A little-known person

[Steve Whitlock]

(07-23-2021 11:20 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(07-22-2021 04:55 PM)Steve Wrote:  and not someone we would guess.

How about Daniel Gleason as a real longshot possibility? Gleason worked at the War Department with Louis Weichmann who lived at Mary Surratt's boardinghouse. It is known that several weeks prior to the assassination Weichmann confided his suspicions to Gleason about John Surratt and his buddies acting strangely in the boardinghouse. Some sources indicate Gleason took Weichmann's wariness to Stanton but it apparently didn't go anywhere from there. Weichmann retracted his statement to Gleason a few days later, but the fears may still have stuck in Gleason's mind.

Is it conceivable Gleason was out taking a walk the night of the assassination? Could Gleason have crossed paths with detective McDevitt? Could McDevitt have mistaken Gleason for an actor? Did Gleason look anything like McCullough?

Way too many ifs here - do not put any money on it...

Roger,

You must be a good fisherman. I'm slowly nibbling at the bait, but you should have reminded me of the robust discussion at the Symposium for the "My Journey on Lincoln's Assassination" thread where you also mention Maj Daniel Gleason. I'm also wondering about some others mentioned there. Still, if the assembled talent and knowledge of those in the thread couldn't resolve matters what's an old hick in rural MO to do? Is that a real bug swimming just above me? One might learn some stuff with a close review, again, of that thread. Sure, that's educational, nothing wrong with that. I'm not really getting drawn in.