[Abraham Lincoln]. Almarin C. Richards Autograph Letter Signed. One page, recto and verso, 7.75" x 9.75", Eustis, Florida; January 30, 1901. Richards had been the Metropolitan Police Superintendent who aided in the tracking and arrest of the conspirators. Addressed to Louis Weichmann, chief prosecution witness at the conspirators' trail, the letter was part of an ongoing correspondence between the two men in preparation for Weichmann's book on the assassination. In it, Richard declines to join Weichmann in an official request to the War Department to find out where John Wilkes Booth is buried. It reads in part: "...I prefer not to place my signature to the enclosed letter to the Sec. of War inquiring as to the final disposition of the remains of J. Wilkes Booth by the War Department. I presume that if the remains were turned over to Edwin [Booth's brother] there was an agreement or understanding that the arrangement should not be divulged to the public as otherwise it would have long ago been reported what had been done with the body. The note would seem to put me in the position of seeking the information in question from a mere desire to gratify curiosity which I do not entertain..." Condition: Uniformly toned from age. .25" closed tear at right margin. Smoothed mail folds. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved