Does anyone know...?

[Steve]

(09-18-2017 10:04 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Thanks, John. Although I still tend to believe the kidnapping plot was real, I certainly grant that you make some excellent points in the pages of your book that you cited. Kudos.

I will ask just one thing. You give credence to the testimony of Mrs. E. W. McClermont. She maintained that she overheard Booth, Herold, and Atzerodt having a conversation on a Washington street in April 1864 (an entire year prior to the assassination).

She claimed that she was standing only a few feet from the men. And she overheared them talking and testified as follows:

"Then I heard the President's name mentioned; one of the men spoke of his coming from the Soldier's Home; then I heard them mention the word "telescope rifle." One of these answered and said "His wife and child will be along."' Another replied, "It makes no difference; if necessary, they too could be got rid of." At this I turned, and one of them saw I was looking at them; they ceased conversation and walked on the avenue."

I have a couple of questions. First, doesn't Mrs. McClermont's testimony meet the legal definition of hearsay? And, second and more importantly, do you really think Booth and boys were so stupid as to have a conversation like this on a public street only a few feet from a total stranger who could hear what they were saying? Does this even make sense?

That's impossible Booth was in New Orleans 1 April 1864 - 9 April 1864 (where he had been performing since early March) and was in Boston from 13 April 1864 - 30 April 1864 (where he continued to perform throughout the whole month of May). Booth's method of transport to Boston is unknown. Art Loux speculated he went up the Mississippi and then traveled to Boston by rail. But even if he didn't, I don't think he would've passed through Washington DC.