LINCOLN ASSASSINATION.] CORBETT, Thomas P. ("Boston") (1832-1894), Booth's killer . Autograph letter signed ("Boston Corbett"), to I. S. Lezon, Lincoln Barracks, Washington, D. C., 31 May 1865. 1 page, 8vo, tipped to another sheet, with small engraving of Corbett pasted to lower left corner of letter; also with address panel of envelope pasted to another sheet; a docket by the recipient with a small newspaper clipping reporting Corbett's 1887 commitment to an insane asylum in Kansas, and a c.d.v of Booth .
LINCOLN ASSASSINATION.] CORBETT, Thomas P. ("Boston") (1832-1894), Booth's killer . Autograph letter signed ("Boston Corbett"), to I. S. Lezon, Lincoln Barracks, Washington, D. C., 31 May 1865. 1 page, 8vo, tipped to another sheet, with small engraving of Corbett pasted to lower left corner of letter; also with address panel of envelope pasted to another sheet; a docket by the recipient with a small newspaper clipping reporting Corbett's 1887 commitment to an insane asylum in Kansas, and a c.d.v of Booth . BOOTH'S TROUBLED KILLER sends this short letter in response to one of the many correspondents who contacted him in the aftermath of his notoriety as the man who shot and killed John Wilkes Booth. "Your note of the 29th Inst is received. As I always prefer the language of scripture to my own words, I would say in reply 'God Rules over ALL .'" Corbett signs with his rank, sergeant in in L Company, 16 N.Y. Cavalry. Corbett, an emotionally disturbed religious fanatic, castrated himself in 1858 to avoid the temptations of prostitutes. He served two tours of duty and was captured by Mosby's Rangers and held in Andersonville Prison before being exchanged. As part of the 16th N.Y. Cavalry he tracked Booth to the Garrett farm in Virginia, with explicit orders from Secretary of War Stanton to take him and David Herold alive. "The stunning news of Booth's death," writes historian Michael W. Kauffman, "brought joy and relief to millions, and instant fame to Boston Corbett." He ended up after the war in a Topeka insane asylum, from which he escaped, and was presumed dead in an 1894 fire.
LINCOLN ASSASSINATION.] CORBETT, Thomas P. ("Boston") (1832-1894), Booth's killer . Autograph letter signed ("Boston Corbett"), to I. S. Lezon, Lincoln Barracks, Washington, D. C., 31 May 1865. 1 page, 8vo, tipped to another sheet, with small engraving of Corbett pasted to lower left corner of letter; also with address panel of envelope pasted to another sheet; a docket by the recipient with a small newspaper clipping reporting Corbett's 1887 commitment to an insane asylum in Kansas, and a c.d.v of Booth .
LINCOLN ASSASSINATION.] CORBETT, Thomas P. ("Boston") (1832-1894), Booth's killer . Autograph letter signed ("Boston Corbett"), to I. S. Lezon, Lincoln Barracks, Washington, D. C., 31 May 1865. 1 page, 8vo, tipped to another sheet, with small engraving of Corbett pasted to lower left corner of letter; also with address panel of envelope pasted to another sheet; a docket by the recipient with a small newspaper clipping reporting Corbett's 1887 commitment to an insane asylum in Kansas, and a c.d.v of Booth . BOOTH'S TROUBLED KILLER sends this short letter in response to one of the many correspondents who contacted him in the aftermath of his notoriety as the man who shot and killed John Wilkes Booth. "Your note of the 29th Inst is received. As I always prefer the language of scripture to my own words, I would say in reply 'God Rules over ALL .'" Corbett signs with his rank, sergeant in in L Company, 16 N.Y. Cavalry. Corbett, an emotionally disturbed religious fanatic, castrated himself in 1858 to avoid the temptations of prostitutes. He served two tours of duty and was captured by Mosby's Rangers and held in Andersonville Prison before being exchanged. As part of the 16th N.Y. Cavalry he tracked Booth to the Garrett farm in Virginia, with explicit orders from Secretary of War Stanton to take him and David Herold alive. "The stunning news of Booth's death," writes historian Michael W. Kauffman, "brought joy and relief to millions, and instant fame to Boston Corbett." He ended up after the war in a Topeka insane asylum, from which he escaped, and was presumed dead in an 1894 fire.
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert![LINCOLN ASSASSINATION] CORBETT, Thomas P (](/dist/images/nopic.gif)
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
