Booth's mistress, Ella Starr, and other "unknown" Booth ladies!

[RJNorton]

First of all, thank you to Jenny - there is so much more here than I ever knew.

My personal theory is that Jerry may be right, but my reason may be a little "different."

Johnson did not answer the door immediately when Wisconsin Governor Leonard Farwell rushed from Ford's to the Kirkwood House to tell Johnson Lincoln had been shot. Here's the way Farwell told it:

"And then darting up to Mr. Johnson's room, No. 68, I knocked, but hearing no movement I knocked again, and called out with the loudest voice that I could command: "Governor Johnson, if you are in this room I must see you!" In a moment I heard him spring from his bed and exclaim: "Farwell, is that you?" "Yes, let me in." I replied. The door was opened, I passed in, locked it, and told him the terrible news, which for a time overwhelmed us both, and grasping hands, we fell upon each other as if for mutual support."

The fact that there was a delay in Johnson answering the door could conceivably mean he was not alone. In his book Jerry argues that Johnson unwittingly assisted with Booth's escape from Washington by writing passes for JWB and David Herold, and JWB sent Ella to Johnson's room as a "thank you" for the passes.

Like Jenny, I do not know if I truly believe this or not, but the delay in answering the door is suspicious (at least to me). I think it's a question that cannot be answered with 100% certainty either way.

Hopefully Jerry will see this thread and chime in with his ideas.