Booth in Boston April 1865

[Dave Taylor]

I am of the same mind as Susan with regards to John Wilkes Booth in Newport. After comparing the signature, even though the B in Booth is formed in a slightly different way than Wilkes normally made it, I do believe that this is Booth's handwriting.

However, I, like Susan, do not believe there is any evidence that points to the mysterious "Lady" being Lucy Hale other than assumptions by researchers. I have a hard time believing that Lucy could have escaped her father to go away with Booth for any length of time. Isn't that why they were making secret plans to run off and marry in spite of her father's objections after she got back from Spain? I'd love to see what real evidence exists that establishes the lady as being Lucy.

For want it is worth, here is how travel between New York, Newport, and Boston worked in 1865. The most fashionable way, and the way it seems Booth took, was the Fall River Line. At the time of Booth's trip, there were two steamer ships making the journey between New York and Newport. They were the Metropolis, which left NY on Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and the Empire State, which left on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. These steamers left New York City at 5 pm. Before 1863, you were sailed up to Fall River, MA where you would be dropped off. In 1863, however, the railroad line was extended further south to Newport, RI and from that time until 1869, the steamer started dropping off its passengers at Newport instead. When you arrived in Newport in the early morning of the next day, you would then board a steamboat train which would take you into Boston. The steamboat train did not run until the steamboat had arrived which was "at or after 4:00 am". However, the steamboat train was not the only means of rail transport to Boston. Even the steamboat company advertised that one "may remain on board until the starting of the Accommodation at 8 am" which would provide one with "a night's rest on board". To service those who did not want to take the 4:00 am train, there was another local train that departed from Newport at 8:00 am. After that, the next train to Boston didn't leave until 3:00 pm.

Booth doesn't strike me as the 4:00 am type, so I think it's safe to say he was never planning on catching the early steamboat train. If I was to make an assumption, I think Booth either accidentally or deliberately missed the 8:00 am train as well. This leaves him stuck in Newport until the afternoon train at 3:00 pm.

To be honest, I find it strange that so many people checked into the Aquidneck House in the morning of April 5th. Booth and his Lady are 2 out of the 12 people who check in at the time labeled "B" which I take to be shorthand for breakfast. At least four more check in at the time labeled "D" which I take to be dinner (which, in the 1800's is the word for what we now call lunch). So by lunchtime on April 5th, the Aquidneck House has at least 16 people who have checked in. Compare this to the day before, April 4th, when only 9 people checked in over the course of the whole day. And on April 3rd, we see only seven people checking in (though there may have been others on the preceding page).

Though I have not been able to find any evidence for it, I would venture a guess that there may have been some issue with the train that day that required so many people to check into a hotel around breakfast time. Perhaps the 8:00 am train didn't run on that day as planned. Perhaps this is what stranded Booth and some of the other passengers in Newport for a time. I know this is all supposition but I don't feel it is out of the realm of possibility.

So then, who is the Lady with Booth? I would submit the idea that perhaps she was just another one of the steamboat's passengers who was waiting for the next train. I don't believe that Booth would have had a hard time convincing a female passenger to join him for breakfast. He was a handsome and personable actor after all. I can see Booth registering at the Aquidneck, without any plans to actually spend the night, and perhaps writes "and Lady" because he may not even know what his date's name is! That also sounds like Booth to me. Anyway they share a meal, place their luggage in the room and then proceed to walk around Newport. Perhaps Booth and his date even separate for a time which is when he was seen seemingly wandering by Mary Powell. Eventually, Booth and his date return to the hotel later for lunch, with Booth apparently attempting to share a meal in the more private setting of the room. However, before the meal comes, they realize that they must be sure to catch the train lest they be trapped in Newport even longer, and depart before lunch is served. Booth and his lady friend take the train to Boston, where they finally part their separate ways. Booth goes on to see his brother Edwin perform and his lady friend leaves to wherever she was heading in Boston.

Is my scenario largely supposition, yes, I admit that it is. But I feel that with the evidence we have, it is equally as plausible as Lucy Hale being Booth's "Lady". In fact, I would submit that my scenario is probably more likely given Lucy Hale's father.