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+--- Thread: When was Sgt. Cobb interviewed? (/thread-2387.html)
When was Sgt. Cobb interviewed? - Rhatkinson - 04-15-2015 06:08 PM
I was just posting a picture of the Navy Bridge to my Instagram (atkinsrh1865 if any of you are on there) and wondered how much time passes before Sgt. Cobb was interviewed. I've never heard that answer, but am more surprised than ever over Booth using his real name and location. Before Dr. Mudd supporters claim that "Beantown" was a lie booth told to lead the army on a false trail, that makes no sense seeing that he used his real name. Booth had to expect that bridge guards would be questioned almost immediately, so being honest was very foolish on his part. I can't explain why, except that he was nervous and thought he may have to rely on his fame to gain access to THE most important part of his escape plan: getting out of DC immediately, and so he didn't want to chance being caught in a lie should he be recognized after giving an alias.
So....when WAS Cobb questioned? I seem to recall reading that his statement of a "Booth" crossing shortly after the assassination wasn't taken as seriously as we today would think it would be taken, but when was Cobb interviewed?
Sorry for my ignorance.
Heath
RE: When was Sgt. Cobb interviewed? - RJNorton - 04-16-2015 04:48 AM
(04-15-2015 06:08 PM)Rhatkinson Wrote: So....when WAS Cobb questioned?
Heath, I checked Steers and Edwards, and as far as I can tell his pre-trial questioning is undated. Maybe someone else can see a date where I can't. John Fazio also discusses Cobb's pre-trial questioning in Decapitating the Union, but I do not see a date when it happened.
https://books.google.com/books?id=GvYpUeuPPrAC&pg=PA365&lpg=PA365&dq=%22that+is+true+in+relation+to+the+three+men%22&source=bl&ots=UAc2aUbstR&sig=GriYYFdLzniXNiz-MIWIN83KDO4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=S4YvVYCMDsa8ggTa1IGgBw&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22that%20is%20true%20in%20relation%20to%20the%20three%20men%22&f=false
Jerry Madonna, in A Threat to the Republic, argues that Cobb was heavily coached prior to taking the stand during the trial. As we have discussed before, Madonna feels both Booth and Herold had passes to cross the bridge that were issued by Andrew Johnson, and Stanton wanted to make sure Cobb did not reveal this at trial.