What if Booth Escaped?

[J. Beckert]

I think so, Roger. Booth was basically a transient since 1860, travelling for his career and never really having a home. I don't think his father would have seen him very much. The rest of his family didn't share his political thoughts and I don't think his father's opinion would have swayed him.

[L Verge]

His father had threatened the life of Andrew Jackson, so he had a "role model" there. I also suspect that Wilkes would have competed with his father as well as Edwin, if Junius had lived -- and that included fame no matter what. And finally, I think Lincoln's policies would have gone against the grain of Booth the Elder also. I wonder how much of Edwin's loyalty to the Union was based on his friendships (and entree into the social world) of the richer abolitionists like the Howes?

[Thomas Thorne]

I think JWB lacked the required discipline and modesty to to do nothing that would draw attention to himself in the decades of foreign exile he faced after a successful escape. JWB made no effort at disguise and expected public adulation from cheering Confederates.

An unsurprising outcome would have been betrayal by an abandoned lover or retribution from her male relatives.
Tom

[wsanto]

Booth was already having trouble getting cooperation from confederate sympathizer's in sothern Maryland and northern Virginia. He could barely get in the house of Samual Cox for some food but no one wanted to give him lodging. He fooled the Garret's for a day or so but got kicked out to the tobacco farm when the they became suspicious.

I think he would have had a hard time getting all the way to Mexico without better support from the South. The remnants of the Confederate army would have quickly turned him in as well I believe.

[Jim Garrett]

Booth was already having trouble getting cooperation from confederate sympathizer's in sothern Maryland and northern Virginia. He could barely get in the house of Samual Cox for some food but no one wanted to give him lodging. He fooled the Garret's for a day or so but got kicked out to the tobacco farm when the they became suspicious.

I think he would have had a hard time getting all the way to Mexico without better support from the South. The remnants of the Confederate army would have quickly turned him in as well I believe.

Welcome to the symposium. Your points are well taken. The Federal government would never ever stop searching for a Presidential assassin. Anyone found assisting Booth would have felt the full wrath of the government.

The government had their man in relatively short order (12 days). If it had gone longer, I bet they would not have been so "selective" in their prosecution of civilians giving aid.

[MaddieM]

Maybe Booth didn't want to escape. Perhaps he thought right up to the last moment, he might be hero in some way. Perhaps he wanted to go on trial, the ultimate platform for staging his ego. He couldn't just give himself up easily...where's the drama in that?

[Jim Garrett]

Well he certainly went out in a blaze!!!

[Gene C]

He was all fired up!

[LincolnMan]

Craig: you're bringing back memories with that "man of a 1000 faces" reference-haven't heard that in a long time. Most people would have no idea what you're talking about.

[Hess1865]

Most people might think of Lon Chaney Jr., who played the 'Wolfman' in the popular horror movie

or think Lon was realted to former VP Cheney!!

[LincolnMan]

Was Lon Chaney Jr. the Phantom of the Opera? I remember reading that some theatergoers had heart attacks when he unmasked himself in the movie.

[Jim Page]

Was Lon Chaney Jr. the Phantom of the Opera? I remember reading that some theatergoers had heart attacks when he unmasked himself in the movie.

Ho, Bill--

It was his Chaney Junior's dad who was the Man of 1,000 Faces. Jimmy Cagney did a movie of the senior Chaney's life by that name.

Chaney Junior had a tragic life; the story of his rejection by his mother is enough to make you cry.

--Jim

[Craig Hipkins]

Craig: you're bringing back memories with that "man of a 1000 faces" reference-haven't heard that in a long time. Most people would have no idea what you're talking about.

Bill,

Lon Chaney Sr. is one of my favorites. It is too bad that he did not live to see the era of the "talkies." He only made one movie with sound the year that he died. Chaney Sr. was the phantom of the opera (1925) There is actually a color version of this movie that I have, although most of it is in black and white. Back in the days of the silent movies they would have organs in the theatres to establish effect. My great-grandmother was one of those that would play. I am sure that she played for a lot of Chaney's movies.

Craig

[LincolnMan]

You guys are right! When I woke up this morning I realized it was Lon Chaney Sr. who was the "Phanthom" -not Jr.! Funny how a good night's rest can bring clarification.

[Gene C]

Brad Meltzer strikes again. Fox News is going downhill.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2760090563001...in-a-barn/