The Spangler Connection

[RJNorton]

Eva, I don't have a specific answer for your question. I am not sure. Craig, I am rethinking Spangler after reading Tom's book.

But I do have another question. Why did Booth need a peephole? I realize William H. Crook is not a reliable source, but in Through Five Administrations he maintains that John Buckingham, the Ford's doorkeeper, said that Booth was in and out of the theater five times checking out the situation before finally going ahead with his assassination plan. Maybe this was an embellishment, but let's assume Booth was in and out at least twice. Standing and moving about in the back of the theater couldn't Booth have pretty much seen what the situation was in the State Box? Certainly earlier in the day he knew he could check out the situation before proceeding. What advantage did the peephole really afford him?