The Reason Lincoln Had to Die

[Rob Wick]

Quote: Professor Doug Linder says it was red:

Colonel Everton Conger removed a small red appointment book from Booth's body. (http://famous-trials.com/lincoln/2156-boothdiary)

Oh for the love of God. In looking over Professor Linder's site, it is not a necessarily bad site, but there are some issues with it. First and foremost there are no citations to any comments made. Professor Linder's site is not made for scholars or researchers. Rather, it is made for hobbyists or buffs who want to read something about various trials throughout history. I daresay that if Professor Linder received a paper from a graduate student like this, he would flunk him or her.

Linder is also wrong about what he writes. Conger never testified in either the Surratt Trial or the Impeachment Investigation as to the color of the diary. Especially given the amount of attention given to it in the Impeachment Investigation, not once did Conger mention the color. So unless you can provide the documentation as to where Linder gets his information, once again, you are wrong.

Plus, as to the evidentiary value of the diary during the conspirator's trial. John Wilkes Booth was not on trial here. The diary did not mention any one of the conspirators on trial. During my newspaper days I covered numerous criminal and civil trials and I can imagine what a good defense lawyer would have said if the prosecution would have tried to introduce a dead man's diary into evidence. Hearsay, anyone?

Best
Rob