CSI detectives and Abaham Lincoln

[63dot]

In US history we were told that the President was shot at Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. He shot the President with a handgun and then escaped from the the scene of the crime. He was later caught and in a gun battle with authorities, he got fatally wounded but was able to proudly confess that what he did, he did for his country. Several witnesses heard his confession. The rest is history.

In a possibly similar way, John F. Kennedy was shot by, at least one gunman, but before the shooter was able to confess to solely killing Kennedy, or if he was a "patsy", or if he even shot the fatal bullet, he too was gunned down. Today conspiracy theories abound.

What if John Wilkes Booth was not captured. Or what if he died eluding the authorities and never had a chance to give a confession. What if Booth was captured but never confessed. Would conspiracy theories abound and what would they say?

Thoughts?

 

[EricNau]

I have a feeling, despite the facts of history, that there are many conspiracy theories surrounding the Lincoln assassination.

Since when do conspiracists let facts get in the way?

 

[CWallace]

Since when do conspiracists let facts get in the way?

Facts are anathema to conspiracy theories.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

In US history we were told that the President was shot at Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. He shot the President with a handgun and then escaped from the the scene of the crime. He was later caught and in a gun battle with authorities, he got fatally wounded but was able to proudly confess that what he did, he did for his country. Several witnesses heard his confession. The rest is history.

In a possibly similar way, John F. Kennedy was shot by, at least one gunman, but before the shooter was able to confess to solely killing Kennedy, or if he was a "patsy", or if he even shot the fatal bullet, he too was gunned down. Today conspiracy theories abound.

What if John Wilkes Booth was not captured. Or what if he died eluding the authorities and never had a chance to give a confession. What if Booth was captured but never confessed. Would conspiracy theories abound and what would they say?

Thoughts?

There were other assassination attempts that same evening, for example, on a member of Lincoln's cabinet, Seward (which didn't succeed). The real tragedy with Lincoln's murder was (like Hamlet), not that he was killed, but that he was murdered as he had come into his greatness. The uncertain and somewhat ungainly man who assumed office in 1861 was not the moral and political giant of 1865, who had grown into the role and tried to cultivate a generous vision for the future, not least for the conquered and defeated Confederacy.
Cheers