Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

Author:James L. Swanson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2012-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

Edwin Stanton continued his investigation as Abraham Lincoln slept his last, deep sleep at the Petersen house. His brain was dead and beyond dreaming.

By 4:00 A.M., Stanton was sure that he was dealing with a conspiracy. The evidence found in Booth’s hotel room included the mysterious “Sam” letter that seemed to predict the assassination. The recovery of this letter, which Booth had carelessly — perhaps on purpose? — let fall into the hands of the manhunters was obviously addressed to the actor by an unknown conspirator. Stanton read it and recognized that it was full of clues: Booth had at least two coconspirators named “Sam” and “Mike”; Sam was in Baltimore; the assassination was premeditated, planned before March 27; and the Confederacy might be involved.

At the Petersen house, a doctor recorded statistics in the notes he kept, tracking the sad and inevitable deterioration of Lincoln’s condition that night.

5:50 A.M., respiration 28, and regular sleeping.

6:00 A.M., pulse failing, respiration 28.

6:30 A.M., still failing and labored breathing.

At the Petersen house, Abraham Lincoln began the death struggle.

The end was coming fast. Surgeon General Barnes placed his finger on the pulse in Lincoln’s neck. Dr. Leale placed his finger on the pulse in Lincoln’s wrist. Another doctor placed his hand over Lincoln’s heart. The doctors and nearly every man in the room took watches out of their pockets. It was 7:20 A.M., April 15, 1865. More than once, they had thought Lincoln had passed away. But the strong body resisted death many times through the long night.

Abraham Lincoln took his last breath. His heart stopped beating at 7:22 and 10 seconds. It was over. “He is gone. He is dead,” one of the doctors said. The occupants of the room stood silent and motionless for a few minutes. Edwin Stanton finally spoke. He asked Reverend Gurley, Lincoln’s pastor, whether he would say a few words.

“I will speak to God,” replied the minister. “Let us pray.” He summoned up a very moving prayer, then murmured “Amen.”

Stanton broke the long silence. “Now he belongs to the angels.”

Stanton reached for pen and paper and wrote a single sentence. There was nothing else to say. It was the telegram that would transmit the sad news to the nation.

Washington City, April 15, 1865

Major General Dix,

New York:

Abraham Lincoln died this morning at 22 minutes after 7 o’clock.

Edwin M. Stanton

Reverend Gurley and Lincoln’s eldest son, Robert, told Mary the news. She would not go to the room where Lincoln had died. She could not bear it. She never saw her husband’s face again.

Around 9:00 A.M., she left the Petersen house for the White House.

The room was empty of all visitors except Edwin Stanton. The morning light streaming through the back windows crossed Lincoln’s still face. Stanton closed the blinds, took a small knife or pair of scissors from his pocket, and bent over Lincoln’s body. Gently, he cut a generous lock of hair and sealed it in a plain white envelope. Stanton signed his name in ink on the envelope, then addressed the envelope to mrs.

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