Is there an official final report on Lincolns assassination a la a Warren Commision report? Or are the trial transcips and findings as close as it gets?

(08-02-2012 11:36 PM)asobbingfilm Wrote:  Is there an official final report on Lincolns assassination a la a Warren Commision report? Or are the trial transcips and findings as close as it gets?

Hello, Dave!

I'd have to say that the Trial Transcripts (particularly Peterson's and or Perley Poore) are about as close as one gets -- outside of Steers' The Evidence..... Pitmann's, while the "Official" Transcript, is heavily edited.

You also may want to visit Fold3.com and take a look at their LAS files from the Archives. However, I think that The Evidence and the other two offer just as much aside from looking at the actual reports.

Hope this helps!

I have never read (only seen mentioned) something called the Boutwell Report. George Boutwell was chosen to head a House of Representatives committee to investigate the Lincoln assassination. I believe he was the only one on the committee, however, given access to everything. He was later accused of covering up Stanton's role. He was also on the committee that processed the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, and I believe that the assassination discussion was part of that also.

Bill Richter probably knows a lot more about this than I.

(08-03-2012 08:22 AM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  I have never read (only seen mentioned) something called the Boutwell Report. George Boutwell was chosen to head a House of Representatives committee to investigate the Lincoln assassination. I believe he was the only one on the committee, however, given access to everything. He was later accused of covering up Stanton's role. He was also on the committee that processed the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, and I believe that the assassination discussion was part of that also.

Bill Richter probably knows a lot more about this than I.

Laurie - This is facinating! I haven't heard of Boutwell -- if I had, I'd forgotten it! I've got some boning up to do! Thanks!

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Here is a free .pdf copy or Ebook version of the US Committee on the Judiciary by George Boutwell -

http://archive.org/details/assassinationofl00unit

Bob Summers, one of our forum members, has created an outstanding website on Dr. Samuel Mudd. He mentions the Butler Commission here.

I'm not sure if this answers your question or not..
With President Lincoln, you had to have a trial to convict the guilty members of the conspiracy

With President Kennedy, you had to have a commision as there was no one to take to trial. The public needed closure and a sense that justice had been served.

Yes, kind of hard to have a trial w/o an assassin....thanks Jack Ruby....

There is a copy of the Boutwell Report, I think, in the James O. Hall Papers at Surratt House. Just don't ask me to read it and report back anytime soon!

We can wait till Monday. Take your time

Which Monday in which month of which year?

I tried to place the Boutwell Report and Impeachment in historical context in a paper that Laurie is hesitant to publish because of its length. For those who might be interested here it is:
  Why couldnt FINAL.pdf (Size: 181.18 KB / Downloads: 10)
  Why Notes FINAL.pdf (Size: 148.01 KB / Downloads: 6)

(08-03-2012 06:14 PM)william l. richter Wrote:  I tried to place the Boutwell Report and Impeachment in historical context in a paper that Laurie is hesitant to publish because of its length. For those who might be interested here it is:

Thanks a bunch, Bill!