Identification of Booth's body

[Steve Whitlock]

I find it revealing that at every point where Holt and Baker could have made the identification on the Montauk significantly stronger, if not indisputable, they chose not to do so. I also find it revealing that the War Department suppressed the fact that the body's face was heavily freckled and that the witnesses were initially shocked by the body's lack of resemblance to Booth. We did not learn those two crucial facts until decades later.

Mike,

If the person identified as John Wilkes Booth was not really him, but in fact the Mr Boyd as he represented himself, i.e. James William Boyd, a Confederacy Capt from TN, and POW who got a release due to his wife's death circa 1865, perhaps that could, or not, be of real significance for your case.

I seem to recall mention that the hand of John Wilkes Booth had the initials JWB tattooed between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand, and I have pointed out what appears to be some dark lettering in that area for a photo of John Wilkes Booth. However, in reading the various posts and other documentation there are reports of initials on the back of the hand or even forearm of the body in question. Also, mention of the letters in both places. I got lost in trying to determine the final consensus of those making positive identification of John Wilkes Booth as to whether his initials were there between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand.

Perhaps you can clear that up for me. Meanwhile, nobody seems to know what became of that James William Boyd, other than a supposed letter to a son in TX, and there were at least two sons there, Walter Preston Boyd and George H. Boyd, which stated he wanted to see the son, but never showed up. Such a mysterious disappearance would make one wonder whether such a thing as a body switch could be possible, and wouldn't he have to bear a resembalnce to JOhn Wilkes Booth.

The first attached photo is from Wikipedia, and the second from a Family Tree. On the 2nd photo there is a clear view of his left hand, and no letters are tattooed between the thumb and forefinger. I have no idea whether he could have his initials elsewhere, nor how authentic the photo is.

Something verifiable, such as the tattooed initials, or dna, would give your position considerable heft. You might want to pursue that. I wasn't aware that there is nobody living to verify mtdna for the hair of John Wilkes Booth; however, I don't know whether that is true of James William Boyd.

Steve W.