150
JOSEPH HOLT ALS First Army Judge Advocate General, Lincoln Assassination Trial
Currency:USD
Category:Collectibles
Start Price:500.00 USD
Estimated At:800.00 - 1,000.00 USD
SOLD
500.00USDto floor+ buyer's premium
This item SOLD at 2020 Jun 27 @ 12:44UTC-07:00 : PDT/MST
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Abraham Lincoln Related
1857 Joseph Holt Autographed Letter Signed the Man Who Presided Over the Lincoln Assassination Conspirators Trial
JOSEPH HOLT (1807-1894). Commissioner of Patents (1857), Postmaster General (1859) and Secretary of War (1860) under President James Buchanan, achieved national prominence serving President Abraham Lincoln as the nation's first Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the United States Army, a position he held from (1862-1875), most memorable role as JAG following the assassination of President Lincoln, when Holt presided over the trial of the Lincoln assassination conspirators including the first woman ever hanged by the federal government, Mary Surratt.
December 23, 1857-Dated Pre Civil War Autographed Letter Signed, “J. Holt” as Commissioner of Patents, 1 page, official U.S. Patent Office letterhead, Choice Extremely Fine. This Letter measures 7.75" x 9.75" where Mr. Holt writes to a E. Meriam Esq of Brooklyn Heights, New York in regards to an inquiry on the "Bene seed" (also known as sesame) telling the recipient to refer to the "Agricultural report" for more information on the plant.
Joseph Holt was born in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, on January 6, 1807. He was educated at Saint Joseph's College in Bardstown, Kentucky and Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He settled in Elizabethtown, Kentucky and set up a law office in town. He married Mary Harrison and moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1832. There he became assistant editor of the Louisville Advertiser and the Commonwealth's Attorney from 1833 to 1835. Holt moved to Port Gibson, Mississippi, and practiced law there, as well as in Natchez, Mississippi and Vicksburg, Mississippi. Holt and his wife contracted tuberculosis. Mary died of it, and Joseph returned to Kentucky to recuperate. Holt remarried, to Margaret Wickliffe. In 1857, Holt was appointed Commissioner of Patents by President Buchanan and moved to Washington. He served in this position until 1859 when Buchanan appointed him Postmaster General. The Buchanan administration was shaken in December 1860 and January 1861, when the Confederacy was formed and many cabinet members resigned, but Holt was a strong supporter of the Union and anti-slavery. He was appointed Secretary of War upon the resignation of John B. Floyd of Virginia. Holt served as Secretary of War until the end of Buchanan's presidency.
Holt joined the Army as a Colonel in 1862 and was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to be the Judge Advocate General of the Union Army. Two years later, he was promoted to Brigadier General. On April 14, 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth. Booth's accomplice Lewis Powell attacked Secretary of State Seward and Vice President Johnson. Holt prepared an executive order for the arrest of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and five other suspects for President Andrew Johnson to sign. Booth was caught on April 26, 1865, but was killed by Boston Corbett, a soldier who violated orders. As Judge Advocate General of the Army, Holt was the Chief Prosecutor in the trial of the accused conspirators before a military commission chaired by General David Hunter.
General Joseph Holt (1807 – 1894), was a leading member of the Buchanan administration and was Judge Advocate General of the United States Army, most notably during the Lincoln assassination trials.
Born in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, on January 6, 1807, he was educated at Saint Joseph's College in Bardstown, Kentucky and Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He settled in Elizabethtown, Kentucky and set up a law office in town. He married Mary Harrison and moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1832. There he became assistant editor of the Louisville Advertiser and the Commonwealth's Attorney from 1833 to 1835.
Holt moved to Port Gibson, Mississippi, and practiced law there, as well as in Natchez, Mississippi and Vicksburg, Mississippi. Holt and his wife contracted tuberculosis. Mary died of it, and Joseph returned to Kentucky to recuperate. Holt remarried, to Margaret Wickliffe. In 1857, Holt was appointed Commissioner of Patents by President Buchanan, and moved to Washington. He served in this position until 1859 when Buchanan appointed him Postmaster General.
The Buchanan administration was shaken in December 1860 and January 1861, when the Confederacy was formed and many cabinet members resigned, but Holt was anti-slavery and a strong supporter of the Union. He was appointed Secretary of War upon the resignation of John B. Floyd of Virginia. Holt served as Secretary of War until the end of Buchanan's presidency.
Holt joined the Army as a Colonel in 1862 and was Appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to be the Judge Advocate General of the Union Army. Two years later, he was promoted to Brigadier General. He was the first Judge Advocate General to hold General's rank.
In this position he personally prosecuted the court-martial against Major General Fitz John Porter for crimes of disobedience of a lawful order and misbehavior in front of the enemy. Lincoln also offered Holt the position of Secretary of the Interior that same year and Attorney General later in 1864, but Holt declined both offices.
He was one of the many politicians considered for the Republican Vice Presidential nomination in 1864. The VP nomination went to Andrew Johnson, and Lincoln was re-elected. On April 14, 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth. Booth's accomplice Lewis Powell attacked Secretary of State Seward, and Vice President Johnson was also targeted.
Holt prepared an order for the signature of now-President Johnson for the arrest of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and five other suspects. Booth was caught on April 26, 1865, but was killed by Boston Corbett, a soldier who violated orders. As Judge Advocate General of the Army, Holt was the chief prosecutor in the trial of the accused conspirators before a military commission chaired by General David Hunter.
Two assistant judge advocates, John Bingham and General Henry Burnett assisted Holt. The defendants were George Atzerodt, David Herold, Lewis Powell (a/k/a Paine), Samuel Arnold, Michael O'Laughlen, Edman Spangler, Samuel Mudd, and Mary Surratt. The trial began on May 10, 1865, and lasted two months.
Holt and Bingham attempted to obscure the fact that there were two plots. The first plot was to kidnap Lincoln and exchange him for Confederate prisoners held by the Union. The second was to assassinate Lincoln, Johnson and Seward and throw the government into chaos.
It was important for the prosecution not to reveal the existence of a diary taken from the body of Booth. The diary made it clear that the assassination plan dated from the 14th of April. Surprisingly, the defense did not call for Booth's diary to be produced in court. Holt was accused of withholding evidence, but it was never proven.
On June 29, 1865, the eight were found guilty of conspiracy to kill the President. Arnold, O'Laughlen, and Mudd were sentenced to life in prison, Spangler to six years in prison, and Atzerodt, Herold, Powell, and Mrs. Surratt to be hanged. They were executed July 7, 1865. O'Laughlen died in prison in 1867. Arnold, Spangler, and Mudd were pardoned by President Johnson in early 1869.
Accusations still remain that Mrs. Surratt's sentence of hanging was reduced but that Holt purposely delayed its taking effect until it was too late. Holt's public image was besmirched by the trial and his prosecution of it, and many historians believe that the controversy surrounding it ended Holt's political career.
In 1866, Holt issued a pamphlet titled Vindication of Judge Advocate General Holt From the Foul Slanders of Traitors, Confessed Perjurers and Suborners, Acting in the Interest of Jefferson Davis in which he attempted to defend himself against the various allegations and clear up some of the confusion stemming from the trial. Holt served as Judge Advocate General until he retired on December 1, 1875 and died in Washington on August 1, 1894.
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Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| CST |
8.25% |
California |
| SST |
8.75% |
San Diego County |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
25% |
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Early American History Auctions - Terms & Conditions of Sale
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7. Descriptions and Grading.
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NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS MADE OR IMPLIED ON ANY LOT IN THE CATALOG, AND NO WARRANTY, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOT EXCEPT FOR A WARRANTY OF TITLE; IT BEING UNDERSTOOD THAT ALL LOTS OFFERED FOR SALE ARE SOLD ON AN "AS IS" BASIS AND THAT THE PURCHASER CONSEQUENTLY ASSUMES ALL RISKS CONCERNING AND RELATED TO THE GRADING, QUALITY, DESCRIPTION, CONDITION, AUTHENTICITY, AND PROVENANCE OF A GIVEN LOT. NEITHER EAHA NOR THE CONSIGNOR MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION THAT THE PURCHASER OF MANUSCRIPT MATERIAL, PHOTOGRAPHS, PRINTS, OR WORKS OF ART WILL ACQUIRE ANY COPYRIGHT OR REPRODUCTION RIGHTS THERETO."
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All Bidders in the Auction acknowledge and agree, as a condition to the acceptance of a Bid by the Auctioneer, that:
BIDDER EXPRESSLY WAIVES AND RELEASES, AND FOREVER DISCHARGES EAHA FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, RIGHTS, DEMANDS AND CAUSE(S) OF ACTIONS AND SUIT(S), OF WHATEVER KIND OR NATURE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIM(S) BASED UPON AUCTIONEER'S NEGLIGENCE, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY OR WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, WHICH BIDDER MAY CLAIM TO HAVE WITH RESPECT TO AND/OR ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY CHALLENGE TO ANY MERCHANDISE PURCHASED AT THE AUCTION, THE AUCTION PROCEDURES, OR THE PURCHASE OF ANY LOT(S); IT BEING THE INTENTION THAT THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AS A BAR TO EACH AND EVERY CLAIM, DEMAND, CAUSE OF ACTION AND/OR SUIT OR CONTROVERSY THAT MAY ARISE HEREUNDER OR BE RELATED TO THE AUCTION
ALL BIDDER(S) BY SUBMITTING A BID IN ANY FASHION, SIGNED OR UNSIGNED, IN THE AUCTION KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND BENEFITS OTHERWISE CONFERRED UPON THE BIDDER BY LAW OR BY THE PROVISION(S) OF SECTION 1542 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE, WHICH READS IN FULL AS FOLLOWS:
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12. Definitions
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i. "Conservation" the Professional activities including the careful examination as supported by expertise, research and education, in treatment of an item using, "any methods that prove effective in keeping or bringing that property in as close to its original condition as possible, for as long as possible."
j. The term "Consignment Agreement" shall mean the written agreement(s) between "EAHA" and a given "Consignor" available at "EAHA's" offices.
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m. The term "EarlyAmerican;s website." shall mean the Internet accessible service provided by EAHA.
n. The term "EAHA" shall mean collectively Early American History Auctions, Inc. and/or any subsidiary or affiliated entity and/or Officer(s), Director(s) and/or employee(s) of EAHA.
o. The term "Fair Market Value" shall mean the sale price a given Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction from the Bidder(s).
p. The term "Hammer Price" shall mean the successful Bid in the Auction as determined by the Auctioneer on the Auction Date.
q. The term "Holder" shall mean the original frame, container, case or clear plastic sleeve, labeled with the "Lot" number, in which the "Merchandise" is delivered by the Consignor to the successful Bidder at an Auction.
r. The term "Lot(s)" shall mean the article(s) comprising the Merchandise offered for sale at the Auction.
s. The term "Low Estimate" shall mean the low range of the sale price that a Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction.
t. The term "Merchandise" shall mean personal property described in the Catalog and offered for sale by Lot at the Auction.
u. The term "Purchaser" shall mean the successful Bidder at the Auction on the Auction Date.
v. The term "Purchaser's Premium" shall mean the commission that is automatically charged by "EAHA" to each successful Bidder at the Auction in a sum equal to twenty percent (20%) of the "Hammer Price" or twenty-five percent (25%) of the "Hammer Price" if bids are placed through a third party firm including Invaluable, LiveAuctioneers and iCollector.
w. The term "Reserve" is a confidential price below which the Auctioneer will not sell a given Lot, and/or will re-purchase on behalf of the Consignor or EAHA.
x. The term "Settlement Date" shall mean a time forty-five (45) days after the Auction Date.