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

[JMadonna]

(11-13-2012 08:54 PM)J. Beckert Wrote:  I was 20# heavier in uniform with the very constrictive vest on and all the equipment belted around my waist and I jumped over guard rails and chased the bad guys many times.

How was your gun secured around your waist? Did it have a top flap to secure the gun in the holster or was it open like Booth's? If it was Booth's open design I doubt that it would have stayed secure in the holster after a 10 foot drop.

Even assuming that all of the eyewitnesses missed the holstered gun around Booth's waist when he hit the stage, why didn't he draw it in his escape? Why go dashing off swinging a knife if you had a gun to keep pursuers at bay?

Answer - he had no revolver at the time.