Which door did Booth enter?

[Peter Taltavul]

This is a subject that has interested me for a very long time.

I have never heard that the door to Box 8 was open, or that the peephole was in that door. I would never pit my amateur understanding of the events against the experts, but your question is interesting and does lead to additional ones. If I may.

Booth learned Friday morning that the President would be attending the theatre that evening. I cannot recall whether he was told that Gen. Grant would accompany the President or not. Sometime later in the day he may have become aware that Grant would not be be there. I say that because of a previous post.

That Friday John Ford - with assistance - prepared the boxes for the Presidential visit that evening. Sometime after that - if everyone is correct - JWB gained entry to the area carved a small hole in the door and somehow secreted a music stand to stop others from outside to get in during the deed. If security was an issue why would the door to box 7 be closed and box 8 open. Does not make sense. But if it was -

I believe that I read that the President had watched a play at Ford's when JWB was an actor. Was there a specific box set aside for the President in case of a visit? In other words- which box was the Presidential box? If it was box 7 why would the peephole be in box 8? And if JWB did indeed view the Presidential box that evening and saw that the Lincoln's were not alone what impact would that have on his plan as to which door to go though?

Booth's plan was obviously to commit the deed and escape. The trajectory of the bullet fired at the President may answer the question as to which door he may he went through.

If Booth entered box 7 and if the bullet entry into the President's head was by the left ear Lincoln would have to have been watching the events on the stage - slightly to his right. If Booth would have entered box 8 the President would have to have been leaning forward and looking to the audience at his left for that to occur.

Easy to say at this point in history - but one would expect that to take the shortest path to the goal is the objective. Walking the extra feet from box 8 to the President would not be the best course - who knows?

More to say, but I will wait until this Moore knowledgable than me have weighed in. ...M