My Journey on Lincoln's Assassination

[Tom Bogar]

Mike, I think it's commendable that you are exploring these issues in your "journey." I would caution, however, against anyone at the remove of 153 years drawing any definitive conclusions, especially regarding chronology. What I wrote, as all historians must do, is informed conjecture based on recalled testimony of contemporary participants. Time can easily shift one way or the other, and words can be misinterpreted. For instance, Gifford and Spangler were doubtless working, and Spear lounging, with Booth seated calmly at the prompter's table while chatting with them. But Gifford and Spangler could have been lying to cover for Booth, and Spear may have been half-drunk. The fact is, we weren't there, so we can never know with certitude. But for what it's worth, I have never considered Weichmann an entirely credible witness, as he had his own agenda and his own interests to protect.