I gave up following the Neff theory after awhile, but I believe that I am correct that both Mr. Hall and Ed Steers searched in vain to prove that Andrew Potter and his brother even existed.
I talked with Ray Neff once when I was researching Conger, and I think I've mentioned this before but when he said to me "what William Hanchett did to Otto Eisenschiml was terrible" or words to that effect, that told me all I needed to know about Neff. I think much of his determination to have proof for his theories came about after he supposedly found Lafayette Baker's cipher message. At that point he began to believe what he had found and constantly was on the search for material to bolster his position. In the end one of two things happened. Either someone took advantage of Neff and provided him with papers that were forgeries or he did it himself for reasons known only to him. Either way it doesn't speak too highly of his work and/or reputation.
Best
Rob
Abraham Lincoln is the only man, dead or alive, with whom I could have spent five years without one hour of boredom.
--Ida M. Tarbell
I want the respect of intelligent men, but I will choose for myself the intelligent.
Well said, Rob. I often found it somewhat unusual that both Eisenschiml and Neff were chemists, not trained historians. IMO, one told a lie and the other swore to it.
(05-13-2013, 11:33 AM)Laurie Verge Wrote: Well said, Rob. I often found it somewhat unusual that both Eisenschiml and Neff were chemists, not trained historians. IMO, one told a lie and the other swore to it.
scldrgnfjy Re. Post 26. Who was Enoch Mason.....? He was on detached duty in King George Co, VA in 1865 and was on the Ferry Boat when Booth crossed the Rappahannock. Full name Enoch Welford Mason.
B 1844, D 1922. M Mary Belle Simpson 1868 and had 3 girls and 1 boy. buried in St. John's Episcopal Church Yard in King George.. The Mason family was very active in Confederate clandestine activity.
For those of you who have had or are having difficulty with Come Retribution, read Bill Richter's, "Last Confederate Heroes," which makes use of the thesis of Come Retribution and explains all in an enjoyable and easy to digest format.
Available for order from the Surratt House Museum book list.
I agree with Betty. My family thinks I'm a bit off. For the last several (maybe a little more than several) years, I have read almost exclusively books on the Lincoln Assassination. For me to go far afield, I read LCH at the suggestion of Rick. I really went far by reading "historical fiction", which really is so well done and close to the historical bone. I found it very easy to visual many of the scenes in the book.
