Booth autopsy

[Jim Garrett]

I think that if he didn't think he could clear his name, and deed, that JWB wanted to go out in a hail of gunfire, (suicide by cop) and partial proof is his comments about stepping back and letting him have a fair fight, and prepare a stretcher for him. To go out in a gunfight would have been his climatic role.

[L Verge]

I forgot to mention in my previous post on this that we are omitting one crucial piece of identifying evidence - at least to me. Booth was wearing a stick pin that was onyx set in gold with a small diamond (or chip) set in the onyx. It was inscribed to him from his friend Dan Bryant.

The important thing to note is that the stick pin was found holding his undershirt together where it had ripped. I just cannot imagine that even the CIA of this era would be so meticulous as to conceive of switching the pin from one man to another to continue the charade.

[Troy Cowan]

(09-13-2013 03:43 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I forgot to mention in my previous post on this that we are omitting one crucial piece of identifying evidence - at least to me. Booth was wearing a stick pin that was onyx set in gold with a small diamond (or chip) set in the onyx. It was inscribed to him from his friend Dan Bryant.

The important thing to note is that the stick pin was found holding his undershirt together where it had ripped. I just cannot imagine that even the CIA of this era would be so meticulous as to conceive of switching the pin from one man to another to continue the charade.

The other day, I decided to recline on the couch to watch the news. Thirty minutes later, when I got up, I was missing the change in my pockets, my cell phone, and the TV remote.

Booth had a similar problem. He had to travel about ten miles over open county to get from the Lucas farm to the river crossing. He had to be concealed. A wagon was obtained and 18" of straw was laid around the perimeter. Booth was put in the middle of the wagon and wood planks were placed over the straw concealing Booth. A mattress was placed over the wooden strips and old furniture was placed on top of the mattress totally hiding him.
Booth stayed there all day as he was driven to the river crossing. At the river crossing, after Herold determined it was safe to come out, the back of the wagon was opened and Booth was dragged out. After they made it across the river, Booth reached into his pockets to pay Boyd. It was then that he discovered his money and other things were missing. Booth then sent Boyd back across the river to retrieve the missing items.
I believe that Boyd found the pin, diary, compass, and other items at that time. Boyd's undershirt was torn and he took the pin to hold it together.

[Gene C]

(09-14-2013 01:11 PM)Troy Cowan Wrote:  The other day, I decided to recline on the couch to watch the news. Thirty minutes later, when I got up, I was missing the change in my pockets, my cell phone, and the TV remote.

No big deal, the NSA does that to me all the time.

[Eva Elisabeth]

If JWB shaved off his moustache at Dr. Mudd's and wore a false one afterwards - did he wear this all the time till he was shot, i.e. did he still wear it when the autopsy was done, or did he ever "make use" of the result of his shaving and "present" himself beardless?

[J. Beckert]

I believe that the story was that Booth showed up at Dr. Mudd's wearing a fake beard (Mrs. Mudd? saw it slip), he asked for a razor and shaved his face clean and by the time of the autopsy, his entire face was covered with an 11 day growth of beard. I don't think the false beard story is accepted by too many folks and I've never heard of Booth wearing any fake facial hair after he left Mudd's house.

[RJNorton]

Eva, I second Joe. I have never read of this either. I think the Mudd story is isolated, and I've never read any comment by folks along the escape route regarding Booth and a beard (either before or after the Mudd stop). Personally I find the Mudd story suspect.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Do you find it suspect that he shaved off his moustache at all or just the part with the false one?

[wsanto]

(11-11-2013 06:59 PM)J. Beckert Wrote:  I believe that the story was that Booth showed up at Dr. Mudd's wearing a fake beard (Mrs. Mudd? saw it slip), he asked for a razor and shaved his face clean and by the time of the autopsy, his entire face was covered with an 11 day growth of beard. I don't think the false beard story is accepted by too many folks and I've never heard of Booth wearing any fake facial hair after he left Mudd's house.

I agree with Roger. In my opinion, the fake beard was an invention to bolster Mudd's aliby. A story concocted to explain Mudd's behavior would have to include a reasonable explanation for why Mudd didn't recognize Booth.

Think about it---Booth was not wearing a false beard when he assassinated Lincoln and he was not wearing a false beard when he crossed the Navy Yard Bridge or when he stopped at the Surratt Tavern. Are we to believe that he was able to don a fake beard in the dark of night between Surrattsville and Mudd's house while on his horse suffering, as he most surely was at this point, from the pain in his leg?

And he did it well enough to fool poor old Dr. Mudd and his wife?

Then he was not seen wearing the beard once he left Mudd's house. Not by Swann, Cox or Jones or anyone else subsequently.

In my opinion, there was no fake beard and Mudd knew exactly who was at his doorstep that evening. And in concert they came up with an aliby (including the horse fall) to create cover for Mudd's help.

Bill C

[Gene C]

Didn't Weichmann find a fake mustache in his room after a failed attempt to kidnap/assassinate President Lincoln?

[RJNorton]

Good memory, Gene! I checked Poore and here's Weichmann's testimony:

"I would say, that one day, returning from my office, I found a false mustache on the table in my room. I took the mustache, and threw it into a little toilet-box I had on the table. This man Payne searched around the table, and inquired for his mustache. I was sitting on the chair, and did not say any thing. I have retained the mustache since, and it was found in my baggage: it was among a box of paints that I had in my trunk."

Regarding Dr. and Mrs. Mudd, it is my personal opinion that both of them concocted their stories. Dr. Mudd said Booth shaved off his mustache but left his beard intact. Dr. Mudd said that the man's name was Tyser. Dr. Mudd said Henson (Herold) said that his friend felt he would feel better without the mustache. Mrs. Mudd, who said Booth's name was Tyler and Herold's name was Tyson, said the beard became partially detached as "Tyler" came down the stairs. Yet this man was a nationally known actor who previously had spent a night at the Mudds' home. It is known Dr. Mudd met him at least three times. I simply cannot believe they didn't recognize him from the beginning, and it is my opinion that the facial hair stories were concocted.

[wsanto]

It takes a pretty good make-up artist to apply a false beard in a way that might look real enough to fool a person. It also takes light and time and a mirror--none of which Booth had that night.

A false beard that might fool someone wouldn't "slip".