and dictator. No one thought of questioning his authority nor hesitated to carry out his orders.

"After Lincoln's death the Government had no other head than Stanton," says Henry L. Dawes.

"I was profoundly impressed with Secretary Stanton's bearing all through that eventful night," says Colonel A. F. Rockwell. "While evidently swayed by the great shock which held us all under its paralyzing influence, he was not only master of himself but unmistakably the dominating power over all. Indeed, the members of the cabinet, much as children might to their father, instinctively deferred to him in all things."

At 7:22 in the morning of April 15, 1865, Lincoln, unconscious from the first,* gently ceased to breathe. Stanton touched the Reverend Mr. Gurley on the arm and said: "Doctor, please lead in prayer." The request was complied with amidst sobs and tearsthe most affecting incident in the first supreme tragedy in American history.

The army and judicial officers, surgeons and others who had been requested or permitted to gather during the night, then filed out weeping. Surgeon-General Barnes tenderly drew a sheet over the face of the martyr and Stanton, as he darkened the windows, said impressively: "He now belongs to the ages."

All the members save Mr. Seward being present, he immediately called a meeting of the cabinet in a room adjoining the remains. They consulted standing. Stanton disclosed the notification to Vice-President Johnson and suggested that, as Mr. Lincoln's body would soon be removed to the White House, the first meeting with the new President, which should be held as soon as he had been sworn in, be appointed for the Treasury Department. That being understood, upon Mr. Stanton's intimation, all agreed to offer to resign whenever convenient to Mr. Johnson, or, if he should wish, to remain in office. Thereupon, having instructed Colonel L. H. Pelouze to tell Assistant-Secretary Dana to order the arrest of

*Says Colonel A. F. Rockwell, who was present: "During twenty minutes preceding the death of the President, Mr. Stanton stood quite motionless, leaning his chin upon his left hand, his right hand holding his hat and supporting his left elbow, the tears falling continually. There was one impressive incident which involves an interesting query: When the death of the President was announced, Mr. Stanton slowly and with apparent deliberation straightened out his right arm, placed his hat for an instant on his head and then as deliberately returned it to its original position."

Jacob Thompson (his associate in Buchanan's cabinet) and the police and military authorities to take the utmost precautions for the safety of General Grant, Stanton committed the dead to the especial care of General Vincent and, following the example of his colleagues, drove to his residence for breakfast.

"As he stood at the door ready to enter his carriage," says General Vincent, "he handed me his military cloak saying: "Take this; you will need it. I shall ride home and can do without it.'

"Turning back into the house I entered the room where Mr. Lincoln lay, accompanied by Colonel Rutherford, who remained with me. On lifting the sheet, I saw that Mr. Lincoln's eyes were open -producing a sensation that will be vivid in my mind as long as I live. Colonel Rutherford produced a coin and I did the same, and, closing the eyes, I placed the coins upon them. A few minutes later a conveyance to carry the remains to the White House arrived and my sad, sad duties were ended."

CHAPTER XLIX.

CONSPIRATORS CAPTURED AND EXECUTED.

Although he had not closed his eyes during the night, Stanton did not seek rest after Lincoln sank to sleep on the morning of April 15, but prepared a long message to United States Minister C. F. Adams at London; consulted with Vice-President Johnson at the Kirkwood House during the forenoon; attended the ceremony of swearing in the new President; participated in a cabinet meeting, and then devoted the night to giving directions for the capture of Booth. Although he telegraphed to General Dix that his "Department had information that the President's murder was organized in Canada and approved in Richmond," he evidently was not as certain as President Johnson seemed to be, that Jefferson Davis was personally involved in the assassination, for the name of the insurgent "President" was not included in his proclamation offering rewards: War Department, Washington, April 20, 1865.

$100,000 REWARD!
THE MURDERER

Of our late beloved President, ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

IS STILL AT LARGE.

$50,000 REWARD!

will be paid by this Department for hir apprehension, in addition to any other reward offered
• Department for the peritones in addion ve

$25,000 REWARD!

asion of JOHN H. SURRATT, one of Booth's accomplices.

$25,000 REWARD!

DANIEL C. HARROLD, another of Booth's accomplices.

EDWIN M. TANTON, cretary of

There was no authority of law for the foregoing, but his rewards were assumed and paid by Congress; and President Johnson's subsequent offer of one hundred thousand dollars for the capture of Jefferson Davis as the alleged chief procurer of the murder of Lincoln was also paid, although the prisoner was never tried on that or any other charge.

On April 26, Booth was shot by Boston Corbett while resisting arrest, and, at about the same time, Lewis Payne, Dr. Samuel T. Mudd, Edward Spangler, Michael O'Laughlin, D. C. Harrold, George B. Atzerot, and Samuel Arnold, accomplices, together with Mrs. Mary E. Surratt, whose house in Washington had been a longtime rendezvous of the conspirators, were apprehended.*

Booth's diary and personal effects (among them the Confederate cipher code) were turned over to Stanton at his residence and the prisoners closely confined on gunboats in the middle of the Potomac River,† especial watch being kept over Payne, who confessed to General Eckert that just half of the conspirators had been captured. Those who were undiscovered then still remain unknown.

On May 1, Attorney-General Speed having decided that the assassins were triable by a military commission, President Johnson ordered a detail of "nine competent military officers," with Joseph Holt for advocate-general; John A. Bingham, special advocate-general; Henry L. Burnett, special assistant; and General John F. Hartranft, provost marshal, to act as such commission.

The trial began in the old arsenal in Washington on May 10 (the day on which Jefferson Davis was captured) and was concluded on June 30, with a verdict of guilty-Mary E. Surratt, Lewis Payne, D. C. Harrold, and George B. Atzerot to be hanged and the

*Dr. Robert I. Porter of Bridgeport, Connecticut, says: "The body of Booth was taken in a row boat to the arsenal in the District of Columbia and in the dead of night, in the presence of the store-keeper, four soldiers, and myself, was so secretly hidden that the place never has been correctly described. We were ordered by Secretary Stanton to maintain silence and we have obeyed the order strictly to this day. The body was finally given to the Booth family under agreement that its resting place should never be marked."

"The Secretary of War requests that the prisoners on board the ironclads, for better security against conversation, shall have canvas bags placed over their heads, tied about the neck, with holes for proper breathing and eating, but not seeing, and that Payne be secured to prevent self-destruction."