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The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth
It was reported that John Wilkes Booth, the killer of Abraham Lincoln, was shot dead in a barn near Port Royal.
But perhaps this story should be questioned, perhaps it is not true at all…
In 1872, seven years after Booth was supposedly killed, Finis L. Bates met a man who called himself John St. Helen.
After befriending and gaining the confidence of this man Bates came into knowledge which would completely contradict all previous facts about one of most famous assassinations in history.
For John St. Helen was not a simple shopkeeper living in Texas, instead he was the actor turned assassin John Wilkes Booth.
Bates traveled the breadth of the country gaining evidence to support his argument that Booth did not die in a barn, but instead many years later.
He built a picture of Booth’s life, questioning those who knew him before and after the event to demonstrate that St. Helen and Booth were the same man.
Published forty-two years after the murder of Lincoln and four years after St. John’s death, The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth is a fascinating account of what was possibly the greatest deception in history,
Finis L. Bates was a Memphis, Tennessee, lawyer and author of The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth. This book was published in 1907 and Bates died in 1923.
But perhaps this story should be questioned, perhaps it is not true at all…
In 1872, seven years after Booth was supposedly killed, Finis L. Bates met a man who called himself John St. Helen.
After befriending and gaining the confidence of this man Bates came into knowledge which would completely contradict all previous facts about one of most famous assassinations in history.
For John St. Helen was not a simple shopkeeper living in Texas, instead he was the actor turned assassin John Wilkes Booth.
Bates traveled the breadth of the country gaining evidence to support his argument that Booth did not die in a barn, but instead many years later.
He built a picture of Booth’s life, questioning those who knew him before and after the event to demonstrate that St. Helen and Booth were the same man.
Published forty-two years after the murder of Lincoln and four years after St. John’s death, The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth is a fascinating account of what was possibly the greatest deception in history,
Finis L. Bates was a Memphis, Tennessee, lawyer and author of The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth. This book was published in 1907 and Bates died in 1923.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1907
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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.
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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