Abe Lincoln's bodyguard at Forbes theatre what happened to him?

Question

Was the police sgt. disciplined? What was his name?

Answer 1

John Parker a notorius drunkard was assigned the task of guarding President Abraham Lincon, which is why conspiracy theorist suggest something foul was afoot. Added to the assignment of a lone drunkard to guard the President was the fact that John Parker was not disciplined other than a stern lecture but he kept his job, fading into the obscurity of troubled times. His exact fate in in the second quote that I am sending you.
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/lincoln.htm
""Arriving after the play had started, the two couples swept up the stairs and into their seats. The box door was closed, but not locked. As the play progressed, police guard John Parker, a notorious drinker, left his post in the hallway leading to the box and went across the street for a drink. During the third act, the President and Mrs. Lincoln drew closer together, holding hands while enjoying the play. Behind them, the door opened and a man stepped into the box. Pointing a derringer at the back of Lincoln's head, he pulled the trigger. Mary reached out to her slumping husband and began shrieking. Now wielding a dagger, the man yelled, "Sic semper tyrannis!" ("Thus always to tyrants"), slashed Rathbone's arm open to the bone, and then leapt from the box. Catching his spur in a flag, he crashed to the stage, breaking his left shin in the fall. Rathbone and Harris both yelled for someone to stop him, but he escaped out the back stage door. ""

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USACWparker.htm
""""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.""""




Pax----------------------------

Answer 2

John Parker Lincoln

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Abe Lincoln's bodyguard at Forbes theatre what happened to him?
Was the police sgt. disciplined? What was his name?

Answer 4

John F. Parker: The Guard Who Abandoned His Post.
One of many unsolved mysteries regarding Abraham Lincoln's assassination is the story of John F. Parker. Parker, a member of Washington's Metropolitan Police Force, was assigned as President Abraham Lincoln's bodyguard the night of the shooting. However, Parker's chair outside the State Box at Ford's Theatre was vacant most of the evening. Nowadays, leaving the President unguarded is unconscionable, but in 1865 Parker was never punished for neglect of duty. In fact, for a time, he remained a White House guard. He kept his position as a Washington police officer until 1868 when he was fired for a totally unrelated reason.
http://parkergenealogy.tripod.com/id30.html
http://members.aol.com/RVSNorton1/Lincoln61.html
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Answer 5

It was the Ford Theater and the play was "Our American Cousin." A secret service agent was supposed to be at the door of the box, but he disappeared. This was in the very early days of the Secret Service which was formed by Alan Pinkerton at the beginning of the Civil War. Procedures have been improved since then.

You need to keep in mind, too, that Lee had already surrendered when this attack happened and Richmond had been taken. Security was laxer than it would have been a week before because the war was technically over.

Answer 6

He woke up about an hour later, apparently so asleep the gunshot didn't disturb him. He tried to jumb in front of the President's body but the boat had already sailed so to speak.
Like the gun that killed Lincoln... HE was also fired.

Answer 7

I had always heard that the bodyguard couldn't see the play from where he was posted so he moved so he could have a better view.