Booth's visit to the Surratt Boarding House after the assassination

[John Stanton]

In those days , men's outer coat fit rather snug. Any pistol tucked under, would show. Was there any "law" about wearing pistols in town? I wouldn't expect men to wear Pistols to the theater. I'm working on an idea, that Booth had the Derringer, so it woud be well hidden. The heavier gus must have been available somewhere for the escape and the possibility that there would be a running fight. The lost hat was an accident, that was cured, when he found a hat hanging somewhere. I'm not very familiar with the guns he had - did he need to bite the powder casing, and press the cap in place, etc. or did he have a cartridge type? The different caliburs, is another worisome point. Did he plan to reload? or just fire 12 and quit? (The powder and the caps, were also worn on the belt, in their own containers. He would have had 4) This is developing into a very foolih idea, on his part.