State Box

[J. Beckert]

I believe those flags in the Brady photo were borrowed as the original ones had disappeared by then. The notch cut into the engraving is on the Lincoln's side of the box. It is clearly visible today from the outside of the back of box.

Brady's photo was a staged one. I think, as Ferguson stated, on the 14th., the Treasury Guards flag was not on a pole, but displayed completely opened under the engraving and Booth's spur snagged it as he dropped.

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If you stop this at 1:13, there's a close up of the nick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grx1ORG4Fl0