Booth escape route north

[Jenny]

Well, here are my thoughts on the premises of the entire matter:

Quote: I believe in the comments I make, but I will never claim them to be a fact.

Laurie's right - that does sum up everything you have to say and I understand why she won't be bothering to cut in any more on the conversation.

Troy, I have my own information that I do consider fact as I personally find it true. HOWEVER I cannot back this information up as it is not from conventional sources. Now I've always been taught that when it comes to history, proof is the name of the game. So I do not speak of "my" information here because historians need solid proof that is undisputable FACT to EVERYONE on the planet, not just to one person or a few people. I know I can't provide that so I just don't get into those things here. Yeah, I could make comments all day about information I believe to be true personally... but if there isn't solid proof behind it, no one is going to take me seriously. So I don't mention "my" information/facts that can't be proven here at all. It would get me nowhere without solid proof.

Yes, some people have interesting theories like Jerry Madonna... but he tries his hardest to find factual sources that would make his claims reasonable. Sure, not everyone believes him... but at the same time a lot of the things he has come up with cannot be completely dismissed either. No one would believe him if he just said "I know this is fact but I can't back it up."

I've heard the stories about Charles being out at sea when "John Wilkes Booth" impregnated Izola Mills due to Ogarita's birth date not matching up consistently with Charles' location and the apparent conception. Which is interesting. I do not wholly doubt the possibility that JWB could have been Ogarita's father, but I have to say that I can't believe the story that John and Izola Mills married unless there is a legit marriage license out there or other documented proof besides hearsay passed down through family tradition. Can you find it for me? I've never seen physical proof of this, only speculation, and I need physical proof or that's a tough sell. That's just me though.

I think the "Izola Mills D'Arcy" from the Byron Wilkes will is most likely the same person as Martha Izola Mills you refer to as she was the mother of Ogarita, who is named in the Byron Wilkes will as a beneficiary.

As Laurie wrote above as well as in the other thread, Ogarita's daughter, Izola Louise Wallingford aka Izola Forrester wrote "This One Mad Act," and I believe her descendants wrote "The Elusive Booths of Burrillville." There is just no proof that any of it is true. A DNA match would prove it for sure, but I think Wilkes (and Edwin) deserve to rest in peace and wouldn't be an advocate for it; the Forresters have an interesting story, but it's just that at this point: a story. No definitive documents or other proof to show the world that John Wilkes Booth really married Izola Mills, that he was the father of Ogarita, that he escaped. That's why most of us doubt any escape theories. Proof should be able to be found *somewhere* or in some way that would prove these claims as 100% true... but conclusive proof has never been shown for any of this.

Yes, history doesn't record everything... but this was a BIG event in fairly recent times in the scope of how long humans have walked the planet. Things were recorded. People can say "but this happened due to family tradition," but without any solid evidence, historians take those things with a grain of salt. I know of at least five different "Booth escaped" stories that have been written about, including the Forresters', and not a single one has ever produced conclusive proof. In light of the lack of historical proof of some sort (or a DNA test), I myself - as someone who admittedly once believed that Booth *did* escape - am sticking to the official "Booth died in the barn" story and do not believe he was ever married to anyone.

Not saying this to attack you or your beliefs - you can believe what you want and I can't stop you. I'm just saying why *I* can't subscribe to those particular views.

Quote:We must rely on the families oral history to obtain information. Not to include that information is a crime in my opinion.

See, that's another difference between us. I believe oral history just can't always be believed, especially in a case like this. People embellish stories, people forget details, stories change as they are passed down, some people love to *spin* great stories just to be associated with a famous person (even Booth) and the families take those tales to heart, etc. That's why I can't believe it.

To each his own.

PS: I have to ask this. Who do you think died in that barn if not Booth?