Lethal Lecture, The Lincoln Library Murders

By Dave Ehlert

Professor Elkhart is a respected authority on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. He travels the country giving lectures at Public Libraries as the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s Assassination approaches on April 14, 2015. As the date gets closer, Professor Elkhart starts to lose his grip on reality. He abandons his Ivy League Jacket with the elbow patches and appears at the podium in full character complete with Lincoln beard and stove pipe hat.
He insists the effect is for authenticity but things are just not right with the good Professor. He grows increasingly agitated at any “uncomfortable” questions about Lincoln’s Presidency. He lashes out verbally at audience members who raise any doubts about the “Pure Character of our 16th President” or have the audacity to suggest he might bear part of the blame for a war that took 600,000 American Lives. When those asking the tough questions start showing up dead, two things are certain. Attend one of Professor Elkhart’s lectures and you’ll learn something. Ask the wrong question, and you’ll die!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dave Ehlert
• Release date: Oct 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311936240

Dave Ehlert

Dave Ehlert - Bio Name: Dave Ehlert Born: Waukegan, IL May 7, 1951 Schools Attended: Grayslake Community High School Grayslake, IL (1966-1967) Graduated Zion Benton High School Zion, IL (1969) Majors: Creative Writing and Drama. Minors: Public Speaking and History Furthered specific studies of Mark Twain particularly in online sessions with lecturers from Yale, Berkley, St. Mary’s College in Maryland, Elmira College, University of the Pacific, Bowling Green State University, Swarthmore College and University of California. Performance History Dave Ehlert began performing in 1965 as Elvis in what has become the longest running Elvis Tribute Show in the world. He’s the first performer to be inducted to the Elvis Performer’s International Hall of Fame. He has performed in 44 states, Mexico and Canada as well as on a cruise ship in international waters. From 1994-2012, he operated the first theatre ever built in the tourist mecca Branson, MO. There, he widened his act to include tributes to many other characters including Tom Jones, Neil Diamond, Liberace, Willie Nelson, Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Hank Williams and many more. In 2004, he was “drafted” into the role of Mark Twain when the scheduled performer was unable to make it. He had one week to gather all the Twain background he could find and then walked on stage in full character, cigar in hand. For the first time in over 30 years, Dave felt something different on stage. He felt very nervous! He looked out at the audience and remained silent for two solid minutes. Then, as a Mr. Twain himself said of his own first lecture, “I began to speak.” And speak he did. Performing 6 Twain programs a week for the first year in Branson and then taking Twain on the road to theatres and libraries across the country in 38 states. He has become absorbed in everything Twain. This is indicated in comments on Dave’s performance made by Professor Ben Click who teaches Twain studies at St. Mary’s College in Maryland: “What I found most refreshing is that you clearly had absorbed the essence of Twain's words, and rather than just repeat them you found refreshing contexts in which to put them. It's obvious that you embrace your subject. One other comment I would make is that your audience were completely engaged in watching and listening to you.” In 2011, Dave was researching Twain’s involvement in the Civil War through a lecture series from Yale University’s Professor David Blight and became engrossed in the character of Abraham Lincoln. He then came up with a program dealing with the Civil War from two very different perspectives. Abe Lincoln, the Great Emancipator and Commander in Chief of the Union and Mark Twain, a Confederate deserter, son of a slave owner. Combining his original script with amazing visuals and music of the Civil War era, the result is a fascinating look at America’s most perilous time through the voices of two of the Country’s Favorite Storytellers. Everywhere Dave has performed , the consensus seems to be the same as illustrated by comments from library directors below: "Most successful program EVER!" Patti - Operations Manager Rosalie - Reference Librarian Lebanon Laclede Public Library 915 S. Jefferson Ave Lebanon, MO 65536 417-532-2148 "Most successful program second only to the Milwaukee Ballet!" Linda A. Bendix, Library Director Frank Weyenberg Public Library Mequon, WI 262-242-2593 ext 35 [e-mail] "If anyone asks me, I'll say HIRE HIM!" Andrea Hermann Adult Services Director Crandall Public Library 251 Glen St Glens Falls, NY 12801 518-792-6508 The Phelps Library was thrilled to host "A Visit with Mark Twain". Mr. Ehlert is an accomplished and wonderfully entertaining performer. His knowledge of Samuel Clemens' life and works is extensive and his show was appropriate for all ages. "An awesome program", "I am so glad I came - what a great show", "truly enjoyed the program, especially the Norman Rockwell connection. Lots of fun" & "from start to finish a genuine delight" were just some of the comments we've received at the library from our clients who attended this wonderful evening. June Franzen, Director Phelps Public Library Phelps, WI 54554 And....................... "Just a note to thank you SO much for being our special guest on Saturday. Everyone had a great time. Indeed, our phone has been ringing nonstop with glowing comments! I believe that many folks are still laughing at the many jokes, others are still remembering their past and the past of their families and still others are mulling over the Twain wisdom as you so brilliantly portrayed it, and absolutely none of us wanted that wonderful afternoon to end. Thank you again. You brought far more than an entertaining afternoon, you brought a special joy which will last forever for all those lucky enough to be in your audience." Gratefully, Jane _________________________ Jane Genzel, Director Muskego Public Library S73 W16663 Janesville Road Muskego, WI 53l50 [e-mail] 262-971-2105 But, you can judge for yourself. Visit the link below to see video clips of one of Dave’s first Twain performances. You can see he has already captured Twain’s persona: http://www.bransonsuperstars.com/theshows/breakfastwithmarktwain.html That was 5 years ago and Dave’s portrayal of Mark Twain has evolved into a richer, funnier and more convincing performance as indicated by the comments found above. Many times teachers have given their students extra credit just for attending one of Dave’s programs. From Elvis Impersonator to Mark Twain Lecturer, the journey has been a long, wonderful and continuing quest for the complete Mark Twain story for Dave Ehlert. After performing for 50 years, Dave has become a published Author. His first book, If I Can Dream, The Story of Being Elvis for 50 Years is Available at Smashwords.com. The year 2015 will mark 38 years since Elvis Presley died and 50 years since the author performed his first Elvis Tribute Show. This is the true story of that journey as it intertwined with the life of the World's Greatest Rock n' Roller. A 3 year old boy sings into an imaginary microphone (hairbrush) and grows up to spend a half century “being Elvis”, performing during the terms of 10 U.S Presidents. This story includes wild road trips, clinging women, lost love, found love, lost friend, midnight visits from the mysterious “Ava”, advice from Elvis on being Elvis, schmoozing with Oprah, battles with drugs and alcohol, intentional exposure to nuclear radiation, an interrogation by the Secret Service and “being Elvis” through it all. Along the way the reader will encounter a father crawling up a dirt road with his throat nearly slit, a teen beaten to a pulp by a violent gang, buddies engaging in life-threatening horseplay, an unfulfilled romance spanning 30 years, international intrigue, shady talent agents, haunting midnight visitors, a homicide, an attempted car-jacking thwarted by side-burns the bedside account of the deaths of a father and a mother, the character morphing from Elvis to Mark Twain, spending time with the Chicago Bears and playing basketball for the Chicago Bulls. The book also contains many images and links to videos relating to musical performances as it has been designed to be read on e-devices as a multi-media product. The second book, Elvirus, Elvi-Geddon - Dawn of the Elvi Invasion is also available at Smashwords.com. Elvis is Everywhere. Elvis Impersonators are taking over every facet of our society. T.V., Movies, Social Media, Education and even Politics, threatening our way of life. A group of 100 “Elvi” in 1977 has grown to the astronomical number of over 100,000 with no end in sight. A plot originating in Memphis almost 40 yrs. ago involving a mutant gene that causes ordinary people to become Elvi. Who is involved? Grave robbers, drug pushers, the Dixie Mafia, Neo-Nazis and some high profile figures in the Entertainment World are among the conspirators.. Who or what will save the world from these "Zombie Elvi" Have you been infected? Have you been humming an Elvis Song as you've been reading this? The third book, a suspenseful murder mystery: Lethal Lecture, the Lincoln Library Murders follows an obsessive College Professor on a Library Speaking Tour leaving a string of grisly murders in his wake. Professor Elkhart is a respected authority on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. He travels the country giving lectures at Public Libraries as the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s Assassination approaches on April 14, 2015. As the date gets closer, Professor Elkhart starts to lose his grip on reality. He abandons his Ivy League Jacket with the elbow patches and appears at the podium in full character complete with Lincoln beard and stove pipe hat. He insists the effect is for authenticity but things are just not right with the good Professor. He grows increasingly agitated at any “uncomfortable” questions about Lincoln’s Presidency. He lashes out verbally at audience members who raise any doubts about the “Pure Character of our 16th President” or have the audacity to suggest he might bear part of the blame for a war that took 600,000 American Lives. When those asking the tough questions start showing up dead, two things are certain. Attend one of Professor Elkhart’s lectures and you’ll learn something. Ask the wrong question, and you’ll die! Dave is currently on a 50th Anniversary Tour in recognition of his half a century career as “Elvis”. He continues to bring his portrayals of other Superstars to the stage as well as educational entertainment in the personages of Mark Twain or Abe Lincoln. Also, he makes frequent Author Visits and “digital book signing” appearances at bookstores and libraries across the country.

Book preview

Lethal Lecture

The Lincoln Library Murders

Dave Ehlert

Copyright 2014 by Dave Ehlert

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

ISBN: 9781311936240

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of Fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Professor David Blight of Yale University for his continued dedication to enlighten the public concerning the issues of Race and Equality and for his unequaled effectiveness as a teacher of History. His ability to tell a story of an event occurring centuries ago is unique in that it seems to be occurring at the moment of his telling.

This writing is also dedicated to my Grandson Devin Stephens whose love for all things Lincoln prompted me to take him to the White House, Ford’s Theatre and several Civil War Battlefields. It is my hope that such experiences will equip him to deal with the racial and social obstacles that would slow his progress in becoming a successful contributor to society.

Prologue

Will’s eyes and nostrils were burning from the smoke. He was choking as he ran through the rubble that used to be a great city but now lie in ruins. He had dodged Yankee bullets for four long years and now he feared he would die here in Atlanta, and at the hands of his own General. The 80 boxcars of ammunition the General had ordered to be detonated shook the walls of even the sturdiest structures left standing in Atlanta on September 1, 1864. The 33 year old General Hood had ordered the destruction of the railroad cars laden with ammunition destroyed so as to prevent their use by the Union Army closing in on the city. Will passed a child crying in the doorway of a home destroyed by Union artillery months before. He wanted to run up to the little girl and tell her everything would be alright. But he knew his coughing and choking would only frighten the child even more. Will just grabbed the child by the hand and ran. They ran as fast as they could putting distance between them and the burning city. General Sherman would be blamed for the burning of Atlanta, though, that version of Atlanta’s destruction isn’t accurate. Most of the fires were started by General Hood’s men as they blew up the ammunitions train and destroyed other Confederate assets denying the Union Army’s use of them. Hood and his army then fled Atlanta. Most of the residents had already left. Of the 20,000 inhabitants of Atlanta before the siege, only 1,600 remained, less Will and the girl as they fled towards the countryside, south of the city. Will decided he wasn’t going back to fight for this lost cause anymore. He’d rather face the danger of being shot by Confederate patrols looking for deserters. He had no interest in this war to preserve slavery. He and his family never owned slaves, though, he wished he had... If Will would have owned 15 slaves or more, he would have been excused from fighting in this bloody, endless war. But now, slaves in the South were getting word that Lincoln had freed them. Slaves were running away to join the Union Army as fast as they could. Let them run, Will thought. He was running too, back home if he could make it. He wished he was still at Chapel Hill, the college he had dropped out of to serve in Hood’s army. Most of the college buildings at Chapel Hill were built by slaves, so in that way, maybe Will profited from slavery. But he didn’t care. It was over, Will thought. Will was right, with thoughts of home running through his mind, a sniper’s bullet dropped him in his tracks. Looking up at the little girl as life slipped away, Will could only wonder.....why?

The following April, another college student who had left school to fight in the Civil War was headed home. But he wouldn’t be going back to Yale, his alma mater. Uriah Parmalee had joined the Union Army when he was a sophomore at Yale. Unlike Will the Confederate soldier who had no interest in slavery, Uriah had deep seated interest in ending the institution of slavery... From the beginning, Uriah’s motives were to defeat the South so that slavery would be defeated. He became disillusioned early on by the lack of purpose in Lincoln’s War. He lost his zeal for the battle. But when slavery became the central reason for continuing the war, Uriah Parmalee rededicated himself to the fight no matter what came his way. Uriah Parmalee is remembered today at Yale’s Woolsey Hall by an inscription of his name on the wall. He never returned to class at Yale for he was killed at the Battle of Five Forks just days before Lee surrendered in Appomattox. But, Yale honors him yet today. In this way, Yale distinguishes itself from Will’s alma mater of Chapel Hill on the issue of slavery, or does it?

Yale, along with other Ivy League Institutions are only now coming to grips with their connection to slavery. For example, Timothy Woodbridge, a founder of Yale College, owned an Indian boy and some Negro slaves. Yale’s first major endowment was established by Capt. James Livingston who was not only a slave owner, but a prosperous slave trader. Prominent members of Yale opposed the establishment of the first Negro College in New Haven. And later tore down a high school named after an abolitionist to make room for a Yale college named after a supporter of slavery. Yale went on to name most of its colleges after slave owners and pro-slavery men. A list of these include Berkeley, named for Rev. George Berkeley who believed slavery was the best way to Christianize Negros. He also thought the best way to Christianize Native Americans was to capture their young and to enroll in school only such savages as are under 10 years of age, before evil habits have taken a deep root. Another Yale college is Trumbell, named for Jonathon Trumbell. Trumbell was not only a slave owner, but once sentenced three Negros to be whipped on the naked body for walking on the street after 9 pm without a note from their masters. Consider Yale’s Calhoun College named for slaveholder and believer in white supremacy, John C. Calhoun. Calhoun was also a main advocate for the Fugitive Slave Act. There are over a dozen Yale Colleges bearing names of men with similar background and racial bias. They were so-named, not in the 19th Century when slavery was in existence, but in the 19th century, during the Civil Rights struggle between 1930-1970, Yale, like several Ivy League Institutions also produced Professors who promulgated theories of scientific racism which claimed that Negros were scientifically inferior to Whites. Will from Chapel Hill University and Uriah from Yale had one thing in common. Neither reflected the history of their alma maters’ connection to racism and slavery.

In 1980, Freshman David Elkhart strode across the lawn at Yale. He had chosen History as his major. His real interests lie in the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln. As a High School student he had been taught a very simplistic estimation of both. Abe Lincoln was the Great Emancipator who freed all the slaves with a stroke of the pen. Honest Abe was a Rail Splitter who always told the truth and everyone loved him for it. The Civil War was all about evil slave owners who were defeated by men in blue who gave their lives so that Negros could be free. It took him 30 years to understand that there were many facets to both the 16th President and the War Between the States... That there was both shame and valor in the North and the South. That there was a lawyer and a law breaker in Lincoln. And, that maybe you can fool all the people, all the time.

The more student David Elkhart learned, the more he felt the need to share his knowledge. Early in his Yale education, David Elkhart set his goal to become a Professor of History at the storied University. He knew of the inconsistencies regarding Yale and Slavery. But the future Professor decided he would become the Champion for his idol Abraham Lincoln and his alma mater. He would present both in a shining if not totally illuminating light. Much to his dismay, a 20th century crop of Lincoln doubters had cast dispersions upon his hero. After attaining his professorship at Yale, David Elkhart was willing to become the Don Quixote of Lincoln defenders in a world increasingly filled with Lincoln hating, Emancipation nullifying windmills. This is his story.

Chapter One - The Wall Hanging

The 10 o’clock news could be heard down the hallway from the great room where a Samsung 110" flat screen was mounted on the wall. The image on the screen was reflected in the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Pacific Coast of Oregon. The perfectly coiffed anchorwoman read the news item in perfect cadence as if reciting poetry.

As we reported during our 9 o’clock hour a large crowd was in attendance at the Port Langdon, Oregon Public Library this evening to hear a lecture by the World Renown Authority on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, Professor David Elkhart of Yale University. Everyone knew it would be a memorable evening, though no one could predict the horrific event that would overshadow the lecture itself.

Overshadow? said the darkly cloaked figure coming out from hiding under the balcony. The intruder had been hiding there for two hours and was now repelling down the rocky cliff to the beach 100 feet below the murder scene. As the anchorwoman’s voice faded in favor of the waves crashing below, the descending intruder murmured.

I would say it made the lecture unforgettable!

The newscaster continued even as the intruder vanished into the night.

Acting on an anonymous tip, our news crew was on the scene and reported the following: Mr. Matthew Mortenson, chairman of the Port Langdon Library Foundation was found dead in his ocean side mansion at approximately 8:00 pm, only 1 hour after attending Professor Elkhart’s lecture. This, after a verbal altercation with the professor at the conclusion of his program.

The news cast continued even as Law Enforcement milled about the residence. At the end of the hall, a man stared blankly at the television screen. The anchorwoman’s report continued with details on the victim’s age, 52, his marital status: married but in the middle of a messy divorce and his position on the library board. The staring man didn’t seem to care. In fact, the news report hadn’t caused even the slightest change in his expression. It was as if he didn’t hear it. That’s because he couldn’t hear it. He couldn’t hear anything. He was dead. That fact was made evident by the Civil War Era bayonet driven through his forehead impaling him on the wall above his king size bed. Matthew Mortenson had attended his last lecture. He had asked the wrong question of a very short tempered Professor David Elkhart.

You say you were with Mr. Mortenson at the library tonight? asked the homicide cop as he stood with the young woman outside the room where the murder victim had been found. The cop was Detective Randy Hauser. Hauser was a 20 year veteran cop who had seen and heard just about everything. He was a burly 6’2" black man. His stature and ominous appearance belied his gentle easy going manner. It also concealed a cunning interrogator.

You mean Matt? sobbed the young socialite, Yes, we went to dinner and then the lecture together.

You were there when the Professor went off on Mr. Mort- I mean Matt? said Hauser trying to keep things informal.

YES! The woman wailed. I couldn’t believe how he talked to Matt....over nothing!

Nothing? asked the detective.

It was nothing! insisted the woman. Matt just asked if the professor thought President Lincoln might have caused the Civil War.

Det. Randy Hauser now assessed this witness as she wiped her blue eyes and took a sip from her martini glass. Actually, only one eye was blue. The other was brown as the blue contact had fallen out in a flood of tears. She was a bleach blonde, in her mid-twenties, dressed in a low cut beaded dress and her ample chest decorated with a cluster of diamonds that sparkled in the light from the garish chandelier in the foyer. She wasn’t exactly what you’d expect as a librarian. She had been appointed to the position at the insistence of her apparent benefactor, Matthew Mortenson. After interviewing Sheila Stafford, Head Librarian for about ten minutes, the cop was pretty sure she had never actually read a book."

So you say the argument started over the cause of the Civil War? asked Hauser

YES! Matt knows everything about the Civil War. He knows all about the guys in the blue uniforms and the gray uniforms...."

You mean the North and the South?

Whatever, he knows all that stuff. said the nouveau librarian. Anyway Matt was just trying to tell the professor that it was Abe Lincoln that started the war.

Hmm. said the amused detective, And that upset the professor?"

He went APE SHIT! Said the wide eyed arm candy. He told Matt he should spend more time reading books and less time picking up girls at the schoolyard! I don’t even know what that means!

Probably nothing. said Randy trying not to laugh. Go on.

Well, the woman took a deep breath and said in a quiet voice, Then he told Matt that the Presidency is something to be respected. And if Matt couldn’t get that point through his head, then the professor would do it for him!

Those are the exact words the professor used? said Hauser looking up from his note pad.

Yes! said the woman sobbing again, And now look at poor Matt. It’s just awful.

They both looked through the door at the victim as the forensic team pulled the bayonet from the wall but not from the victim’s head and lowered the body onto the bed. The woman gagged and lowered her head to the plastic bag the police had supplied earlier.

"Hey Hauser, yelled