The Reason Lincoln Had to Die

[Gene C]

(12-17-2018 04:24 PM)mikegriffith1 Wrote:  I just think this is a matter of being willing to use common sense and objectivity. People don’t “edit” their own diaries like this, nor do they remove a huge portion of its pages. Why can’t you guys just admit what most Americans readily discerned when the diary’s existence and missing pages became known?

Quote:Thank you for sharing that it was taken apart, that was new information to me. I believe it's irresponsible to denigrate Edwin Stanton based upon the selective, sometimes misleading information and speculation you have furnished.

“Selective”? “Selective”? I didn’t “select” the diary as an issue. Stanton made it an issue by suppressing its existence and by not insisting that it be entered into evidence at the conspiracy trial. If Stanton had handled the diary the way an honest, innocent Secretary of War would have handled it, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

As is well known, Stanton ruled the War Department with an iron hand and was an inveterate micromanager. No one would have dared to take it upon themselves to so severely tamper with the diary without Stanton’s consent.

Interesting you focus in on the word "Selective, as opposed to "misleading" and "speculation."

As Secretary of War who's predecessor was crooked, dealing with crooked government contractors, a few incompetent generals, during a Civil War when winning the war was not a given fact, Stanton would have to rule with an iron hand. As someone with a military background I am surprised you would even bring that up in the manner you have. And I agree, I don't think anyone would have tampered with the diary in Stanton's possession.

So why does Stanton supposedly remove a few pages in 1865 and then wait two more years to allegedly remove another 60+ pages?
It's a theory you support, why does he remove the pages, what evidence is there to show Stanton was involved in Lincoln's death?
And "missing evidence", such as the alleged missing diary pages, that no one has seen, is not evidence.

I'd also be interested to know, please inform us when it was noticed that more than 18 pages were missing from Booth's diary?

** Thanks Rob, I didn't know Holt had the diary.