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kentuck

(111,089 posts)
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 10:52 AM Dec 2020

Boston Corbett, the "mad hatter"

"Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, and Booth was shot by Boston Corbett. Corbett spent his early life as a hat maker, and it is believed that the effects of his early life job affected his decision-making for his future. He was considered "mad as a hatter" for going against orders when he had Booth cornered in a barn in Virginia, and shooting Booth instead of taking him alive. After investigation, Corbett was forgiven for his disobedience, but left the army and went back to hat making. After a few years, Corbett was even more mad than people had once thought, and he was thrown into an insane asylum. Corbett managed to escape, and he was never seen again."

From Wikipedia.

(It was believed that the mercury used in hat making caused insanity)

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Boston Corbett, the "mad hatter" (Original Post) kentuck Dec 2020 OP
He castrated himself with pliers, IIRC. nt Mopar151 Dec 2020 #1
Sounds like an otherwise-dull Saturday night was livened up. PCIntern Dec 2020 #2
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