made it all the more bitter." Louis Weichmann was a War Department clerk and boarder at Mary Surratt's boarding house who testified that on the day of Lincoln's murder he accompanied Mary Surratt to Maryland where she dropped off supplies picked up by John Wilkes Booth and David Herold following Lincoln's assassination.

8) RATH, Christian (1831-1920). Autograph letter signed ("Christian Rath") to E.K. May. Jackson, MI, 10 June 1892. One page. In full: "In answer to your enquiry about the execution of the Lincoln conspirators, I will say I build the gallows and conducted the execution of Mrs. Surratt, Payne, Herold, and Atzerott in Person. All were hanged on the same gallows and at the same time, Genrl. Hartsrauft stood on the gallows platform and read their death sentence. No person can or will dispute this statement."

9) WEICHMANN, Louis (1842-1902). Autograph letter signed ("L.J. Weichmann") to Judge J.A. Bingham. Anderson, IN, 18 February 1889. One page. In part: "In furtherance of the letter I recently sent you, I beg to enclose to you copies of recommendations as to the manner in which I discharged my duties in the Philadelphia Custom House."

10) BURNETT, Henry Lawrence (1838-1916). Autograph letter signed ("Henry L. Burnett") to Judge Advocate James Grant Wilson, New York, 9 April 1889. In part: "I have read during the winter two papers before our Commander of the Loyal Legion. The first, 'Incidents in the Trial of President Lincoln's Assassins' and the second 'The Controversy Between President Johnson and Judge Holt Over the Recommendations to Mercy of Mrs. Surratt." Henry Lawrence Burnett acted as a prosecutor in the trial of the conspirators. Following the trial he was accused of suppressing evidence by failing to disclose the existence of Booth's diary and drawing little distinction between the kidnapping and assassination plots.

11) WEICHMANN, Louis (1842-1902). Typed letter signed ("L.J. Weichmann") to Judge J.A. Bingham, Anderson, IN, 17 September 1896. 2pp. In part: "Judge Bingham, you are now an old man and it may not be many years before the good Father of us all calls you to the enjoyment of that happy home where all troubles and sorrows are at an end. You, more than any man alive to-day, are aware of the meed of praise to which I am entitled for the sacrifices I made and the work I did in connection with that great trial of 1865."