Booth's Day on April 14

[Dennis Urban]

(12-30-2016 06:01 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(12-29-2016 09:36 PM)Dennis Urban Wrote:  What I am having the most trouble with is #3, the number of times and exactly when Booth went to the "boarding house" assuming John meant Surratt's.

Hi Dennis. In previous discussions we have argued whether Booth made 2, 3, or even 4 visits to Mary's boardinghouse on April 14th. Personally I agree with John that it was (at least) 3...once in the late morning, once in the afternoon, and once about 9 P.M. Mary Surratt had told Weichmann in the buggy that she had to be back by 9 as she was expecting a visitor. Weichmann asked if it was Booth, and she wouldn’t say. But the visitor came. Who was he? In his book Weichmann argues that it was Booth.

Opinion on the forum was divided regarding this third visit.

Regarding a possible 4th visit (after the assassination as Booth was riding away from Ford's Theatre)...Bill Richter makes this assertion in Last Confederate Heroes. Over four years ago we had a long debate on the possibility of this visit here. Again, opinion was divided.

As to the timing of the visits - here is what Art Loux says in John Wilkes Booth: Day by Day:

1. First visit - this occurred in the late morning prior to Booth's arrival at Ford's (which was just before noon). Art writes that Booth went to the boardinghouse, then perhaps walked to the Herndon House to see Powell, then continued on to Ford's.

2. Second visit - about 2:30 P.M.

3. Third visit - Art writes, "At 9 p.m., according to Weichmann, Booth visited Mary Surratt, perhaps to confirm that she had seen Lloyd and delivered his binoculars."

As far as I can tell Booth's third visit depends totally on Weichmann's word (and he quotes Anna Surratt for his verification). I do not think there is any other source for this possible visit.

Thanks Roger. I do not have Art's book. It is on my list to obtain. I was aware of the early PM visit and the Weichmann disputed visit which I believe to be accurate. The AM visit is the new one to me. I realize that Art did massive research over many years and I take his findings to be as accurate as possible. I do not subscribe to the fourth visit theory. Booth was frightened, anxious about making his escape, and probably paranoid. I doubt he would have made such a late visit and on his way out of town and even a few blocks out of his way; too great a possibility of not making his escape. I will read that previous discussion. Thanks much.