Identification of Booth's body

[Rob Wick]

For about a year and a half, I researched the question of just how the rewards were distributed. I read as much material as was available. I traveled to various archives and searched through papers that hadn't been looked at in years. My article was subjected to peer review from two experts in the field before it was accepted for publication. While I would never claim that what I've written is the final word on the subject, I know a heck of a lot more about this than either Mr. Griffith or Dr. Arnold.

Quote:Lafayette Baker specified that the officer who would lead the 25-man detail had to be an officer who was “discrete” because he knew that this officer would see things that would need to be kept secret. That officer, Doherty, got a handsome reward and an immediate promotion because he “kept his mouth shut,” as Lafayette Baker ordered him to do after he returned.

Only problem with this is that Lafayette Baker didn't put Edward P. Doherty in charge of the expedition. He put Everton Conger in charge. By his own testimony, and the battle that ensued between Doherty and the NDP operatives, he said as much. Also, Doherty's "handsome" reward was far less than the $15,000 that Conger received. While $5,250 was nothing to sneeze at (it's about $90,000 in today's money) that doesn't compare to the $255,000 in today's money that Conger received. Also, Doherty's promotion happened before the capture took place. As Steve Miller has written, Doherty's captain's bars were waiting for him when he returned from Virginia.

Quote:The Booth-escaped theory enables us to understand why Luther Baker was never called on to explain under oath and/or for the record why he took off with the body for at least three hours. It also explains why Baker’s sworn statement was “lost” and why he was never asked to testify at the conspiracy trial.

Byron Baker was forever ticked off because he only received $3,000 of the reward money. Byron claimed that his statement was lost to deny him what he considered a proper share of the reward money even though it was in the Adjutant General's files next to Conger's statement. He was never called to testify at the conspiracy trial because Doherty and Conger were and his testimony was not needed. As for his "three hour tour" I think Warren pretty much nailed it.

Quote:Lafayette Baker also stood to make a handsome penny if the troop detail that he sent out was the one that found “Booth.

Lafayette Baker made $3,750.

No one who had any immediate role in the capture of Booth determined how the reward money was distributed.

No matter how hard people want to try, you can't argue with facts.

Best
Rob