Atzerodt Confession

[Gene C]

Any one else confused?

From what I can understand, between the rumors and relations, everybody in southern Maryland over the age of 12 was either involved in Lincoln's kidnapping/assassination plot or knew someone who was. They had some knowledge, of someone and some kind of story, of some kind of plot, against Abraham Lincoln. Do you believe all of them, some of them, or none of them. Rumors and rumors of rumors. Is it from a reliable source, unreliable source, or an unknown source? Is the source First hand, second, hand, or sleight of hand?
Is this a new plot, an old plot that never went anywhere, a recycled old story with some new changes with it's retelling to make it sound new. An overactive imagination, countryside gossip, sub-urban legend? He said, she said, ghostly whispers on foggy evening heard in front of a fire on a Saturday night, or perhaps heard at the barber shop, livery stable, post office, supermarket check out line, or church social.

Every new discovery can bring an answer to some old unsolved question, but for each new answer there are two new questions, deepening the unending mystery. Are our sources someone who talks to much when he has to much to drink, but really knows nothing at all? Someone scared trying to say what they think wants to be heard, or saying just enough to save their neck? An over zealous young man stretching the truth to gain credibility and encourage participants in an incredible scheme? The ramblings of someone who wants to read his name in the paper, wants 60 seconds of fame, to be recognized as someone important in the community, an "I know something you don't know" kind of superiority. Was all this a well thought out, highly organized plan, a last minute attempt to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, or a poorly planned attempt that succeeds with disastrous, unanticipated consequences?
There seem to be no yes or no, true or false answers. Is it A, B, C or D? Maybe it's all of the above, none of the above, or A and B but not C.

So step right up, give the wheel a spin, your guess is as good as mine (and probably better) And be glad it wasn't your job to figure all of this out 150 years ago, with several lives on the line, based upon your findings and interpretations. Congratulations to those of you who uncover new facts, bring old discarded details to our attention, try to find answers to questions that were given up on long ago. Thanks for connecting the dots, questioning old accepted beliefs and stories, separating facts from fiction, sharing your findings, your guesses, and undergoing severe examination of your research, being bombarded with new questions, criticism, and bad manners.

And a special thanks to Mary Lincoln for her example on the use of comma's in long, run on sentences. Since by know it's obvious I couldn't read the tiny writing on the directions of the cold medicine I've been taking, 1/2 teaspoon looks a lot like 1 1/2 tablespoons, I will stop for now and sleep it off.