Conspiracy Theories

[MaddieM]

I've followed the link from this site to this page...

http://rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln74.html

Interesting set of theories and each seem plausible.

My question is this.

Could the theory that the confederate higher ups have engineered the kidnap but when that failed JWB took it entirely upon himself to kill Lincoln without the 'knowledge' of those higher ups? That he did this right at the last minute, and lied to his fellow conspirators that he had received such orders in order to make them comply and go along with it?

[JMadonna]

I've followed the link from this site to this page...

http://rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln74.html

Interesting set of theories and each seem plausible.

My question is this.

Could the theory that the confederate higher ups have engineered the kidnap but when that failed JWB took it entirely upon himself to kill Lincoln without the 'knowledge' of those higher ups? That he did this right at the last minute, and lied to his fellow conspirators that he had received such orders in order to make them comply and go along with it?

The higher-ups had approved the assassination of Lincoln to be handled by the 'New York Crowd' in conjunction with the mining of the White House. It is probable that Booth took it upon himself to complete the mission when that mission failed.

[Laurie Verge]

I agree, Jerry (don't faint). With the fall of Richmond, Booth was cut off from his line of communications and became a loose cannon. This has been my line of thought for thirty+ years. As difficult as Come Retribution is to get through, it just is the one source that makes good sense to me. I see the whole plot as a military mission with "CIA" back-up until Richmond fell.

[Jenny]

I've never thought that Lincoln was assassinated due to a simple conspiracy consisting of ONLY John Wilkes Booth and his associates (that would be Theory #2 on Roger's page). Booth was definitely involved with "higher ups". My personal belief is that those "higher ups" were members of the Confederate Secret Service. Then Richmond fell, and like Laurie said, Booth "became a loose cannon." So I agree with Jerry and Laurie on this one.

[JMadonna]

I agree, Jerry (don't faint). With the fall of Richmond, Booth was cut off from his line of communications and became a loose cannon. This has been my line of thought for thirty+ years.

And yet for some reason you wont believe that with the fall of Richmond and no communication from that direction, that Booth originally intended to escape North until he broke his leg.

[L Verge]

Nope! IMO that broken leg was just one little fly in the jar of ointment. I will take a lot of heat for this, but I truly do not feel (and never have) that the broken leg was any big deal.

[MaddieM]

Nope! IMO that broken leg was just one little fly in the jar of ointment. I will take a lot of heat for this, but I truly do not feel (and never have) that the broken leg was any big deal.

Had infection set in? If it had, it would have been very painful. However, it seemed he was sprightly enough hopping around that barn. So what's your take on this? Or am I raking up past heated discussions?

---

I've followed the link from this site to this page...

http://rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln74.html

Interesting set of theories and each seem plausible.

My question is this.

Could the theory that the confederate higher ups have engineered the kidnap but when that failed JWB took it entirely upon himself to kill Lincoln without the 'knowledge' of those higher ups? That he did this right at the last minute, and lied to his fellow conspirators that he had received such orders in order to make them comply and go along with it?

The higher-ups had approved the assassination of Lincoln to be handled by the 'New York Crowd' in conjunction with the mining of the White House. It is probable that Booth took it upon himself to complete the mission when that mission failed.

But did he lie to his fellow conspirators? In American Brutus, it's implied they were all grievously manipulated by Booth.

[Gene C]

But did he lie to his fellow conspirators? In American Brutus, it's implied they were all grievously manipulated by Booth.

I think he lied. Arnold and O'Laughlen bailed on him when they learned the truth.

[Laurie Verge]

Maddie - Either Bainbridge or Ruggles stated later that they had seen Booth's leg and that it was in pretty bad shape by the time he crossed the Rappahannock. However, I don't recall the Garretts having said anything about the leg being unusually bad. Somewhere there is a comment about the poor job of splinting that Dr. Mudd had done, so maybe the leg got worse over time. I still don't think that changed anything. I would also suspect that the situation that he was in when surrounded by the troops and seeing the flames shoot up would have caused him to forget any pain in that leg. I have arthritis in both legs, but I think I would forget the pain of walking if my life were in danger.

As for the major manipulation theory set forth in American Brutus, I can't buy it. I see Booth as dangling carrots of adventure, money, and Southern patriotism in front of his gang in order to entice them into the capture scheme. Arnold and O'Laughlen bailed when Booth did not assure them of Confederate support. Powell, I think, was following orders from the higher-ups via Mosby; and Herold and Atzerodt were snookered in by the promise of adventure (Herold) and money (Atzerodt).