(07-29-2012 10:29 AM)Wesley Harris Wrote:  

(07-29-2012 09:53 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Wesley: thanks for tracking it down. I'm a little saddened that it is there. If it is actually a weapon that belonged to Booth-it would seem to be in the wrong place. Of course, the problem is that it can't be proven to be so. I wonder what the various scholars have thought about it.

The academic historians have largely ignored the details of the assassination. That's why most of the books that delve into the criminal aspects of the assassination are written outside of academia. Also the reason I'm writing a book on the weapons used by Booth and his conspirators. Just like in a standard criminal investigation, the physical evidence like the weapons can tell us much about the suspects. For example, my research has convinced me that that Booth and the other conspirators were generally inept with firearms.

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I will be discussing the Ripley pistol and other weapons associated with the assassination at the Surratt Society's 2013 Annual Lincoln Assassination Conference. TOOLS OF THE ASSASSINS, Part II: Fables, Fallacies, and Fakes. Watch http://www.surratt.org for details.

Sounds great, Wes! I enjoy your talks and can't wait to hear this one.... let me know if you need the Whitney again.

Yes, I agree with your findings. Although he was a soldier, Powell was apparently not as adept with weapons as one would believe. He was repeatedly reprimanded in the army because he failed to keep his firearms clean. I don't know if this was simply laziness or indifference. Possibly, because he was young, a combination of both.

I know absolutely nothing about firearms, but if Booth had carried a second Deringer, could he have loaded it before going into the presidential box like I assume he did with the one in his hand? I guess what I'm asking is if it would have been safe to carry the pistol with lead ball and gunpowder already in it in a pocket or such?

(07-29-2012 11:54 AM)L Verge Wrote:  I know absolutely nothing about firearms, but if Booth had carried a second Deringer, could he have loaded it before going into the presidential box like I assume he did with the one in his hand? I guess what I'm asking is if it would have been safe to carry the pistol with lead ball and gunpowder already in it in a pocket or such?

Hi Laurie! Yes, it would be safe to have a pistol in his pocket. The hammer on the pistol has to drop on the percussion cap to discharge the pistol. As long as it's not carried cocked, the hammer can't drop to explode the cap.