Interesting History

[MEKer]

Yes, I understand that Sergeant Boston Corbet shot John Wilkes Booth in that barn. I also understand that dear Corbett, in a religious furor to punish himself for "lusty" thoughts in his younger years, actually castrated himself with a pair of scissors.

Don't know how he survived that, but.........f'in OOWWWWWWWWW

[colcifer]

Where did you learn this? Why?

[MEKer]

I have about a dozen books on Lincoln. Loaded with all sorts of interesting facts. BTW, this Corbet fellow had made his living (pre-war) as a "hatter" and used mercury a lot in the process. The mercury vapors, over a period of time, actually made him pretty screwed up mentally. The Civil War period is fascinating history filled with some rather bizarre characters. And Corbet is one of the central players in the final Booth story which itself is fascinating.

[Pilgrim]

Mercury is one of the better substances to use in forming hats made with beaver fur, which was the preferred felt at that time (and today). Both vapors and direct physical contact with mercury from handling and shaping hats led to the phrase "mad as a hatter".

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Interesting?

As how?


As crazy people are crazy?

As castrates are more prone to shoot someone in a barn?

As cuttin' ones wiener off doesn't necessarily kill 'em?


To me it looks a lot like someone forgot to include the punch-line.

Regards
Sam

[ZanaZulu807]

Not to derail this, but supposedly, I had the descendents of John Wilkes Booth's brother back in my high school. One, ironically, was my history teacher and the other was his nerdy nephew in my class. The teacher was cool peoples, I'm just remembering now he had a pretty tasty looking daughter too...

[Waffles and Scotch]

Huh. So he castrated himself because he's human. Interesting.