Identification of Booth's body

[AussieMick]

Without wanting to delay the response about why Booth/Boyd didnt surrender at the same time as Herold ...

I'd also point out that Conger appears to have had a great view and appreciation of what the man in the barn did immediately before being shot.

MikeGriffith1 wrote :
No, I do not believe I am misreading Conger's statement about the man in the barn's actions just before he was shot. Conger said that he heard something drop (which was apparently the crutch), that the man then "dropped his arm," "relaxed his muscles," and started walking toward the door, and that just a few seconds after that the shot rang out. That certainly sounds like someone who was surrendering.

relaxed his muscles ??? how did Conger know that ? ... 'walking toward the door' (this after dropping the crutch)?

I think its far more likely that the man was coughing and choking from the smoke and stumbling around . Especially if he dropped the crutch (why he'd do that we can only guess ... maybe the smoke and fire caused panic) its far more likely that , rather than 'walking' towards the door, he stumbled and even fell to his knees or was crawling before being shot (hence the angle of the bullet's travel). Surrendering ? Who knows?

I dont know about you but if I was Corbett I'd be reluctant to admit that I shot a man on his knees or crawling on the ground.

Now, as to why he didnt surrender at the same time as Herold ... I'm afraid we'll never know ...
But I'd say there are not many possibilities . In order, I'd opt for : -

#1 Being Booth, he knew he was going to hang if captured and preferred to die 'a hero's death' and (hopefully) quickly by being shot.

#2 He was confused and in a panic, desperately trying to stay free for another few hours whatever might happen next. Maybe hoping for miraculous rescue.

#3 He thought that he might be able to negotiate somehow ... and was wildly thinking , thinking, thinking ... maybe how to put up a defence as to why it wasnt he that had killed Lincoln.

#4 (Sorry ... IMO, its not very likely) It was not Booth. And he, whoever 'he' was, was terrified of being arrested and hanged for a crime he didnt commit.
The problems (and there are plenty) with #4 for me are ... why didnt he scream "You got the wrong guy!!!" or " I'm not Booth !!!" or even "What do you want me for? I aint done nothing !!!" Apparently (as far as I know), the only relevant comment/question by the man to this effect was "Who do you take me for?" ... He never denied (I think) being Booth.