Those Booth Horses Again -

[RJNorton]

(04-16-2014 07:12 PM)JMadonna Wrote:  The problem is that if Booth was well enough to make a stop and dismount to get those items it casts doubt on the breaking the leg on the stage theory.

Jerry, why do you feel Booth necessarily dismounted (assuming Booth actually stopped at the boardinghouse as he escaped Washington)? If we go by Weichmann's account then we really do not know what Mary Surratt was doing at 10:30 P.M. Apparently Mary met with a "mysterious" 9:00 P.M. visitor. I think I have read that Anna Surratt later verified this visitor was Booth. Is it possible Booth gave his stuff to Mary at that time as well as hearing from her that she had given the field glasses and information to Lloyd as well as verifying that the pickets on the road would be gone? Weichmann indicates Mrs. Surratt got very nervous after this visitor departed. At 9:30 I think Smoot found her in a state of feverish excitement and she rushed him out the door. Mary then asked Weichmann to pray for her intentions. Is there any way this could be interpreted as her intention to hold on to Booth's stuff for a quick 10:30 pick up? When Weichmann indicated he didn't know what her intentions were she replied to pray for them anyway. She then chased everyone to their rooms. Weichmann says he was asleep when the president was shot. Do we know what Mrs. Surratt was doing at 10:30? Perhaps waiting outside in the dark ready to hand Booth's stuff to him as he rode by? No need to dismount if this scenario is true. Improbable, perhaps. Impossible? I don't know. My impression is that Mary Surratt was a Southern woman who despised Lincoln and would do Booth's bidding whenever requested.