Lafayette Baker

[J Hewitt]

What made Lafe Baker and Col Conger believe that the so called 18 "missing pages" of Booth's Diary were there when they turned it over to Stanton. Looking at the photo of the diary the pages appear to be torn rather than cut. I think the consensus view is that Booth tore the the pages out and used them to write notes which he left at various places seeking shelter, while on the run.

If Stanton had the 18 missing pages, what would he gain by destroying the evidence?