THE ESCAPE AND SUICIDE OF JOHN WILKES BOOTH ~ Finis L Bates HC 1907 ILLUS

Description: THE ESCAPE AND SUICIDE OF JOHN WILKES BOOTHor the First True Account of Lincoln's Assassination Containing a Complete Confession by Booth Many Years After the CrimeGiving in Full Detail the Plans, Plot and Intrigue of the Conspirators, and the Treachery of Andrew Johnson, Then Vice-President of the United States by Finis L BatesIllustrated____________________________Hardcover no dust jacket; 309 pages; Size Approx. 5 3/4 X 7 3/4.Published by J. L. Nichols & Company; copyright 1907.Details: This is a scarce, first edition of this controversial book about John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, about how and when he died. Bates contended that "John Wilkes Booth escaped death, lived in hiding, and ultimately took his own life years later.""A foundational book for claims that John Wilkes Booth was not killed at the Garrett Farm following his assassination of Abraham Lincoln in April 1865."Finis Bates, an attorney in Memphis, took a new client by the name of John St. Helen in 1872. Five years later, on what he believed was his deathbed, St. Helen confessed to Bates that he was in fact John Wilkes Booth, and had escaped capture. He gave a startling amount of detail in this 'deathbed confession.' St. Helen ultimately recovered from this illness, after which he moved away from Memphis and Bates lost touch with him."In 1903 a man known as David E. George committed suicide in Enid, Oklahoma, whereupon a local clergyman claimed that Mr. George had confessed to him that he was actually John Wilkes Booth. Finis Bates got wind of this eerily familiar confession and went to Oklahoma to view the body. It was the same man Bates had known as John St. Helen in Memphis some 31 years earlier!"Bates now became fully convinced that George/St. Helen had indeed been John Wilkes Booth. He took custody of the body and had it embalmed. He then began the extensive research which resulted in this intriguing book. Bates and his 'Mummy of John Wilkes Booth' travelled the carnival and sideshow circuit displaying the body and hawking the book. Some 75,000 copies of the book were reportedly sold this way, mostly in the South. Despite that impressive number the book is scarce today, likely due to the poor quality of its manufacturing."The "poor quality of its manufacturing" is primarily that the paper aged and became subject to chipping easily at the edges. This copy, however, remains relatively sound with about 29 or 30 pages having a chip from the edge or corner tip.A fine addition for your bookshelf!Condition: A little wear at the extremities, spine is sun-faded, pages are age-toned and tending to chip easily at edges with about 30 chips, otherwise in good condition with a solid binding and clean pages. Note: The letter/number at the end of the title line for this listing is just an inventory code for locating the book. Free Domestic Economy Shipping! Check out my other items!Be sure to add me to your favorites list! About Us:Rivendell Antiquarian Books sells used rare, vintage and collectable books predominantly from pre 1970. We have been sellers of antiquarian books for over 20 years, and our experience helps ensure quality descriptions of our rare and collectable books. Be assured that we want your experience with Rivendell Antiquarian Books to be enjoyable and problem free. We believe that it is a travesty to simply throw away a used book when there is little or nothing wrong with it - we believe in giving each book the chance of finding a new home. We appreciate the impact a good book can have. We know the excitement of a new page turner, or the familiar joy of an old favorite, and we find satisfaction in putting older, and often scarce books in the hands of people who have the same love for old books that we do.Customer Service:Rivendell Antiquarian Books is committed to ensuring each customer is entirely satisfied with their puchase and our service. If you have any issues or concerns please contact us and we will be more than happy to help.Our books have been inspected carefully by hand by experienced book valuers to ensure the condition description is as accurate as possible for this exact copy pictured. 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Price: 450 USD

Location: Schenectady, New York

End Time: 2025-01-31T20:08:23.000Z

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