The New York Crowd

[J. Beckert]

John,
I found the Union spy Dr. Merritt's testimony interesting;

That is very interesting and thanks. I've never seen that. I'm sure Booth was in very deep with the CSA and his intentions were well known, but it seems to me he was trying to beat the others to the punch and did so on his own accord. If he hadn't made an attempt it sounds like someone else may have, but his lack of funds tells me he was basically on his own by the spring of 1865.