More Bad News

[L Verge]

The photo of Art walking along the shoreline was taken years ago at the foot of the cliff at Dent's Meadow, where the fugitives pushed off across the Potomac. I'm not sure that the other is of him at Dr. Mudd's cell at Fort Jefferson. I think I was with him when this photo was taken at Oak Hill Cemetery in D.C.'s Georgetown. He is emerging from the Carroll holding vault where Willie Lincoln had rested.

To me, Art has always been one of the unsung heroes of the Lincoln assassination field. His work on JWB Day by Day was outstanding, but more importantly, he was a friend and adviser to quite a few of us. He didn't toot his horn or beg for recognition, but the Class of the 1970s (and on) - as I like to refer to the gang who bonded together to be the first Booth buffs with united voices for recognition - knew that he could always be turned to as a resource and a friend.

His death has upset me even more because I'm tired of losing the good guys. My consolation is that Art is now having a great conversation with James O. Hall, John C. Brennan, Fr. Keesler, Bill Tidwell, and others who have beaten us to the Great Beyond. If he happens upon JWB, I hope that he can fill in some of the blanks. With the research that Art has already done, however, there aren't too many blanks...

Art's daughter is a historian and editor and will continue on with the publication of his updated book. He had just signed a contract last week with McFarland Publishing.