What do you think?
Rate this book
The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth (Annotated and Illustrated): Or The First True Account of Lincoln's Assassination
This book was published in 1907.
"Or the First True Account of Lincoln's Assassination Containing a Complete Confession by Booth Many Years After the Crime Giving in Full Detail the Plans, Plot and Intrigue of the Conspirators, and the Treachery of Andrew Johnson, then Vice-President of the United States Written for the Corrections of History".
From the Preface:
In the preparation of this book I have neither spared time or money, since I became satisfied that John Wilkes Booth was not killed, as has been supposed, at the Garrett home in Virginia, on the 26th day of April, 1865, and present this volume of collated facts, which I submit for the correction of history, respecting the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, and the death or escape of John Wilkes Booth.
Personally, I know nothing of President Lincoln, and knew nothing of John Wilkes Booth until my meeting with John St. Helen, at my home in Texas, in the year 1872.
The picture which John St. Helen left with me for the future identification of himself in his true name and personality, was first identified by Gen. D. Dana, of Lubec, Maine, as John Wilkes Booth, January 17, 1898.
The second time by Junius Brutus Booth, the third, of Boston, Mass., (he being the oldest living nephew of John Wilkes Booth), on the 21st day of February, 1903, at Memphis, Tenn.
The third time by the late Joe Jefferson (the world's famous Rip Van Winkle), at Memphis, Tennessee, on the 14th day of April, 1903, just thirty-eight years to a day from the date of the assassination of President Lincoln. I here make mention of
this identification because of its importance. Among the personal acquaintances of John Wilkes Booth none would know him better than Mr. Jefferson, who was most closely associated with him for several years, both playing together on the same stage. I know of no man whose knowledge of Booth is more to be trusted, or whose words of identification will carry more weight to the world at large. While there are many other important personages equally to be relied upon that have identified his pictures there is none other so well known to the general public, having identified the picture taken of John St. Helen, in 1877, as being that of John Wilkes Booth thus establishing the fat of actual physical proof that John Wilkes Booth was living in 1872, when I met him under the name of John St. Helen, as also when he had his picture taken and left with me in the late winter er early spring of 1878, twelve years after the assassination of President Lincoln.
It is well in this connection to call attention to other physical proofs of the identification of John Wilkes Booth by referring to the deformed right thumb, just where it joined the hand, and the mis-matched brows, his right brow being arched and unlike the left. The deformity of the right thumb was caused by its having been crushed in the cogs of the machinery used for the hoisting of a stage curtain. The arched brow was caused by Booth being accidentally cut by McCullum with a saBre while they were at practice as the characters of Richard and Richmond, the point of McCullum 's sword cutting a gash through the right brow, which had to be stitched up, and in healing became arched. And especially attention is called to the identity of these marks in his pictures, more particularly the one at the age of 64, taken of him while he was dead and lying in the morgue. During life Booth carried a small cane between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand to conceal that defect; observe this cane in his hand, in the picture of him at the age of 27. These physical marks on Booth's body settle without argument his identity.
"Or the First True Account of Lincoln's Assassination Containing a Complete Confession by Booth Many Years After the Crime Giving in Full Detail the Plans, Plot and Intrigue of the Conspirators, and the Treachery of Andrew Johnson, then Vice-President of the United States Written for the Corrections of History".
From the Preface:
In the preparation of this book I have neither spared time or money, since I became satisfied that John Wilkes Booth was not killed, as has been supposed, at the Garrett home in Virginia, on the 26th day of April, 1865, and present this volume of collated facts, which I submit for the correction of history, respecting the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, and the death or escape of John Wilkes Booth.
Personally, I know nothing of President Lincoln, and knew nothing of John Wilkes Booth until my meeting with John St. Helen, at my home in Texas, in the year 1872.
The picture which John St. Helen left with me for the future identification of himself in his true name and personality, was first identified by Gen. D. Dana, of Lubec, Maine, as John Wilkes Booth, January 17, 1898.
The second time by Junius Brutus Booth, the third, of Boston, Mass., (he being the oldest living nephew of John Wilkes Booth), on the 21st day of February, 1903, at Memphis, Tenn.
The third time by the late Joe Jefferson (the world's famous Rip Van Winkle), at Memphis, Tennessee, on the 14th day of April, 1903, just thirty-eight years to a day from the date of the assassination of President Lincoln. I here make mention of
this identification because of its importance. Among the personal acquaintances of John Wilkes Booth none would know him better than Mr. Jefferson, who was most closely associated with him for several years, both playing together on the same stage. I know of no man whose knowledge of Booth is more to be trusted, or whose words of identification will carry more weight to the world at large. While there are many other important personages equally to be relied upon that have identified his pictures there is none other so well known to the general public, having identified the picture taken of John St. Helen, in 1877, as being that of John Wilkes Booth thus establishing the fat of actual physical proof that John Wilkes Booth was living in 1872, when I met him under the name of John St. Helen, as also when he had his picture taken and left with me in the late winter er early spring of 1878, twelve years after the assassination of President Lincoln.
It is well in this connection to call attention to other physical proofs of the identification of John Wilkes Booth by referring to the deformed right thumb, just where it joined the hand, and the mis-matched brows, his right brow being arched and unlike the left. The deformity of the right thumb was caused by its having been crushed in the cogs of the machinery used for the hoisting of a stage curtain. The arched brow was caused by Booth being accidentally cut by McCullum with a saBre while they were at practice as the characters of Richard and Richmond, the point of McCullum 's sword cutting a gash through the right brow, which had to be stitched up, and in healing became arched. And especially attention is called to the identity of these marks in his pictures, more particularly the one at the age of 64, taken of him while he was dead and lying in the morgue. During life Booth carried a small cane between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand to conceal that defect; observe this cane in his hand, in the picture of him at the age of 27. These physical marks on Booth's body settle without argument his identity.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1907
57 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Finis L. Bates
7 books1 followerAmerican Lawyer.
Bates is mostly known for his book "The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth" in which he claimed that John Wilkes Booth was not killed by Union Army, escaped and lived for many years under alluded names.
Henry Ford's The Dearborn Independent published multiple articles on Booth & Lincoln by Bates.
Bates is mostly known for his book "The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth" in which he claimed that John Wilkes Booth was not killed by Union Army, escaped and lived for many years under alluded names.
Henry Ford's The Dearborn Independent published multiple articles on Booth & Lincoln by Bates.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 15, 2011
Bates has one incredible imagination. He recounts stuff as "fact" when the facts are just the opposite. Yes, conspiracy theorists have grabbed onto this myth for the past 100+ years. The grammar is horrible and the facts are just plain wrong. Unless you are looking for the conspiracy theory - leave this book alone. Not worth the read.
January 5, 2011
Having seen the Brad Meltzer's "Decoded" episode on John Wilkes Booth, I found this old book at Google Books and thought I'd give it a try. Published in 1907, the writing takes some getting used to, but it does give you fuel for thought.
March 26, 2020
The ravings of a mad man.
August 9, 2017
Food for thought...
May 14, 2025
Badly wrote nonsense . Don't waste your time.
May 5, 2020
Great read
January 8, 2019
This book is fascinating. The author rambles on a lot giving extra details where I didn't find them necessary and repeats certain passages a lot. Very compelling. Great storytelling, lots of good evidence, sometimes slow but picks up fast too. A must-read for all conspiracy fanatics and history buffs.
February 19, 2013
Loved it! Was turned on to it after watching Brad Meltzler's Decoded!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews