A Wonderful Find ...

[J. Beckert]

In Woodward's report, he stated Booth was killed by a "carbine" ball - then scratched that out - and wrote "pistol".

I don't buy the spent percussion cap statement and haven't seen it used in too many sources. Booth had a revolver in his hand and I believe both Conger and Baker thought he initially killed himself. The empty chamber was in Booth's pistol. I don't know of a source that states anyone could see him clearly, aside from what Corbett claimed.

It is VERY possible to shoot ones self without having to put a thumb on the trigger. I don't know how familiar Dr. Lattimer was with firearms, but Booth could have easily cocked the weapon with his thumb, inverted it and pulled the trigger with his index finger.

Bill Richter forwarded me the article he and Rick Smith did and I've asked Roger to post it. They show how easy this would have been for Booth.