The Lincoln Traveler

[L Verge]

(06-04-2016 10:14 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  Here's an article from the New York Times that talks about the gate.

"According to Dr. Steers, Booth and his mare turned left from Baptist Alley into what is known as Public Alley, then through an open gate into F Street, midway between Ninth and 10th Streets.

"However, Jim Bishop, in his book ''The Day Lincoln Was Shot,'' said Booth had shunned Public Alley because of the gate and instead had ridden into Ninth Street, a block behind the theater.

"Dr. Steers maintains that careful research, including testimony at the trial of conspirators implicated in the assassination plot, shows that Booth had seen to it that the F Street gate was left open that night and that he had used that route of escape, turning right into F Street. The gate is no longer there."

http://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/13/us/ret...assin.html

Jim Bishop's research papers are at St. Bonaventure University.

"After 25 years of research, 25 notebooks filled with information, and reading 7 million words worth of research, Jim Bishop's book was ready for publication."

http://web.sbu.edu/friedsam/archives/jim...incoln.htm

Interesting find, Linda. Joan Chaconas of Surratt House was Ed's partner in Marker Tours (and had been the coordinator for the Surratt tours over the escape route for nearly ten years before partnering with him). She was the first one I asked about the F Street gate when Thomas posted his discovery. She had never heard of such a thing.

I'll try to have a search done of the Hall files because everyone who has ever attempted to narrate tours (or write on the topic) over the escape route has depended heavily on the research that he did.

It also stands to reason that Booth would have known about the gate well in advance, since he had a horse stored in that alley and was a frequent visitor to the theatre. If there were a gate, he would surely have secured it in the open position.