Clara Harris's Bloody Dress

[L Verge]

I don't know what to think either, but my question marks are based on: the propriety of a theater person (no matter her renown) taking such liberties in 1865, Mrs. Lincoln's acceptance of such a move, the doctors allowing since it was a head wound that they needed easy access to, the space available in the box to accommodate another person (especially one in voluminous skirts), and Miss Harris's denial that it happened.

I am inclined to think that Thomas Gourlay did lead Miss Keene to the box and that she likely provided water, but I have my suspicions as to whether or not she made it into the box, let alone cradling Lincoln's head. I don't dispute that there may be Lincoln's blood on the flag, but I just can't totally agree that it got there because of Miss Keene. I suspect that the flag may have been used by the doctors to elevate his head or to cover part of his exposed torso. I also suspect that there are probably two blood specimens on that flag - one for Lincoln and one for Rathbone.