James J. Gifford

[Anita]

James J. Gifford, Head carpenter of Ford's. Is there any solid evidence that he aided Booth? Does anyone know what he was up to the days prior to the assassination?

Right after the assassination Gifford testified: "I don't know who took the partition out and the box fitted up."

Then he makes a statement from prison that "on the evening of April 14 he directed Edward Spangler to take out the partition of the State box." He then professes to be a loyal man having no hostilities to the government. There are statements to the contrary.

He could have helped to frame Spangler. According to Spangler " I know nothing of the mortise hole said to be in the wall behind the door of the President's box, or of any wooden bar to fasten or hold the door being there, or of the lock being out of order. I did not notice any hole in the door. Gifford usually attended to the carpentering in the front part of the theater, while I did the work about the stage. Mr. Gifford was the boss carpenter, and I was under him."

According to Edward Steers, Jr. " Gifford had a close connection with Booth".

At the trial Gifford testified that he left the theater during the performance to check a light outside and then have a glass of ale. He says he returned for Act. III. What was he really doing?

According to Harry Ford's testimony re: Booth's visit to the theater the day of April 14: Q. -- Do you know who was with him from the time he came there, got the letter and went away? A. -There were some young men talking with him. I recollect Mr. Gifford, Mr. Evans and Mr. Guerrilla.

As the head Carpenter Gifford had access to the box. If no one noticed Booth in the box why would they notice Gifford? Gifford also testified he was in the President's box a week before the assassination but never says why.

On Saturday, April 15 Stanton asked Gifford to recreate the theater the way it was at the time of the assassination. Gifford had the opportunity to cover up evidence. The photos documenting the scene were then taken by Brady on April 16, two days after Lincoln was shot. Gifford said he found a second gun at the theater on Sat. April 15 with Booth's name engraved on it. The reason this has a ring of truth is that he didn't disclose this for years and never profited from it.