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Dave Taylor · (This post was last modified: 09-19-2013 08:55 AM by Dave Taylor.)

(09-19-2013 07:57 AM)wsanto Wrote: Troy,

I assume you believe Herold was involved with Booth as a conspirator to Lincoln's murder. If so, you must take into account Herold's need, at the time of his capture, of an aliby to explain his being in Garrett's barn that night with Booth. I realize you don't believe it was Booth, but if it was, Herold needed to come up with some story to convince his captors that he was an innocent.

So he starts by claiming he doesn't know Booth and that the body in the barn was, to his knowledge, some guy he just met named Boyd? Ok maybe. Was Herold telling the truth? Of course not. We know he was lying. And Wiiliam Garrett relating what he remembered Herold saying is no evidence that Herold was telling the truth.

The report of a confederate sympathizer that probably had no love lost for Lincoln or for the Federal Government might have been willing to believe, and hope, that Booth escaped that night and that the evil government was covering up the facts. He might have even relayed that story, as fictitious as it might be, to his family. He probably even convinced himself it was true. But like most conspiracy theories--it most likely wasn't

Bill Carnevali

Bill,

Just to make you aware, the aforementioned "William Garrett" account is a fake. I have seen the original handwritten letter and it does not have William Garrett's signature. Rather, it is a letter written by postmaster W.P. Carneal "remembering" (i.e. fabricating) a conversation with William Garrett. Put your trust in William Garrett's actual words, like this account that he wrote for Confederate Veteran magazine published the year before he died: http://archive.org/stream/confederatevet...9/mode/2up

None of the Garretts ever had any doubts. They all knew that the man shot in their barn was John Wilkes Booth.

L Verge · 09-19-2013, 09:10 AM

Thank you, Bill and Dave, for posting your responses because I have made up my mind to ignore a certain person's postings. I can now feel confident in replying to Dave that he is 100% correct in labeling the postmaster's letter about Garrett a fake.

Jim Garrett · 09-20-2013, 06:07 AM

In the real world, most of us weigh the value, amount and integrity of information. Overwhelmingly, the answer is what the vast majority of us believe. Everyone is entitled to their opinion of what they choose to weigh. A lot of people much wiser than I, have weighed as much available evidence on this matter and come up with the conclusion. As a much younger man, I wanted with all my heart to believe that JWB got away. I still would love to believe, but my opinion is, it just isn't so.

If I started a rumor that I saw Laurie Verge as Abraham Lincoln, someone would believe me, but the vast majority would not. Smile

L Verge · 09-20-2013, 07:41 AM

I'm too short to be long, tall Lincoln...

Rogerm · 09-20-2013, 07:55 AM

I'm a little over 6'5" tall. Maybe I could pass for Abraham Lincoln. lol

RJNorton · 09-20-2013, 08:15 AM

(09-20-2013 07:55 AM)Rogerm Wrote: I'm a little over 6'5" tall. Maybe I could pass for Abraham Lincoln.

Roger, your test will be whether or not you can pick up an ax by the butt, with the handle parallel to the ground, and hold the 7-pound tool motionless with your arm straight out.

Rogerm · 09-20-2013, 08:32 AM

Roger. I'm afraid that you have already exposed me for the imposter that I am!!

wsanto · 09-20-2013, 01:05 PM

(09-19-2013 08:45 AM)Dave Taylor Wrote: Bill,

Just to make you aware, the aforementioned "William Garrett" account is a fake. I have seen the original handwritten letter and it does not have William Garrett's signature. Rather, it is a letter written by postmaster W.P. Carneal "remembering" (i.e. fabricating) a conversation with William Garrett. Put your trust in William Garrett's actual words, like this account that he wrote for Confederate Veteran magazine published the year before he died: http://archive.org/stream/confederatevet...9/mode/2up

None of the Garretts ever had any doubts. They all knew that the man shot in their barn was John Wilkes Booth.

Thanks Dave. That clears things up rather nicely. Thanks for the link. The true account is much more in line with the history I've learned and read in various books. It is still fascinating to read.

Gene C · 03-27-2014, 11:45 AM

Some interesting comments about Garrett's farm I found.

http://www.abandonedcountry.com/2013/03/...rett-farm/

with a nice link to a 1937 photo of the old house

Linda Anderson · 03-27-2014, 12:06 PM

(03-27-2014 11:45 AM)Gene C Wrote: Some interesting comments about Garrett's farm I found.

http://www.abandonedcountry.com/2013/03/...rett-farm/

with a nice link to a 1937 photo of the old house

Thanks, Gene.

It's interesting to read a comment by someone who says they are a Garrett descendant.

"Marsha says:
2 July, 2013 at 12:59 pm
I loved reading this story, as a child I heard about this from my Paw Paw Garrett, he was one of the son’s of Richard Garrett, he would always tell us about the piece of wood in the trunk that had the blood of John Wilkes Booth on it. I can’t really remember seeing it but heard talk about it when ever we went to visit our Grandparents. I now have six Grandchildren of my own and love to tell this story, they like their parents before them tell this story when they study about Lincoln in School. It is sad to see just a little sign on the road when we go South along that path. Thanks … Marsha"

BettyO · 03-27-2014, 12:15 PM

Excellent and relevant article. Thanks!

L Verge · 03-27-2014, 03:19 PM

I just posted some "propaganda" about our Booth Tours on that website to remind them that not everyone has forgotten the Garretts' history.

richard petersen · 03-31-2014, 10:53 AM

Read the article Where JWB Died; The Garrett Farm.
I'm sure this has been discussed ( having a senior moment) Starting with the 9th paragraph it says "Against Orders.....Corbett shot Booth"

Did Stanton give orders for JWB to be taken alive? I recall that the order was dead or alive, but cannot verify.

L Verge · 03-31-2014, 02:07 PM

I believe that both Mr. Hall and Mike Kauffman found no evidence that any order was given as to Booth being taken dead or alive. I also remember Steve Miller making a comment during one of his Surratt Conference talks that telling pursuers to hold off and not fire when a criminal is threatening them often leads to the death of the troopers/police/etc.

RJNorton · 04-01-2014, 04:21 AM

(03-31-2014 10:53 AM)richard petersen Wrote: Starting with the 9th paragraph it says "Against Orders.....Corbett shot Booth"

Richard, I have felt that Corbett reacted to his fear that Booth was about to shoot Doherty or Baker or others. In his own mind he was doing the right thing; he didn't have time to think about it. Corbett stated, "My mind was upon him attentively to see that he did no harm, and when I became impressed that it was time I shot him. I took steady aim on my arm, and shot him through a large crack in the barn." Thus, given the circumstances that Corbett felt he was in, would any such orders (had they existed) really make much difference?

The opinion here reflects the traditional account of Booth not committing suicide. Although I still lean to the "Corbett shot Booth" story being the truth, I am more open-minded on it due to the arguments of several folks on the forum. In a way this is like where Booth broke his leg - both versions have good supporting arguments IMO.