Changes

Ford’s Theater that night was holding a performance of ''Our American Cousin'', a comedy starring [[Laura Keene]] as a British [[dowager]] who believes that a visiting country bumpkin (played by [[Harry Hawk]]) is a millionaire.  Good Friday was usually a slow night for the theater, but the cast, excited that they would entertain the president, prepared to entertain a full house (TL 26, pg. 73).  The play was already in progress when the president arrived, and stopped when Lincoln was seen; the performers and audience rose and gave a standing ovation while the orchestra played “[[Hail to the Chief]]”.  Inside their box, decorated that night with flags by the son of the theater’s owner, they were seated.  Lincoln in a [[rocking chair]] on the far left, Mary in a chair next to him, and Major Rathbone and his fiancée on a small sofa to their right.  Guarding the box was to have been John F. Parker, a White House bodyguard and member of the Metropolitan Police.  Although there when the Lincolns arrived, he soon left his post, apparently intending to find a better seat to observe the play.  Parker’s act of dereliction of duty, added to a record of similar occurrences as well as drunkenness on duty, would prove beneficial to Booth.

Ford’s Theater that night was holding a performance of ''Our American Cousin'', a comedy starring [[Laura Keene]] as a British [[dowager]] who believes that a visiting country bumpkin (played by [[Harry Hawk]]) is a millionaire.  Good Friday was usually a slow night for the theater, but the cast, excited that they would entertain the president, prepared to entertain a full house (TL 26, pg. 73).  The play was already in progress when the president arrived, and stopped when Lincoln was seen; the performers and audience rose and gave a standing ovation while the orchestra played “[[Hail to the Chief]]”.  Inside their box, decorated that night with flags by the son of the theater’s owner, they were seated.  Lincoln in a [[rocking chair]] on the far left, Mary in a chair next to him, and Major Rathbone and his fiancée on a small sofa to their right.  Guarding the box was to have been John F. Parker, a White House bodyguard and member of the Metropolitan Police.  Although there when the Lincolns arrived, he soon left his post, apparently intending to find a better seat to observe the play.  Parker’s act of dereliction of duty, added to a record of similar occurrences as well as drunkenness on duty, would prove beneficial to Booth.

After a few drinks at Taltavul’s Star Saloon, Booth entered Ford’s Theater from the front and walked up the stairs behind the dress circle towards the president’s box.  Entering the first door, he slipped a wooden beam (which he had brought and hidden earlier in the day) under the door knob to prevent it from being opened, crept to the second door, and peered through a small hole, looking at the back of the chair Lincoln was sitting in.  He then opened it, and pulled out a single-shot Derringer pistol and a large dagger.

After a few drinks at Taltavul’s Star Saloon, Booth entered Ford’s Theater from the front and walked up the stairs behind the dress circle towards the president’s box, where Lincoln's counselor, Charles Forbes, admitted Booth to the box.  Entering the first door, he slipped a wooden beam (which he had brought and hidden earlier in the day) under the door knob to prevent it from being opened, crept to the second door, and peered through a small hole, looking at the back of the chair Lincoln was sitting in.  When the last seconds of 10:14 P.M. hits, he then opened it, and pulled out a single-shot Derringer pistol and a large dagger.

On the stage, Laura Keene was speaking her lines.

On the stage, a woman was speaking her lines.

:''”I am aware, Mr. Trenchard, that you are not used to the manners of polite society.”''

:''”I am aware, Mr. Trenchard, that you are not used to the manners of polite society.”''

Harry Hawk, as Trenchard:

Harry Hawk, as Trenchard:

While the audience reeled with laughter, a gunshot was heard in the box.  Then the audience looked up to see a young man leap out and land awkwardly on the stage, brandishing a knife, and shouting to the audience ''“Sic semper tyrannis!”'' before escaping across the stage.  Major Rathbone, his left arm bloodied from the dagger, leaned out of the box yelling “Stop that man!” to no avail.  Booth would exit the back of the building, mount his horse, and escape out of the city.

While the audience reeled with laughter, a gunshot was heard in the box.  Then the audience looked up to see a young man leap out and land awkwardly on the stage, brandishing a knife, and shouting to the audience ''“Sic semper tyrannis!”'' before escaping across the stage.  Major Rathbone, his left arm bloodied from the dagger, leaned out of the box yelling “Stop that man!” to no avail.  Booth would exit the back of the building, mount his horse, and escape out of the city.

Inside it was pandemonium.  Mary Lincoln had been screaming.  Charles A. Leale, a 23-year-old surgeon who was employed by the [[Army]] hospital and familiar with gunshot wounds, was in the audience that night and was the first doctor on the scene.  Running his hands through Lincoln’s hair, he discovered a half-inch hole in the back of his head, whereby Leale pushed his little finger in and removed a clot, relieving pressure on the brain.  Together with the assistance of another doctor, Charles S. Taft, they managed to get the president breathing on his own, but it was already obvious to them that the wound was fatal.

Inside it was pandemonium.  Mary Lincoln had been screaming.  Charles A. Leale, a 23-year-old surgeon who was employed by the [[Army]] hospital and familiar with gunshot wounds, was in the audience that night and was the first doctor on the scene.  Running his hands through Lincoln’s hair, he discovered a half-inch hole in the back of his head and he pushed his little finger in and removed a clot, relieving pressure on the brain.  Together with the assistance of two doctors, Doctor Albert King and Charles S. Taft, they managed to get the president breathing on his own, but when Laura Keene cradled Lincoln's head, it was already obvious to them that the wound was fatal.

The entourage carrying the mortally wounded President proceeded slowly down the staircase in Ford's Theatre and then exited to 10th Street. Dr. Leale described the events which followed:  

Seven men picked up the mortally wounded President, then proceeded slowly down the staircase in Ford's Theatre, and slowly out of the theater, where an angry mob was outside, along with onlookers, holding torches and weapons. Dr. Leale described the events which followed:  

:''"The crowd in the street completely obstructed the doorway and a captain, whose services proved invaluable all through the night, came to me, saying: "Surgeon, give me your commands and I will see that they are obeyed." I asked him to clear a passage to the nearest house opposite. He had on side arms and drew his sword. With the sword and word of command he cleared the way. We slowly crossed the street. It was necessary to stop several times to give me the opportunity to remove the clot of blood from the opening to the wound. A barrier of men had been formed to keep back the crowds on each side of an open space leading to the house. Those who went ahead reported that the house directly opposite the theatre was closed. I saw a man standing at the door of Mr. Petersen's house, diagonally opposite, holding a lighted candle in his hand and beckoning us to enter..."''  

:''"The crowd in the street completely obstructed the doorway and a captain, whose services proved invaluable all through the night, came to me, saying: "Surgeon, give me your commands and I will see that they are obeyed." I asked him to clear a passage to the nearest house opposite. He had on side arms and drew his sword. With the sword and word of command he cleared the way. We slowly crossed the street. It was necessary to stop several times to give me the opportunity to remove the clot of blood from the opening to the wound. A barrier of men had been formed to keep back the crowds on each side of an open space leading to the house. Those who went ahead reported that the house directly opposite the theatre was closed. I saw a man standing at the door of Mr. Petersen's house, diagonally opposite, holding a lighted candle in his hand and beckoning us to enter..."''  

Henry Safford, unlike the other boarders who went out that night, decided to spend the evening in the Petersen boarding house. In a 1903 letter, wrote:  

Henry Safford, unlike the other boarders who went out that night, decided to spend the evening in the Petersen boarding house. In a 1903 letter, wrote:  

:''"I had spent the evening reading in the front room when, about ten o'clock, hearing a disturbance outside, I went to the window and learned that Lincoln had been shot. I hastened down to the front door, and, while standing on the upper steps, the President was brought out of the theatre and into the street towards where I stood. Suddenly those carrying him seemed in doubt as to where they would take him. Quickly realizing the cause of their hesitation, although being alone in the house, I took the responsibility of crying out, "Bring him in here, Bring him in here", which invitation was immediately accepted and he was taken to the bedroom in the rear of the parlors and placed on a bed."''  

:''"I had spent the evening reading in the front room when, about ten o'clock, hearing a disturbance outside, I went to the window and learned that Lincoln had been shot. I hastened down to the front door, and, while standing on the upper steps, the President was brought out of the theatre and into the street towards where I stood. Suddenly those carrying him seemed in doubt as to where they would take him. Quickly realizing the cause of their hesitation, although being alone in the house, I took the responsibility of crying out, "Bring him in here, Bring him in here", which invitation was immediately accepted and he was taken to the bedroom in the rear of the parlors and placed on a bed."''  

Mrs. Lincoln was escorted across the street by Major Rathbone, who had been bleeding severely from the knife wound in his arm.  At the door to the Petersen House he collapsed due to loss of blood .  

Mrs. Lincoln was escorted across the street by Major Rathbone, who had been bleeding severely from the knife wound in his arm.  At the door to the Petersen House he collapsed due to loss of blood some time at midnight.  

Mrs. Lincoln was joined by Elizabeth Dixon, a close friend of hers and Miss Harris, Rathbone's fiancée. Mary stayed in the Petersen House for the entire night. George and Helga Francis, who rented the front rooms were asked to go downstairs for the evening.  

Mrs. Lincoln was joined by Elizabeth Dixon, a close friend of hers and Miss Harris, Rathbone's fiancée. Mary stayed in the Petersen House for the entire night. George and Helga Francis, who rented the front rooms were asked to go downstairs for the evening.  

[[Image:Lewis Powell.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Lewis Thornton Powell, aka Lewis Paine]]  

[[Image:Lewis Powell.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Lewis Thornton Powell, aka Lewis Paine]]  

[[File:450johnsurratt2.png|right|200px|thumb|John Surratt]]  

[[File:450johnsurratt2.png|right|200px|thumb|John Surratt]]  

At the same time that Booth fired his shot, a knock occurred on the door of William Seward’s home.  William Bell, a black servant, opened the door and encountered a large, baby-faced man with a hat pulled down far enough to conceal one eye.  The man claimed to have a delivery for Seward, claiming the package contained medicine from Dr. Tullio Verdi.  The doctor, the man claimed, had ordered him to deliver it to Seward personally.

Minutes early at 10:10 P.,M., the same time that Booth prepared his mission to shoot at Lincoln by making his way to the box, a knock occurred on the door of William Seward’s home.  William Bell, a black waiter, opened the door and encountered a large, baby-faced man with a hat pulled down far enough to conceal one eye.  The man claimed to have a delivery for Seward, claiming the package contained medicine from Dr. Tullio Verdi.  The doctor, the man claimed, had ordered him to deliver it to Seward personally.

The delivery man would not enter, or so Bell had ordered, but instead the man, Louis Paine, forced his way in anyway, started up the stars, but was stopped by son Frederick Seward, who ordered him out the door.  Paine pulled his pistol and pulled the trigger; when it misfired, he leapt at Frederick, beating him with the pistol until his skull fractured in several places; Frederick would continue to fight until he collapsed by the bedroom door where the Secretary of State lay recovering from a carriage accident the week before.  Bell had already left the house, screaming “Murder, murder!” and headed to a nearby general’s office to raise the alarm.

The delivery man would not enter, or so Bell had ordered, but instead the man, Lewis Powell, forced his way in anyway, started up the stars, but was stopped by son Frederick Seward, who ordered him out the door.  Powell pulled his pistol and pulled the trigger; when it misfired, he leapt at Frederick, beating him with the pistol until his skull fractured in several places, which caused him to collapse by the bedroom door where the Secretary of State lay recovering from a carriage accident the week before.  Bell had already left the house, screaming “Murder, murder!” and headed to a nearby general’s office to raise the alarm.

Daughter Fanny Seward, at her father’s bedside, was shoved out of the way, and Paine went to work with his Bowie knife, opening the secretary’s right cheek and the left side of his neck; the wounds would have been much worse had Seward not been wearing a metal neck brace for his previous injuries.  By then, two more people who tried to stop Paine had been sliced open, as Paine was loudly proclaiming “I’m mad! I’m mad!” as he fled the house, leaving four people bloodied, but not dead.  The main target, Secretary Seward, would recover and live seven more years.   

At her father's bedside, Daughter Fanny Seward was shoved out of the way and Powell went to work with his Bowie knife, opening the secretary’s right cheek and the left side of his neck; the wounds would have been much worse had Seward not been wearing a metal neck brace for his previous injuries.  By then, two more people who tried to stop Powell had been sliced open as he fled the house, leaving four people bloodied, but not dead.  The main target, Secretary Seward, would recover and live seven more years.   

George Atzerodt, increasingly unhappy about his role to kill Andrew Johnson, spent most of his time in his room at the Kirkwood House, one floor below where the Vice President was staying.  10:15 p.m. was the assigned time to carry out his mission.  He let the time come and go as he made his way to the bar, preferring to down shot after shot of [[whisky|whiskey]].

George Atzerodt, increasingly unhappy about his role to kill Andrew Johnson, spent most of his time in his room at the Kirkwood House, one floor below where the Vice President was staying.  10:15 p.m. was the assigned time to carry out his mission.  He let the time come and go as he made his way to the bar, preferring to down shot after shot of [[whisky|whiskey]].

At 4:00 a.m. on April 15, they arrived at the house of Dr. Samuel Mudd. Booth received medical treatment for his injured leg and both men were extended hospitality by the Mudds. Early that afternoon Booth and Herold headed into the nearby Zekiah swamp and were guided by Oswell Swann, a free black. About midnight, Swann brought the two men to their next destination, the home of southern sympathizer, Colonel Samuel Cox, who provided them with food for the next four days. On April 20, Thomas A. Jones, Cox's adopted son, led them to the Potomac River. Instead of crossing the river to Virginia, they headed north on the Potomac and landed on the Maryland side at the home of southern sympathizer Peregrin Davis. The next night, they successfully crossed the river to Virginia, where they stayed at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Quesenberry, a woman who was well connected to the Confederate spy network. Thomas Harbin, an acquaintance of Booth and originally part of the plan to capture President Lincoln, took them to William Bryant and then to Dr. Richard Stuart's home. Stuart, however, did not allow the two men to remain at his home. Booth and Herold went to the cabin of William Lucas, another free black man, forcibly removing Lucas and his wife from the cabin for the night.

At 4:00 a.m. on April 15, they arrived at the house of Dr. Samuel Mudd. Booth received medical treatment for his injured leg and both men were extended hospitality by the Mudds. Early that afternoon Booth and Herold headed into the nearby Zekiah swamp and were guided by Oswell Swann, a free black. About midnight, Swann brought the two men to their next destination, the home of southern sympathizer, Colonel Samuel Cox, who provided them with food for the next four days. On April 20, Thomas A. Jones, Cox's adopted son, led them to the Potomac River. Instead of crossing the river to Virginia, they headed north on the Potomac and landed on the Maryland side at the home of southern sympathizer Peregrin Davis. The next night, they successfully crossed the river to Virginia, where they stayed at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Quesenberry, a woman who was well connected to the Confederate spy network. Thomas Harbin, an acquaintance of Booth and originally part of the plan to capture President Lincoln, took them to William Bryant and then to Dr. Richard Stuart's home. Stuart, however, did not allow the two men to remain at his home. Booth and Herold went to the cabin of William Lucas, another free black man, forcibly removing Lucas and his wife from the cabin for the night.

Unknown to Booth, the others in the conspiracy were rounded up within days.  Powell had hidden in a wooden lot near the Old Navy Bridge for three days after his attack on Seward; he was quickly arrested as he entered the Surratt boarding house pretending to be a laborer.  His small act further incriminated Mrs. Surratt, who was being led away at that time after her name came up from the many tips about Booth at her home.  Atzerodt was found in his cousin’s home on the 20th, sleeping off a drunken bout.  Spangler, O’Loughlin, and Arnold were already in jail by then.  John Surratt, scouting a Confederate prisoner of war camp near [[Elmira, New York]] when Lincoln was shot, found out he was the subject of a $25,000 reward for his arrest.  He quickly fled to [[Canada]], then disappeared.

Unknown to Booth, the others in the conspiracy were rounded up within days.  Powell had hidden in a wooden lot near the Old Navy Bridge for three days after his attack on Seward; he was quickly arrested as he entered the Surratt boarding house pretending to be a laborer.  His small act further incriminated Mrs. Surratt, who was being led away at that time after her name came up from the many tips about Booth at her home.  Atzerodt was found in his cousin’s home on the 20th, sleeping off a drunken bout.  Spangler, O’Laughlin, and Arnold were already in jail by then.  John Surratt, scouting a Confederate prisoner of war camp near [[Elmira, New York]] when Lincoln was shot, found out he was the subject of a $25,000 reward for his arrest.  He quickly fled to [[Canada]], then disappeared.

Dr. Mudd was arrested at his home on the 24th.  While in [[Bryantown]] on the 15th he had heard of the news of the assassination; he later told a cousin of his treating Booth in his home, but did not recognize him.  Federal authorities heard about the medical treatment; a search of the home revealed the boot Dr. Mudd had removed from Booth’s leg, and he was arrested.   

Dr. Mudd was arrested at his home on the 24th.  While in [[Bryantown]] on the 15th he had heard of the news of the assassination; he later told a cousin of his treating Booth in his home, but did not recognize him.  Federal authorities heard about the medical treatment; a search of the home revealed the boot Dr. Mudd had removed from Booth’s leg, and he was arrested.   

At first Booth refused to surrender, and about 4 a.m., the tobacco shed was set afire. The blaze allowed the soldiers to see Booth moving in the wooden building with a pistol and a rifle. It was at this point that Boston Corbett fired his own pistol, claiming later that it was to prevent Booth from killing more people (Corbett, a strange man who had castrated himself after a vision, would tell the world that God directed him to shoot Booth). Several soldiers dragged Booth, still alive, from the burning structure.  

At first Booth refused to surrender, and about 4 a.m., the tobacco shed was set afire. The blaze allowed the soldiers to see Booth moving in the wooden building with a pistol and a rifle. It was at this point that Boston Corbett fired his own pistol, claiming later that it was to prevent Booth from killing more people (Corbett, a strange man who had castrated himself after a vision, would tell the world that God directed him to shoot Booth). Several soldiers dragged Booth, still alive, from the burning structure.  

Booth had been shot in the neck. As he was laid on a wooden porch, he was found to be paralyzed from the neck down and whispering "tell my mother I did it for my country.”  As he lay dying, he asked that his hands, so instrumental to his acting skills, be held up to his face.  “Useless…useless” was his last words.

Booth had been shot in the neck. As he was laid on a wooden porch, he was found to be paralyzed from the neck down and whispering "tell my mother I did it for my country.”  As he lay dying, he asked that his hands, so instrumental to his acting skills, be held up to his face.  “Useless…useless” was his last words. He died at about 7:29 A.M. just 11 days and seven minutes after Abraham Lincoln's death.

==The funeral==

==The funeral==

*Brigadier General Joseph Holt (Judge Advocate and Recorder)

*Brigadier General Joseph Holt (Judge Advocate and Recorder)

The Commission convened in the Old Arsenal Penitentiary, where the conspirators had been housed several floors below (with the exception of Mrs. Surratt, the accused had previously been hooded, shackled, and locked in the holds of the ironclads ''Saugus'' and ''Montawk'', then anchored in the Potomac).  On May 9 they were brought before the Commission, where the charges were read, detailing conspiracy to kill the president, the vice-president, the secretary of state, and General Grant.  Paine was also charged with attempted assassination (Seward). They entered pleas of not guilty. When asked if they requested the services of attorneys, they all replied yes, but were given just two days to obtain them.  The attorneys were:

The Commission convened in the Old Arsenal Penitentiary, where the conspirators had been housed several floors below (with the exception of Mrs. Surratt, the accused had previously been hooded, shackled, and locked in the holds of the ironclads ''Saugus'' and ''Montawk'', then anchored in the Potomac).  On May 9 they were brought before the Commission, where the charges were read, detailing conspiracy to kill the president, the vice-president, the secretary of state, and General Grant.  Powell was also charged with attempted assassination (Seward). They entered pleas of not guilty. When asked if they requested the services of attorneys, they all replied yes, but were given just two days to obtain them.  The attorneys were:

*Thomas Ewing, Jr (Arnold, Spangler, Dr. Mudd,)

*Thomas Ewing, Jr (Arnold, Spangler, Dr. Mudd,)

*William E. Doster (Atzerodt, Powell)

*William E. Doster (Atzerodt, Powell)

*A photograph of Edwin Booth was circulated among government searchers as John Wilkes Booth.

*A photograph of Edwin Booth was circulated among government searchers as John Wilkes Booth.

*Grant declined the invitation to the play for mysterious reasons.

*Grant declined the invitation to the play for mysterious reasons.

It was these unexplainable facts that, according to Eisenschiml, led him to believe that Stanton himself had orchestrated the killing because he was opposed to Lincoln's terms for ending the war; that he was aligned with the Radical Republicans who wanted harsh terms for the South.  Stanton, apparently not wanting the killing to go awry, ordered Grant to New York; ordered Major Eckert to some other duty where he could use his services to protect the president; ordered a known drunkard and derelict to stand guard at the president's box, knowing he would abandon it.

It was these unexplained facts that, according to Eisenschiml, led him to believe that Stanton himself had orchestrated the killing because he was opposed to Lincoln's terms for ending the war; that he was aligned with the Radical Republicans who wanted harsh terms for the South.  Stanton, apparently not wanting the killing to go awry, ordered Grant to New York; ordered Major Eckert to some other duty where he could use his services to protect the president; ordered a known drunkard and derelict to stand guard at the president's box, knowing he would abandon it.

According to this scenario, Stanton's plans did go awry: they had shot the wrong man at the Garrett Farm on April 26.  Booth somehow got away (according to some accounts, lived on until his 90's, dying in [[Enid, Oklahoma]], only to have his body mummified and displayed in sideshows); in his place was a former Confederate soldier, James William Boyd, who bore somewhat of a resmblence to Booth.  In order to cover up that mistake, Stanton made it known that the body of Boyd on the ''Montawk'' was that of Booth.

According to this scenario, Stanton's plans did go awry: they had shot the wrong man at the Garrett Farm on April 26.  Booth somehow got away (according to some accounts, lived on until his 90's, dying in [[Enid, Oklahoma]], only to have his body mummified and displayed in sideshows); in his place was a former Confederate soldier, James William Boyd, who bore somewhat of a resemblance to Booth.  In order to cover up that mistake, Stanton made it known that the body of Boyd on the ''Montawk'' was that of Booth.

Eisenschiml's theory falls apart on closer examination.  Grant declined the invitation, not on Stanton's orders, but on advice from his wife, Julia.  Antipathy, not friendship, existed between Julia and Mary Lincoln, largely as a result of Mary's caustic temper; Julia for her part could not stand to be in the same room with her.  Parker's reason for leaving his post is not set; he was on record has having been reprimanded various times in his short service, but it was also entirely within Lincoln's character to tell the young man to go enjoy the play, assuming Lincoln did exactly that.  The only road used by Booth, the one across the Navy Yard Bridge, was open, as was every other road.  Passes were not needed as of April 9, by Lincoln's order.  As to Booth's double, the man known as Boyd was recorded to have died January 1, 1866, as attested by family members and a [[Tennessee]] newspaper.

Eisenschiml's theory falls apart on closer examination.  Grant declined the invitation, not on Stanton's orders, but on advice from his wife, Julia.  Antipathy, not friendship, existed between Julia and Mary Lincoln, largely as a result of Mary's caustic temper; Julia for her part could not stand to be in the same room with her.  Parker's reason for leaving his post is not set; he was on record has having been reprimanded various times in his short service, but it was also entirely within Lincoln's character to tell the young man to go enjoy the play, assuming Lincoln did exactly that.  The only road used by Booth, the one across the Navy Yard Bridge, was open, as was every other road.  Passes were not needed as of April 9, by Lincoln's order.  As to Booth's double, the man known as Boyd was recorded to have died January 1, 1866, as attested by family members and a [[Tennessee]] newspaper.

“We have advanced the Lincoln Assassination study more in one year then it has been advanced in the previous 112 years” wrote authors David Balsiger and Charles E. Sellier, Jr. in the preface of their 1977 book ''The Lincoln Conspiracy''.  Both authors claimed to have exposed a “massive cover-up by government officials from ever learning the real truth about the assassination,” similar, they stated, to government actions in [[John F. Kennedy]]’s assassination in 1963.  Balsiger and Sellier were able to discover the “truth” due to a reliance on primary-source documents and material overlooked or ignored by historians, one of which was the eighteen missing pages from Booth’s diary, which they said was found in the home of one of Stanton’s descendants.  

“We have advanced the Lincoln Assassination study more in one year then it has been advanced in the previous 112 years” wrote authors David Balsiger and Charles E. Sellier, Jr. in the preface of their 1977 book ''The Lincoln Conspiracy''.  Both authors claimed to have exposed a “massive cover-up by government officials from ever learning the real truth about the assassination,” similar, they stated, to government actions in [[John F. Kennedy]]’s assassination in 1963.  Balsiger and Sellier were able to discover the “truth” due to a reliance on primary-source documents and material overlooked or ignored by historians, one of which was the eighteen missing pages from Booth’s diary, which they said was found in the home of one of Stanton’s descendants.  

The questions they had raised in ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' were a repeat of the same questions posed by Eisenschiml some forty years before.  Readers were promised, as well as audiences for a simultaneously-released theatrical documentary film, that new evidence would be shown that would settle those questions once and for all.  But after all was said and done, after a media blitz for both the book and film, after the authors received honorary doctorates and the film a prestigious prize, the impact of ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' was less than expected.  Further complicating matters was the fact that no new evidence was ever presented by Balsiger and Sellier at all.  The most damning evidence against the claims presented in ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' was the revelation that few, if any, primary sources were used in their work; what they actually used were either copies or transcripts.  The missing Booth pages, which by the end of the 1970s had been established that they were never in the possession of Stanton’s descendents, much less known of by them, turned out to have been a 3,000 word transcript for which they had paid the “owner” some $6,500.  In the end, after being exposed for what it was by leading historians from both the ''Civil War Times'' Magazine and the [[Lincoln Historical Association]], all Balsiger and Sellier succeeded in doing was to bury Eisenschiml’s thesis once and for all. (Hanchett, pp. 226–233)

The questions they had raised in ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' were a repeat of the same questions posed by Eisenschiml some forty years before.  Readers were promised, as well as audiences for a simultaneously-released theatrical documentary film, that new evidence would be shown that would settle those questions once and for all.  But after all was said and done, after a media blitz for both the book and film, after the authors received honorary doctorates and the film a prestigious prize, the impact of ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' was less than expected.  Further complicating matters was the fact that no new evidence was ever presented by Balsiger and Sellier at all.  The most damning evidence against the claims presented in ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' was the revelation that few, if any, primary sources were used in their work; what they actually used were either copies or transcripts.  The missing Booth pages, which by the end of the 1970s had been established that they were never in the possession of Stanton’s descendants, much less known of by them, turned out to have been a 3,000 word transcript for which they had paid the “owner” some $6,500.  In the end, after being exposed for what it was by leading historians from both the ''Civil War Times'' Magazine and the [[Lincoln Historical Association]], all Balsiger and Sellier succeeded in doing was to bury Eisenschiml’s thesis once and for all. (Hanchett, pp. 226–233)

===Roman Catholic conspiracy===

===Roman Catholic conspiracy===