Breaking a leg

[John E.]

(11-28-2012 07:03 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Thank you, Dave, for assisting me. As I said previously, I was introduced to the horse fall theory several years before it was published - as were most of the acknowledged experts in the field. The theory met with stiff, negative responses then because of little discrepancies that could not be explained away. Personally, I think it won't die a noble death because it is one, new blip in the usual telling of the story and has taken on a life of its own as a result.

Ironically, had JWB not written that he broke his leg "in jumping" - which can also be interpreted different ways - we wouldn't be having this discussion. If I'm not mistaken, this is the only reference we have that he broke his leg in any other way than a horse fall.

Messing with people's interpretation of history is a tricky thing.

Some people are more comfortable believing Dr. Mudd was the good old country doctor just doing his duty, that Mary Surratt was the innocent, pious woman condemned for her son's sins..Others like to believe Old Glory tripped up Booth's jump from the balcony and aided in breaking his leg.

I like to question things and dig. It's fun. What else are we going to do until a significant find is made ?

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(11-28-2012 07:39 PM)Dave Taylor Wrote:  

(11-28-2012 06:48 PM)John E. Wrote:  Hi Dave,

Your point is well taken and it was obviously well thought out. Going through evidence, statements and newspaper articles can be frustrating. Often times it comes down to researchers making a judgement call on the evidence as presented.

While what you wrote about Foster is certainly possible and that he may have mistakenly piggybacked Dr. Mudd's statements in to Lloyd's, I've chosen to believe Foster relayed his findings accurately. If for no other reason than its difficult enough to make sense of KNOWN discrepancies than to assign hypothetical ones - no matter how possible.

You are pretty much saying you don't trust Foster's account of what Lloyd says because Lloyd didn't say it in his own statements. Fair enough.

John,

I'm not completely dismissing the horse falling hypothesis, merely Lloyd as evidence of it.

In the spirit of debate, I have to ask you about your trust that, "Foster relayed his findings accurately." Forgot my possible explanation regarding Mudd's statement and all that. The important thing is from where did Foster get this finding of the horse falling? As far as I can tell, Foster was never one of the people who interviewed Lloyd when he gave his statements. If Foster conversed with him and wrote this after, then that would be something in your favor. Since he did not talk with Lloyd in person and the only sources left to him were the official statements, how can you trust this point to be true?

My idea about the Mudd/Lloyd mix up is little more than a theory and not key to my argument. Rather it is just a possible explanation for what occurred. Otherwise you sum up my argument well with, "You are pretty much saying you don't trust Foster's account of what Lloyd says because Lloyd didn't say it in his own statements." Until I am given some sort of documentary evidence (a meeting between Foster and Lloyd / another statement from Lloyd attesting to the horse falling idea) Foster's version has no credibility. We need to look at this piece of "evidence" with the same skepticism we would give if Foster claimed Lloyd said Booth was dressed like a clown that night.

Again this is not to dimiss the entire horse falling theory and not an attack on you John. You're a skilled researcher who has uncovered wonderful gems. In fact, if you and Barry don't get your book out soon I'm liable to come down to San Antionio and steal a copy!

Hey Dave,

No offense or implied attack taken. If we all agreed on things, this subject would be boring.

I'm asking this honestly, because I am not 100% certain - Was Foster responsible for gathering all pertinent findings and delivering them to Burnett ? Could one of the soldiers who did speak with Lloyd have just told Foster what he heard and he incorporated it in to the account?

Ultimately, the Foster issue really doesn't change anything but it addresses my question as to why Booth would lie about how he broke his leg and then told the truth about killing Lincoln.