Booth's Body

[BettyO]

Quote:I believe the skull of Lewis Powell was originally taken by an undertaker (or friend of an undertaker) who collected such items. There is also reference to someone in history (and my old brain can't remember who) whose skull was part of the gains in a poker game?

Powell's skull was originally taken (as far as we can tell) by DC undertaker, Joseph Gawler. Just why we don't know. This was between the removal of Powell's remains from the arsenal (it is thought that the skull was taken at that time) and Powell's reburial in Graceland or later reburial in Holmead. Shortly thereafter (1880s-1890s) the skull turns up in Ford's Theatre along with Booth's spinal column/thorax. From there, later to the Smithsonian. The rest is history -