** NEW DISCOVERY REGARDING BOOTH AUTOPSY PHOTO

[L Verge]

(09-05-2014 08:00 AM)John E. Wrote:  

(09-04-2014 09:23 PM)Gene C Wrote:  According to "Lincoln's Assassins" by James Swanson, page 24 (copyright 2001), speaking of Gardner,

"In April the War Department had allowed him to come aboard the ironclads and photograph the conspirators soon after their arrest. The War Department had also summoned him for secret work - to make the only photographs of the corpse of John Wilkes Booth after the assassin's body was brought back from the Garrett farm in Virginia ." (no footnotes or source stated)

Has John and Berry's supplement been published yet, or combined into a book ?

Hello Gene,

Swanson's statements are correct. Gardner and his son were permitted on board the ironclads to photograph the suspects as well as the corpse of John Wilkes Booth. However, the order to photograph Booth was rescinded by Gen. Eckert before any images of the assassin were captured.

Booth's corpse had succumbed to time, nature and a medical condition called "Livor Mortis", where blood pools (due to lack of circulation and gravity) and causes a discoloration or bruising effect on the body. Because Booth's body was transferred to the Navy Yard lying face down, the face became discolored. Booth had also shaved off his signature mustache - leaving a uniform, 10 day growth of beard. It no longer resembled the once handsome actor.

I hope someone presents James with our research supplement in March when he narrates a JWB escape tour.

Laurie, do you know if James is planning on attending the conference?

I don't know if he will be doing the full conference, but I hope so...