What did John Wilkes Booth Mean?

[Tom Turner]

In his diary Booth wrote, "Though I have a greater desire and almost a mind to return to Washington, and in a measure clear my name - which I feel I can do."

What do you suppose he meant by that?

I agree with both Rich and Laurie although this is obviously the type of quotation that has fueled conspiracy theorists over the years. Authors like Otto Eisenschiml or David Balsiger and Charles Sellier thought he could clear himself by turning in his northern co-conspirators who had assisted him.

Booth had a big enough ego that he thought he could explain his actions as justifiable against a tyrant who had destroyed the South. Note he doesn't say I can clear myself legally, he says I can clear my name which I think he used in the historical sense.