Assassination Trivia

[Steve Whitlock]

(01-27-2021 06:32 AM)Steve Wrote:  As far as I can tell, no. There was an 1894 article after Bolton became police commissioner of Norfolk Va. which briefly related his military service, without mentioning being at the theater when Lincoln was shot.

I did look into Bolton's character reference and he is the absolute opposite of a "reliable witness":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asa_Bird_Gardiner

Since he did serve with Bolton at the time he could've been Bolton's, unfortunately, only locatable witness at such late a date or a former comrade amenable to lying.

I don't need to point out the obvious shortcomings in Bolton's story. If he would at least have mentioned lifting Dr. Taft (or a naval surgeon) up to the Lincoln box it would be in accordance with the statement of Clara Harris. Even Bebee mentioned lifting the doctor up. However, if it was Bebee then that would further attest to Clara not knowing the uniforms of the military. After that perhaps Bebee got carried away with embellishing his own role. They were all guilty of that, even Leale in later versions.