Your personal choice of "most tragic" character in the assassination story

[Laurie Verge]

It has been a number of years since Thomas Mallon spoke at the Surratt conference, and I do not recall how he handled that aspect of Rathbone's behavior at the time of the crime. My personal feeling is that Mr. Mallon used that for dramatic effect to show that the guilt of not acting quickly to save the President drove him insane.

I have not done any in-depth study of the man, but the little bit I have read makes me think he had some issues long before this. I also don't remember if he was really a battle-hardened vet either. How much was he exposed to the front lines?