Assassination Trivia

[Steve Whitlock]

(01-27-2021 09:48 AM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(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.

Whoaaa!!! Back up the bus out of town. Lt. Bolton has some support for having been in the Lincoln box at Ford's Theatre. In the newsclip I posted for the statement of Dr. Taft, under the "BLEEDING STARTED" header, 2nd paragraph down there is mention of :

"The officer in command of the provost guard at the theater was directed to clear the room which had become speedily filled to suffocation of all except the Surgeons. This officer guarded the door until relieved later in the evening by General M.C. Meige who took charge of it the rest of the night by direction of Mr Stanton."

That officer was Lt. Bolton, according to his testimony and that of his former commander, ret Lt. Col. Asa Bird Gardiner (See pgs 133-134). Lt. Bolton in his statement does declare that he cleared the box, or tried to (see pg 136 of attached statement). However, there is a conflict with Dr. Todd in that Bolton appears to claim he carried the President over to the Peterson house and stayed. How could he do that if he was guarding the door back at the theater?

So, it appears that Bolton assisted Dr. Todd up to the Lincoln box, and then followed him up as the man identified by Clara Harris. After that the stories get muddled, but we have some corroboration for Bolton being there. That is a best guess possibility. At any rate Bolton was likely there in the box. The rest of his story needs close scrutiny.