JWB Seduction Charge (Not Breach of Promise)

[jparkuntz]

Steve and I both went to the Philadelphia City Archives last week and separately reviewed the Quarter Sessions court records from 1857-1860, and found a handful of Seduction charges--but NONE involving J.B. Wilkes/John Wilkes Booth. This is definitely the Grand Jury/Court that would have issued an indictment and convened a trial.

Yet the requisition for Booth exists in the Pennsylvania State Archives.

The key to this mystery is Robert M. Lee, the "conniving" Philadelphia lawyer; the woman who he was involved with--Jane Fleming/Annie Melville, later Mrs. Robert M. Lee/Eusebia Fitzgerald; and her previous paramour, the master forger, James Buchanan Crosse.

I believe this trio forged warrant documents that were sent to Harrisburg, and used them to successfully blackmail Booth after he had left Philadelphia. He was a prime target: young, vain, and from a famous, wealthy family.

Jerry Kuntz
Warwick NY