Mudd Descendants visit Fort Jefferson NP

[John Fazio]

(07-30-2015 12:00 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(07-30-2015 10:16 AM)John Fazio Wrote:  At mid-day he shows up at Julia Grant's suite at Willard's.

John, I know you cover this in your book, but I don't have it in front of me at this moment. I believe the vast majority of books I've seen say it was Washington's afternoon papers that carried the news that the Grants would attend Ford's that night with the Lincolns. If your theory that Herold called on Mrs. Grant (pretending to be a White House messenger) is correct what is your best guess as to how Booth was able to find this out so early in day and send Herold to the Grants' room at the Willard (before the afternoon papers were out)?

Roger:

Sorry for not getting to this sooner. I'm quite busy.

You raise a very important issue. My educated guess is that just as the invitation to the theatre was by design (per Susannah Hamm, p. 38 of DU), and just as Booth's prior knowledge of the Lincolns' attendance at the theatre for the April 14 performance came from sources inside the government (per Tidwell, Hall and Gaddy, p. 423 of CR), so too the publication in the afternoon newspapers of the attendance of the Lincolns and the Grants was by pre-arrangement by sources inside the government. That is not to say that everything was a lock; any part or all of the pre-arrangements might have failed. As it happened, however, they all worked as planned. See pp. 82, 83 of DU.

John

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(07-30-2015 05:07 PM)DanielC Wrote:  John I personally enjoy reading your threads. Although I must admit I may not agree with them all, they are very well written and make me think. I'm sorry for some of the personal attacks. Very disappointing and unfortunate.

Dan:

Thanks.

John