The Spur Question

[Dennis Urban]

The images taken of the president's box were taken a few days later by Matthew Brady to recreate the look of the area on the night of the assassination. One of the best close up images of the box is in Twenty Days, pages 22-23. The Treasury Guards flag is on a pole in front of the center column between the boxes. However, the caption for the image says "on the night of the assassination the flag was staffless and was draped across the outside of the box just below the two American flags, displaying its great handpainted eagle." Photo credit is from the Meserve Collection in New York which may be the origin of the above quote. I also believe the upper right corner of the picture frame for the Washington image was nicked by JWB's spur. I believe that frame and image is on display in Fords Theatre. JWB, swinging his leg over the railing of the box facing to his left, could easily catch his spur on the corner of the picture frame and then catch the spur on the flag hanging below the box thus ripping the flag. I do not recall testimony that the flag was pulled down. I want to believe this is the way it happened. Of course, there are many conflicting descriptions of JWB coming over the railing and out of the box but I think such an exit is plausible and likely.