Michael Murphy’s Reviews > Chasing Lincoln's Killer > Status Update

The hunt for lincolns killer is now over. Booth was prepared to go down in flames as the soldiers attempted to smoke him out of the barn. However, before he could let himself die in flames, a soldier shot him through the barn walls, yet his wounds were mortal and died that day (S)

Booth is now corned. He was sleeping in Garretts barn when the military showed up and Garrett gave up their cover in the tobacco barn. Herold gave himself up with out a fight but Booth is saying he'd rather die than get captured. He is armed and stuck, i think he's going to shoot himself if he really is as loyal to the cause as he says he is. (S and P)

Still, they are going around and telling people who they are by name. Except this time, Herold even introduced himself to some confederate soldiers as lincolns assassin! How have they not been caught by now. I didn't know it lasted this long, 9 days. The reward is $140,000 I'm surprised that no one has chosen the money over loyalty. (F S)

How did they end up traveling the wrong direction down the river, there's only two ways a river can go and it was even marked in their compass which direction they should've been heading. A

Given that now Lincolns and surratts assassins have been named, I think it won't be long before booth and Seward get captured. They have run into a lot of people along the way and most likely will be remembered. How come they are arresting everyone who was at the scene, unless they use the word arrested more loosely back then (S & A)

There is a lot of very minute details put into the book, such as the exact second Lincoln passed away. Are these facts accurate, given this book is nonfiction? I think the hunt Is going to end in less than a day. It's Easter Sunday, and I don't think they'll make it to that Monday. (A and P)

Booth is camping out in a fellow confederates house. Unbeknownst to the welcoming homeowner, they're on the run from the military. Right now they're ahead of the news of the assassination, but I think that while they're sleeping. Someone is going to knock on Dr. Samuels door and he's going to give up booths cover. (S & P)

I'm very surprised by the level of far reaching communication for the time. Within a matter of hours, people from many miles away had heard the news and came to the scene of the crime. Lincoln is being kept alive which is also very surprising given the time period since he was shot in the head. I think the temporary war station is going to turn into a riot given the increasing crowd. (P, S, F)

They speak of the event in the book as something everyone knew would be historical at the time. I guess it makes sense but when you think about most of the time you don't know history is being made. It's too far to carry him to the hate house and any travel will surely kill the president, I think he's going to pass in the theater (P and F)

A surgeon has finally come to the side of Lincoln's seemingly lifeless body. The book went into detail about what the doctor had performed to try and keep him alive and I'm surprised by the knowledge they had back then. However I'm pretty sure they can't to much seeing the gunshot went right through his brain. (F and P)