Breaking a leg

[Linda Anderson]

(02-15-2013 03:39 PM)wsanto Wrote:  In another thread--"Thomas Jones" there is a link to Jone's autobiographical account of his effort to aid Booth.

Jones speaks of Booth's broken leg a few times. First he mentions, as a matter of fact, that Booth broke his leg leaping to the stage. Later, when describing Booth's decision to go to Mudd's for tratment he mentions the cover story Booth gave Mudd about the horse fall. it is clear he believes booth broke his leg in the leap.

Now this is a man who probably knew a lot more details of the assassination than most anyone else that was not a direct conspirator. He spent a week taking daily supplies and newspapers to Booth. I am sure Booth was completely honest with this man as he was highly trusted by Booth. I feel fairly confident he got the complete story.

He truly believed Booth broke his leg in the leap.

Of course his book was based on twenty year-old recollections but I don't believe he would confuse this fact.

Perhaps Booth told Jones that he broke his leg when his horse fell but he wanted Jones to spread the same story of him breaking it in the jump from the stage that he (Booth) wrote in his diary.