What is the latest on the Booth DNA Project?

[RJNorton]

Regarding this topic, Laurie just sent the following link to post.

CLICK HERE.

[LincolnMan]

Well, that sounds like a done deal. A whole lot of folks are going to read into that outcome as covering up the "truth" that Booth escaped.

[Laurie Verge]

I have dealt with this issue since the 1980s and am amazed at how many people refuse to accept strong historical documentation when it stares them in the face. The evidence and testimony provided at the court in Baltimore in the 1990s were certainly substantial and delivered by the best historians and lawyers in the field. The petitioners and current reporters tend to overlook the evidence.

DNA is wonderful stuff, but there comes a time (148 years after the fact) when disturbing the bones of those long-gone seems a sacrilege, IMO. It is especially significant when publicity seems to be an overriding factor. Where does it end?

In this particular case, it would involve disturbing bones in a museum as well as the bones of Edwin Booth - a man who was plagued with the deeds of his younger brother until his death. I believe in the simple prayer: GOD GRANT THEM ETERNAL REST.

---

Just a note to clarify the relationship of the current petitioner to John Wilkes Booth, here's a line from a satirical article she wrote on the issue back in 2005:

"For the record, I’m not a direct descendant — my line goes through one of his nine other siblings, making him something along the lines of a great-great-great-great-great-grand-uncle."

[J. Beckert]

I think Booth shot himself.

[Laurie Verge]

Just for everyone else's clarification: Joe knows that statement gets on my nerves! But when you are dealing with a Yankee irritant, what are you going to do... If I fuss too much, he sends hoo doo snow to Southern Maryland. BTW Joe, the car was detailed yesterday, so the hoo doo residue was vacuumed out. Today, we have 60-degree weather and beautiful blue skies and sunshine.

HAPPY EASTER, Joseph and Everyone!

[KateH.]

Headstones say "rest in peace" for a reason. While I personally would not be opposed to someone examining Laura Keene’s dress, the bodies of actual people should be grated eternal rest and left alone. Just my opinion.

[J. Beckert]

Just for everyone else's clarification: Joe knows that statement gets on my nerves! But when you are dealing with a Yankee irritant, what are you going to do... If I fuss too much, he sends hoo doo snow to Southern Maryland. BTW Joe, the car was detailed yesterday, so the hoo doo residue was vacuumed out. Today, we have 60-degree weather and beautiful blue skies and sunshine.

HAPPY EASTER, Joseph and Everyone!

I sprinkled some on that light bulb I changed in your kitchen when you, Betty and Wes weren't looking.....Happy Easter, my Rebel friend!!

[RJNorton]

Headstones say "rest in peace" for a reason. While I personally would not be opposed to someone examining Laura Keene’s dress, the bodies of actual people should be grated eternal rest and left alone. Just my opinion.

Kate, thanks for mentioning Laura Keene's dress. This has always been a mystery to me as I do not understand how they would know whose blood is being tested. From what I have read Lincoln's wound bled very little and Rathbone's bled a lot; thus, I would think that the blood on Keene's dress could well be Rathbone's, not Lincoln's.

[Jim Garrett]

Just for everyone else's clarification: Joe knows that statement gets on my nerves! But when you are dealing with a Yankee irritant, what are you going to do... If I fuss too much, he sends hoo doo snow to Southern Maryland. BTW Joe, the car was detailed yesterday, so the hoo doo residue was vacuumed out. Today, we have 60-degree weather and beautiful blue skies and sunshine.

HAPPY EASTER, Joseph and Everyone!

Laurie, you are being redundant. Yankee/Irritant/Joe.

You could also include in their a triple nagaytive.

---

I believe the is also a "PLAN B". While the Armed Forces Museum of Health and Medicine has the most notable relic from the John Wilkes Booth, there may be DNA out there associated with the "body in the barn".

While I'm not at liberty to say at this time, there may be agreement on possible testing which may not require disturbing those at rest. Two separate groups have been in discussions about combining efforts.

[LincolnMan]

Jim: the plot thickens!

[Rsmyth]

Spoiler alert! Jim found the mummy at a garage sale in Balt.

[LincolnMan]

Oh boy- can we "The Mummy Returns!" (shades of Boris Karloff) or "We Want Our Mummy"- The Three Stooges.

[RJNorton]

Dave Taylor, on his outstanding blog, has posted photos of Jim's mummy here.

[J. Beckert]

The Lucinda Holloway lock looks like it was very well cared for and preserved. Not knowing much about DNA testing, I'm wondering how that would work out. I'm against the whole thing, but if it would put an end to this, that would be a good thing. There's nothing worse than an irritating Yankee that won't go away. (At least that's what I've been told.)

[BettyO]

I photographed this lock of JWB's hair from the collection of the Museum of the Confederacy a year ago -




It, too is in pretty good shape and some testing was done on it a few years back to determine if there was arsenic in the hair - there was not -- so kill THAT old canard!