Lincoln Discussion Symposium
Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - Printable Version

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RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - LincolnMan - 03-04-2013 05:45 PM

To my untrained eye, the signatures do not look the same.

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - RJNorton - 03-04-2013 05:57 PM

(03-04-2013 05:43 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Can anyone make out what the word is after "Lady?"

I think it's "Boston" (but I am having cataract surgery this spring).

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - L Verge - 03-04-2013 05:59 PM

You're right, Roger. After I decided to zoom in instead of trusting my aging eyes, I saw that it was.

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - Gene C - 03-04-2013 06:05 PM

If that's a "B" for Boston, it doesn't look like the "B" in Booth.

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - John Stanton - 03-04-2013 06:31 PM

This Hand writing business opens up more and more questions, for example: Could the clerk have written it? In the case of Slater, "signing in" - she only did it once - at 3 AM,and it's different. There are several examples of "John Harrison and A. Reynaud" signing in at the same time, but the handwriting looks like Rev. Stephen Cameron wrote it. Finding handwriting that matches , is favorable - but not conclusive. It may be a little off, on purpose. I have been able to compare Slater's signature on her Divorce papers, and her Will, and they are not the same. (Close, but not the same). I have found it necessary to consider Handwriting only one of the clues you need. Laurie, the word after "Lady" is "Boston" (? ? ?). Can we agree on where Booth was on the 3rd?
PS. I meant to add - the hotel page is dated April 5. ANOTHER discrepancy!

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - J. Beckert - 03-04-2013 07:01 PM

Thank you Art and Roger for those scans. I still vote it's Booth's writing. The "J", especially the cryptic looking "W" and the way he looped the crossing of the "T" in Booth all look very familiar. Maybe in just signing into a hotel he wasn't as deliberate as he would be writing a letter and his handwriting was a bit more careless.

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - GARY POPOLO - 03-04-2013 08:53 PM

I have to agree with Mr. Beckert that the signature looks to be JWB's. But not being a hand writing expert I would not bet money on it. Maybe if we had more copies of JWB signature we might be able to make a more accurate choice? Then again everyone sees things differently. Guess we will have to agree to disagree with one another. Still I don't know for sure where JWB was on April 3, 1865Huh

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - Houmes - 03-04-2013 10:08 PM

(03-04-2013 08:53 PM)GARY POPOLO Wrote:  I have to agree with Mr. Beckert that the signature looks to be JWB's. But not being a hand writing expert I would not bet money on it. Maybe if we had more copies of JWB signature we might be able to make a more accurate choice? Then again everyone sees things differently. Guess we will have to agree to disagree with one another. Still I don't know for sure where JWB was on April 3, 1865Huh

For comparison, check the John Lattimer Heritage auction catalog. Lot 61205 is the Aquidneck House hotel register sheet from 1865 with the signature " JWBooth & Lady." Then check lot 61200, in a signed stage script, where he signs his name "JW Booth." The script was later owned by his younger brother, Joseph A. Booth, so it's safe to say it is legit and appears very, very similar.
There's also a letter (Lot 61198) to Michael O'Laughlen's younger brother, dated August 8,m 1854, signed "John W Booth."
Booth signed his name in different ways in different times, apparently at whim.

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - Jim Garrett - 03-05-2013 06:31 AM

(03-04-2013 05:43 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Can anyone make out what the word is after "Lady?"

Looks like it could be Boston . Either they were from Boston, or Boston Corbett was with them!

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - LincolnMan - 03-05-2013 07:08 AM

(03-04-2013 10:08 PM)Houmes Wrote:  
(03-04-2013 08:53 PM)GARY POPOLO Wrote:  I have to agree with Mr. Beckert that the signature looks to be JWB's. But not being a hand writing expert I would not bet money on it. Maybe if we had more copies of JWB signature we might be able to make a more accurate choice? Then again everyone sees things differently. Guess we will have to agree to disagree with one another. Still I don't know for sure where JWB was on April 3, 1865Huh

For comparison, check the John Lattimer Heritage auction catalog. Lot 61205 is the Aquidneck House hotel register sheet from 1865 with the signature " JWBooth & Lady." Then check lot 61200, in a signed stage script, where he signs his name "JW Booth." The script was later owned by his younger brother, Joseph A. Booth, so it's safe to say it is legit and appears very, very similar.
There's also a letter (Lot 61198) to Michael O'Laughlen's younger brother, dated August 8,m 1854, signed "John W Booth."
Booth signed his name in different ways in different times, apparently at whim.

Very interesting-most people tend to be consistent with their signatures-as Lincoln was in signing "A. Lincoln."

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - J. Beckert - 03-05-2013 07:13 AM

(03-04-2013 10:08 PM)Houmes Wrote:  
(03-04-2013 08:53 PM)GARY POPOLO Wrote:  I have to agree with Mr. Beckert that the signature looks to be JWB's. But not being a hand writing expert I would not bet money on it. Maybe if we had more copies of JWB signature we might be able to make a more accurate choice? Then again everyone sees things differently. Guess we will have to agree to disagree with one another. Still I don't know for sure where JWB was on April 3, 1865Huh

For comparison, check the John Lattimer Heritage auction catalog. Lot 61205 is the Aquidneck House hotel register sheet from 1865 with the signature " JWBooth & Lady." Then check lot 61200, in a signed stage script, where he signs his name "JW Booth." The script was later owned by his younger brother, Joseph A. Booth, so it's safe to say it is legit and appears very, very similar.
There's also a letter (Lot 61198) to Michael O'Laughlen's younger brother, dated August 8,m 1854, signed "John W Booth."
Booth signed his name in different ways in different times, apparently at whim.

I think the "W" in particular, is extremely similar to Booth's "fancy" signatures on his letters and autographs. The way he connects the "J" to the top of the "W" is very, very distinctive.

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - RJNorton - 03-05-2013 08:11 AM

Here's another scan of Booth's signature. I used Eisenschiml's book as the source:

[Image: kirkwoodnote.jpg]

Here's another scan from Rhodehamel and Taper:

[Image: jwbwriting0002.jpg]


RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - LincolnMan - 03-05-2013 08:32 AM

Interesting that in the R & T Booth signature, the "J" has that long connecting line to the "B." The "E book" Booth signature does not have it.

On another note, I wonder if JWB was constantly being asked for his autograph-like celebrities today are. If so, one would think Booth would have had "standardized" his signature from repetition.

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - RJNorton - 03-05-2013 08:57 AM

I think the "t" before the "h" in Booth looks very similar to the hotel register signature. To my eyes this is particularly true in the first Rhodehamel and Taper scan and the note left at the Kirkwood House.

RE: Where was Booth on April 3rd, 1865? - wsanto - 03-05-2013 10:54 AM

The full register has "J W Booth and Lady" from Boston checking into room 3 on Apr 5th (Or was this his check-out date?)

It does appear to have a Mrs. Grant checking in on the 4th. I wonder how Ulysses felt about that?