John Parker
was born in Frederick County, Virginia, on 19th May, 1830. He moved
to Washington where he found work
as a carpenter. He married and became the father of three children.
In 1861 Washington established the Metropolitan Police Force and Parker
became one of its 150 officers. Parker was not a success and over
the next few years appeared before the Police Board to defend himself
against charges of conduct unbecoming an officer, visiting a house
of prostitution, firing a pistol through a window, being drunk on
duty, being asleep on duty and using abusive and insulting language.
Despite several reprimands, Parker kept his job.
On 4th November, 1864, Parker was one of four officers who were assigned
to the White House to act as the president's bodyguard. On 14th April,
1865, Parker was due on duty at 4.00 p.m. He arrived three hours late
and after receiving another reprimand was sent to the Ford Theatre
where he was to guard President Abraham Lincoln
during the performance of Our American Cousin.
Parker was detailed to sit on the chair outside the presidential
box. From this position he could not see the play and during the first
act moved to another part of the theatre. During the intermission
Parker left the theatre and went for a drink in a nearby saloon. While
he was away John Wilkes Booth, entered
Lincoln's box and shot the president in the back of the head.
The evidence suggests that Parker remained in the saloon for the rest
of the night and was not seen again until reporting to his police
station at 6.00 the next morning with Lizzie Williams, a known prostitute.
Parker was charged with neglect of duty. However, surprisingly, the
case against Parker was dismissed and he remained in the police force.
Parker was eventually fired on 13th August, 1865, when he was found
sleeping on duty.
John
Parker, who in his
later years worked as a carpenter and machinist, died in Washington
of pneumonia on 28th June, 1890.
(1)
In her autobiography, Thirty
Years a Slave,
Elizabeth
Keckley described an encounter between Mary
Lincoln and John Parker.
There
were many surmises as to who was implicated with J. Wilkes Booth in
the assassination of the President. A new messenger had accompanied
Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln to the theatre on that terrible
Friday night. It was the duty of this messenger to stand at the door
of the box during the performance, and thus guard the inmates from
all intrusion. It appears that the messenger was carried away by the
play, and so neglected his duty that Booth gained easy admission to
the box. Mrs. Lincoln firmly believed that this messenger was implicated
in the assassination plot.
Soon after the assassination Mrs. Lincoln said to him fiercely: "So
you are on guard tonight - on guard in the White House after helping
to murder the President!"
"Pardon me, but I did not help to murder
the President. I could never stoop to murder--much less to the murder
of so good and great a man as the President."
"But it appears that you did stoop to murder."
"No, no! don't say that," he broke in.
"God knows that I am innocent."
"I don't believe you. Why were you not at
the door to keep the assassin out when be rushed into the box?"
"I did wrong, I admit, and I have bitterly
repented it, but I did not help to kill the President. I did not believe
that any one would try to kill so good a man in such a public place,
and the belief made me careless. I was attracted by the play, and
did not see the assassin enter the box."
"But you should have seen him. You had no
business to be careless. I shall always believe that you are guilty.
Hush! I shan't hear another word," she exclaimed, as the messenger
essayed to reply. "Go now and keep your watch," she added,
with an imperious wave of her hand. With mechanical step and white
face the messenger left the room, and Mrs. Lincoln fell back on her
pillow, covered her face with her hands, and commenced sobbing.
(2)
In his book, Through Five Administrations, William H. Crook,
one of Abraham Lincoln's bodyguards, wrote about John Parker's actions
on 14th April, 1865.
I have often wondered why the negligence
of the guard who accompanied the President to the theatre on the night
of the 14th has never been divulged. So far as I know, it was not
even investigated by the police department. Had he done his duty,
I believe President Lincoln would not have been murdered by Booth.
Parker knew he had failed in his duty. He looked like a convicted
criminal the next day. He was never the same man afterward.
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