William Hanchett

[Dan Pearson]

I am hoping that some of my friends in the Lincoln assassination community can help me. I am wondering if Bill Hanchett is still at all active in writing and research on Lincoln topics. I know that a couple years ago Bill wrote a small piece regarding the C.A. Tripp notion that Lincoln and Speed may have been intimate partners, which appeared in the Lincoln Herald. I am hoping that someone could let me know if Bill is still active on any level, and whether you might have his email or snail mail address, so that I might try to get hold of him. A private note to my email notification might be most be appropriate. Thanks!

Dan Pearson

[BettyO]

Dan -

I've sent you a PM -

[Laurie Verge]

I was in e-mail touch with Bill last year when the wild fires were threatening San Diego, where he lives. He has had some health problems, which are to be expected since he must be close to or over 90 years old. He indicated that he was doing very little research and/or writing in the Lincoln assassination field - which is a shame because he was an integral part of the "old-timers" who contributed so much to our studies and who were willing to explore new avenues of thought.

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I meant to add that I can supply e-mail and snail addresses also, but Betty's should work.

[BettyO]

Laurie - please help Dan if you will....I don't have Bill's email/phone and I was going to call Ed Steers !


Thanks!

[Laurie Verge]

Will do - Dan, watch for a PM

[BettyO]

Thanks, Laurie!

[Rob Wick]

I had one experience with Bill Hanchett when I was working on my Conger series for the Carmi paper. I wanted to get some information from him, and so I finally was able to track down his phone number. I called him, told him who I was and what I was looking for, and he asked if he could call me back. He called my office in an attempt to make sure I was who I said I was, and then asked me to call him. We talked for about 10 minutes. He didn't have the information I was looking for, but he did warn me to not pay any attention to Ray Neff or Vaughn Shelton. I had the feeling that he thought as a reporter I had no sense of history, which I imagine he had his fill of in his active years. I have always admired him.

Best
Rob