Booth's Day on April 14

[J. Beckert]

(01-07-2017 01:20 PM)L Verge Wrote:  If Clara did profess this, was she just trying to make Henry appear more heroic? There was a person in the box earlier - someone refresh my memory, please, as to who that was. (Three months of medical leave and being out of the loop has wasted my brain!)

Simon P. Hanscom, editor of the Daily Republican. His own account, from Fred Hatches' book, states he didn't enter. He refers to himself as "we".

"Upon approaching the door of the box we found the passage-way leading to it blocked by two gentleman who were seated upon chairs, (Crawford?) about 6 or 8 feet from the door. We requested them to allow us to pass. They did so and upon reaching the door, we found no other person belonging to the President's household than Mr. Charles Forbes, one of Mrs. Lincoln's footmen and messengers, who was always in the habit of attending the President and Mrs. Lincoln at the theater. As the play was progressing we requested Forbes to hand the dispatch to the President...."

[L Verge]

Thanks for furnishing this, Joe. However, it confuses me even more.

This appears to state that Hanscom and his companion were first stopped by two gentlemen before entering the tiny hallway that leads to the two boxes, and then they encountered Forbes and allowed him to give the dispatch to the President. Did he actually deliver it? Clara would have been aware of who he was - and he certainly bore no resemblance to Booth.

Who were the two gentlemen at the first door when Hanscom arrived? Parker and Burke? They weren't there when Booth arrived about 10:15. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Forbes then seated in their place (basically in the dress circle)?

[RJNorton]

(01-07-2017 05:35 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Parker and Burke?

Personally I do not recall reading that Burke ever entered the theater. He waited in the carriage and only left it to have a drink in Taltavull's.

[L Verge]

That was my recollection also; so who were the two men supposedly guarding the outside door to the box?

[SSlater]

(01-07-2017 06:46 PM)L Verge Wrote:  That was my recollection also; so who were the two men supposedly guarding the outside door to the box?

Laurie _Don't laugh! Police Chief Richards, said he was guarding the door. So Help me - that's what he said.

[L Verge]

(01-07-2017 07:41 PM)SSlater Wrote:  

(01-07-2017 06:46 PM)L Verge Wrote:  That was my recollection also; so who were the two men supposedly guarding the outside door to the box?

Laurie _Don't laugh! Police Chief Richards, said he was guarding the door. So Help me - that's what he said.

Thanks, John. Unfortunately, I don't respect the words of A.C. Richards. Something else to leave us pondering?

[J. Beckert]

(01-07-2017 05:35 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Thanks for furnishing this, Joe. However, it confuses me even more.

This appears to state that Hanscom and his companion were first stopped by two gentlemen before entering the tiny hallway that leads to the two boxes, and then they encountered Forbes and allowed him to give the dispatch to the President. Did he actually deliver it? Clara would have been aware of who he was - and he certainly bore no resemblance to Booth.

Who were the two gentlemen at the first door when Hanscom arrived? Parker and Burke? They weren't there when Booth arrived about 10:15. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Forbes then seated in their place (basically in the dress circle)?

I don't know if Hanscom had a companion - I think he just wrote about the incident in the third person.

I think the two people in the aisle were a man named Crawford and a companion. I don't think they were there in an official capacity, they were just watching the play. They were in a reservist type of Army unit for older/possibly injured men that could not serve in the field. Crawford made a statement that's in Good's book (I don't have it handy) and he identifies the other man. He also mentions having to move for Booth when he came through. His account is very interesting and he stated his first impression of Booth was that he was intoxicated.

** Here's Crawford's statement. I found it online - https://books.google.com/books?id=hbesCQ...ot&f=false

[L Verge]

(01-07-2017 08:37 PM)J. Beckert Wrote:  

(01-07-2017 05:35 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Thanks for furnishing this, Joe. However, it confuses me even more.

This appears to state that Hanscom and his companion were first stopped by two gentlemen before entering the tiny hallway that leads to the two boxes, and then they encountered Forbes and allowed him to give the dispatch to the President. Did he actually deliver it? Clara would have been aware of who he was - and he certainly bore no resemblance to Booth.

Who were the two gentlemen at the first door when Hanscom arrived? Parker and Burke? They weren't there when Booth arrived about 10:15. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Forbes then seated in their place (basically in the dress circle)?

I don't know if Hanscom had a companion - I think he just wrote about the incident in the third person.

I think the two people in the aisle were a man named Crawford and a companion. I don't think they were there in an official capacity, they were just watching the play. They were in a reservist type of Army unit for older/possibly injured men that could not serve in the field. Crawford made a statement that's in Good's book (I don't have it handy) and he identifies the other man. He also mentions having to move for Booth when he came through. His account is very interesting and he stated his first impression of Booth was that he was intoxicated.

** Here's Crawford's statement. I found it online - https://books.google.com/books?id=hbesCQ...ot&f=false

Thanks for supplying the link, Joe. I remember the Crawford and McGowan references now that you've triggered the old brain back into gear, but I never tied them to being guards to the presidential box -- still don't. I think they were just theater patrons who moved their chairs for a better view of the stage.