The Spur Question

[RJNorton]

Here is part of James P. Ferguson's testimony at the conspiracy trial (from Poore). Ferguson was sitting in the dress circle on the opposite side from the State Box.

Q. Did you hear any other exclamation besides “Sic semper tyrannis”?

A. I heard some one halloo out of the box,—I do not know that it was him; I suppose it was, though; it must have been,—“Revenge for the South!” just as he was putting his foot over this railing. There was a post there, and the President was right in the corner; and he jumped in between the President and the post. Just as he went over the box, I saw the President raise his head; and then it hung back, and I saw Mrs. Lincoln catch him on the arm. I was satisfied then that he was hurt. By that time, Booth was across the stage.

Q. Did Booth’s spur catch in the flag?

A. His spur caught in the flag that was stretched around the box. There was also a flag decorating this post. His spur caught in the blue part of it. I thought it was a State flag at first by the looks of it; but I saw afterwards, when I examined it, that it was the blue part of the American flag. As he went over, his spur caught in the molding that ran round the edge of the box, and also in this flag, and tore a piece of the flag as he struck on the stage; and it was dragged half-way across the stage on his spur. I saw that the spur was on his right heel.