Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination

[LincolnMan]

I was listening to the book on the way to work this morning- did I hear correctly that Booth had performed in Our American Cousin at least 14 times previous to the night of April 14th? I don't think I've ever heard that before.

[Tom Bogar]

Bill, I took that from both Gordon Samples' Lust for Fame and Art Loux's JWB Day by Day. I have to admit it surprised me as well.

Tom

[LincolnMan]

Thanks Tom. It's amazing really. I wonder if he performed in any of those with Laura Keene?

[brtmchl]

I had just gotten to that part as well Bill. I had the same reaction as you. It seems eerily predestined.

[Anita]

No wonder Booth had the timing down so well. What part did he play?

[Tom Bogar]

(02-01-2014 05:00 PM)Anita Wrote:  No wonder Booth had the timing down so well. What part did he play?

That I didn't find out, but I understand that Terry Alford will reveal it (among other wonderful new material) in his forthcoming Fortune's Fool bio of Booth.

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(02-01-2014 12:31 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Thanks Tom. It's amazing really. I wonder if he performed in any of those with Laura Keene?

Not that I ever discovered. That would be too eerie (and certainly would have been outed before now). He did, however, perform in it in December 1859 in Richmond the same week that the Marsh Juvenile Troupe, that Jeannie and Maggie Gourlay were in, were performing at the same theater.

[LincolnMan]

Tom: the book continues to reveal new things for me. I had not known about the costume issue with John Matthews- and how Harry Hawk had "suspected" him because of it. That tid bit further illuminates how Matthews must have been completely terrified that he might be implicated in the murder.

[Tom Bogar]

(02-02-2014 07:42 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Tom: the book continues to reveal new things for me. I had not known about the costume issue with John Matthews- and how Harry Hawk had "suspected" him because of it. That tid bit further illuminates how Matthews must have been completely terrified that he might be implicated in the murder.

I know. Even in 1878 he told the New York Herald, “I get a touch of the throat disease [i.e., hanging] whenever I think of it."

[LincolnMan]

Tom & Forum members: was Booth what we would call a "bully?"
I'm thinking how he threatened to intentionally implicate others if they didn't go along with his plans/demands.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Bill, good question. Although his behavior, means and actions are the same used for bullying, the purpose seems to me a decisive difference.

This is how bullying is defined (on Wikipedia):
"Bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively impose domination over others. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception, by the bully or by others, of an imbalance of social or physical power."

I read that 15 states have defined bullying among school children in their state laws (we don't have anywhere). Colorado's state law e.g. defines bullying among school children as “any written or verbal expression,or physical act or gesture,or a pattern thereof,that is intended to cause distress upon one or more students."

I think the decisive point is the paramount purpose of making others "go along with his plans/demands", his purpose is not solely to "demonstrate power" or "cause others distress" (possibly a by-purpose though). As I understand it, bullying mostly lacks other purposes than the latter ones. Thus Booth's behavior wouldn't match the definition of "bullying".

My question (that arose while thinking about Bill's): Did JWB have "real" friends/intimates, or was he rather a "lone wolf"?

[Gene C]

I think Booth had real friends. He was good looking, had some talent, a good income, from a famous family, and only 27. He seemed to make friends easily. Probably the type of guy you'd like to go to a ball game with, but don't want him dating your sister.

I don't know if he was a bully, but he certainly was manipulative.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Gene, I meant from his point of view. I don't doubt others were willing to be his friends, but did he let others come real close?

[J. Beckert]

Booth bunked with a young man (I can't remember his name) in Pennsylvania during his oil speculation time there and they were said to have become fast friends in short order. Booth, fresh off his month long run in Boston, was said to be seen often in the man's company and told him he insisted on paying for all their "fun", as he was wealthy and the man only worked "for a salary". In this last period of his life when he was free to be himself, there are many stories about the relationships he had there. Although some found him strange, an interesting remembrance was Booth never laughed. One man stated the heartiest joke would only get a smile from him.

[HerbS]

I feel that Booth was a slick,manipulative,bully! He must have felt that woman were his prize and conquest! It would be interesting to look into the background of these people.Were they,weak,insecure,spineless,or did they lack an ego and selfworth?

[L Verge]

Or were they normal people committed to a cause? Hundreds of thousands of other Americans on both sides went to war to protect their beliefs, and they knew that it would mean that they had to kill in order to do that. Many soldiers killed far more people than Booth did (or intended to do). What does that say of them?