Was Stanton a murder target?

[Wild Bill]

Loetar 44 makes the point to Fazio that has frustrated historians over the ages: "And if I’ve understand you correctly, you prefer evidence that establishes a high probability that Stanton was a target is true. That is a choice, but for me I want a greater degree of believability."

Tragically, this is one reason why we have differing historical interpretations. We simply do not know. Or in the case of me and Fazio, one comes at from a Southern viewpoint that other from a Northern one. Was it O'Laughlin on Stanton's porch? John Fazio and I, through different routes, say our research indicates that it was. Others, maybe a majority of us bloggers, seem to indicate they stand with Loetar 44.

I found this to be a problem in all of the information about the Lincoln Assassination. To the disgust of many Surratt Society critics, I solved this by writing the Last Confederate Heroes as an historical novel, that I think is more history than novel. I decided to fill in the gaps according to my inclinations of what Booth and the others were all about. I do not know where I picked the solution up. I want to say from old-time "Boothie" Constance Head, but I cannot find reference to this (another assumption on my part, huh?) Maybe it was McKinley Kantor's Andersonville, I don't know.

This is the circumstantial evidence that Fazio referred to and which carries a lot of weight in many court cases. There is a certain logic to events. It is not always true, but I dare say that it is often right on the money. As for those who see it differently from me, I have no problem with you and your beliefs or demands for a more correct story. This is why we have people like John Stanton who has traced down the roles of Sarah Slater and others. I thank him and I use his and other's ideas with attribution (I footnote or use chapter notes in my historical novels, a la William Safire's Freedom) for allowing me to be lazier than necessary in my writings.