Clara Harris and Mary Lincoln

[Steve]

Possible explanation/theory about the 16 April 1865 Harris/Mary Lincoln accounts in the New York Herald:

The Herald reporter didn't actually talk to Clara Harris or Mary Lincoln. The reporter talked to somebody who talked to Clara Harris at Petersen House. That would explain why there are "statements" from Clara and Mary but not from Maj. Rathbone. The reporter put too much faith in his source and concocted the statements to "scoop" other papers, wrongly figuring it would match closely enough when Clara's account would first become public. The reporter may have talked to audience member(s) who saw Hanscom head towards the box, put 2 and 2 together and come up with 22 instead of 4.

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Fake news, 1865 style!