** NEW DISCOVERY REGARDING BOOTH AUTOPSY PHOTO

[John E.]

(06-17-2013 11:02 AM)wsanto Wrote:  

(06-10-2013 09:06 PM)John E. Wrote:  Hi folks,

Yes, its my belief that James A. Wardell never existed and was a fictional character completely made up. I don't believe Mark Katz made the story up but I do believe he may have falsely attributed it to Osborn Oldroyd.

Barry suggested that the name James A. Wardell may be an anagram for something else. I came up with a few things but always ended up with leftover letters. Have at it folks! See what you can come up with.

John,

The name James Wardell was not an uncommon name in the 1860s. That's just based on brief on-line search of Ohio census records. In fact there is a James Wardell in the 1860 census living in Carrol (sp), Ohio who was 22 years old.

Probably not the guy, but who knows?

I guess the starting presumtion must be that he did exist and the letter quoted in Katz's book is not a fabrication.

How is it that you went about disproving he existed and/or the letter was genuine? If he was a fiction created by Ollroyd or Katz, what do you think their motive was for fabricating evidence that supported a photo had been taken?

Hi Wsanto,

Barry and I will be selling a supplement documenting the Gardner article as well as providing supporting evidence. We are having it proofread right now and hope to have it available in the next couple of weeks.

We don't prove that James A. Wardell did not exist, but we do state that the name wasn't registered in the Washington DC area with the national census at the time it should have been. We also point out at least 4 potential "red-flags" or errors in the account.

As for motive in putting it in one's book, I think Katz did it to help move product. I also don't believe a word about Oldroyd having anything to do with it. That was also a fabrication.