Who Really Killed Lincoln: Four Smoking Guns

After the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, suspicion fell on Confederate leaders, but the case against Jefferson Davis and other co-conspirators collapsed in 1865. In 1988, assassination historians discredited the simple conspiracy theory, stating that Booth was merely a pawn in the hands of more powerful men. In 1995, Tidwell strengthened the case against Confederate leaders, gaining acceptance by many experts. This work aims to remove any remaining doubt about the validity of the theory by describing four subplots in the overall plot to murder the President.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 August 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Immediately following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, suspicion naturally fell on Confederate leaders as being responsible for the great crime. However, the belief in their complicity faded when the case against Jefferson Davis and other unindicted co-conspirators collapsed at the trial of John Wilkes Booth's action team in May and June, 1865. The belief then hibernated for 123 years, during which period the prevailing wisdom was that Booth had acted with the help of no one other than his team, with the possible exception of Dr. Samuel Mudd and Mary Surratt.

In 1988, assassination historians James O. Hall, William A. Tidwell, and David Gaddy thoroughly discredited the simple conspiracy theory in their seminal work, Come Retribution. They held that the original suspicions were right after all. In 1995, Tidwell followed with a solo titled April 65, in which he strengthened the case against Confederate leaders. The authors' conclusions quickly gained acceptance by many experts in the field, including the author of this work, which is intended to remove any remaining doubt as to the validity of the theory.

To do so, it describes in detail four subplots in the overall plot to murder the President, subplots that demonstrate unequivocally that Booth was merely a pawn in the hands of far more powerful, influential, and purposeful men than he. These men were facing a catastrophe that they had fought for four long years to prevent, and they would stop at nothing to avert it. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was a pivotal moment in American history, and the belief in Confederate leaders' complicity in the crime has long been a subject of debate and speculation. However, the evidence presented in this work suggests that the original suspicions were correct, and that Booth was merely a pawn in a much larger and more complex plot.

The authors' conclusions are supported by a wealth of historical evidence, including eyewitness accounts, official records, and secret documents. They also draw on the expertise of other experts in the field, including historians, lawyers, and forensic scientists, to provide a comprehensive and convincing account of the events surrounding the assassination.

In conclusion, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln was a tragedy that shook the nation to its core. The belief in Confederate leaders' complicity in the crime has long been a subject of debate and speculation. However, the evidence presented in this work suggests that the original suspicions were correct, and that Booth was merely a pawn in a much larger and more complex plot. The authors' conclusions are supported by a wealth of historical evidence and the expertise of other experts in the field. It is hoped that this work will help to shed light on this important chapter in American history and to provide a clearer understanding of the events that led to the assassination.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399046817