A Wonderful Find ...

[L Verge]

I think Booth was capable of shooting himself, but I don't think he did. The position of the wound is in too awkward a place -- the temple, mouth, or under the chin would seem more logical to me.

My other thought is one of those pesky social and cultural (and religious) reasons: Booth was at least raised as an Episcopalian by his mother, including being educated in an Episcopal school at one point. He apparently also made a claim to his sister that he had converted to Catholicism (no record of this found). I am an Episcopalian who married into a Catholic family and also have Catholic roots several side generations back. Both faiths frown very heavily against suicide, even to this day.

PS: On the outside chance that Booth did convert to Catholicism (after meeting the Surratts?), I think he might have done so in order to gain acceptance in either of two countries to which he knew he might have to flee after his dirty deed -- Canada and/or Mexico. The Catholic Church also grants sanctuary to its own -- John Surratt certainly took advantage of that...