Booth's visit to the Surratt Boarding House after the assassination

[Laurie Verge]

Weichmann's description of her agitation that night is a telling sign.

[JMadonna]

If Booth stopped at the Surratt house wouldn't it make sense that he change his coat before taking off again? Anybody know if he wore the same coat dashing from the stage as Cobb saw at the bridge?

[Linda Anderson]

(10-24-2012 04:20 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Laurie - I thought the same thing about Powell. But Fred Seward saw Lew pull his gun from his pocket. I don't know where his knife was unless it was in his boot top. There IS a sheath which MUST have attached to his saddle. No sheath was listed in his effects....

Betty, Fred Seward testified during John Surratt's trial that he had turned around after he told Powell to leave when he (Fred) heard a noise and turned back to see Powell "springing up the steps with a pistol in his hands." William H. Bell testified that Powell kept his right hand in his coat pocket as Powell spoke to him at the front door. Would Powell have been able to fit a navy revolver in his coat pocket?

[Gene C]

(10-24-2012 04:52 PM)JMadonna Wrote:  If Booth stopped at the Surratt house wouldn't it make sense that he change his coat before taking off again? Anybody know if he wore the same coat dashing from the stage as Cobb saw at the bridge?

It would make sense, but when did these guys start doing things that made sense.
I would guess no, he didn't think that far ahead

He made no attempt to disguise himself when he killed Lincoln. With his knowledge of theater makeup he could have. He made no attempt to hide his identity. He even wanted to be identified, as he left letters behind to be published so he could get the credit for killing Lincoln. Not the actions of your rational assassin.

[Rick Smith]

Laurie,

You posted earlier that Booth may have had his gunbelt on under his frock coat. A witness, I forget who, said that booth was dressed for riding. This would mean, as Joe noted earlier, that his trousers would be tucked into his riding boots, which came to mid thigh and that he would probably be wearing a sack, or business style coat. As far as the idea that he tucked a soft slouch hat in his waistband; I doubt it.
I tried this last evening with one of my slouch hats and it is not easy to tuck into the waistband and when done, it makes your coat stick way out in the back. One thing is for sure; Booth would have wanted to look good while doing what he did. This means nice line for his clothing. He was known for wearing clothes well. So, my feeling is that there was no gun belt worn into the theatre; he got that later at Surratt's. I do not believe that he changed clothes after leaving Ford's, or that he even had a change of clothing. Someone else, Jim Garrett, I rthink, said it earlier; Booth was travelling light.

Rick

[BettyO]

(10-24-2012 05:05 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  

(10-24-2012 04:20 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Laurie - I thought the same thing about Powell. But Fred Seward saw Lew pull his gun from his pocket. I don't know where his knife was unless it was in his boot top. There IS a sheath which MUST have attached to his saddle. No sheath was listed in his effects....

Betty, Fred Seward testified during John Surratt's trial that he had turned around after he told Powell to leave when he (Fred) heard a noise and turned back to see Powell "springing up the steps with a pistol in his hands." William H. Bell testified that Powell kept his right hand in his coat pocket as Powell spoke to him at the front door. Would Powell have been able to fit a navy revolver in his coat pocket?

I would assume that he had deep coat pockets! No gunbelt was found or attributed to Lew either....

[John Stanton]

In those days , men's outer coat fit rather snug. Any pistol tucked under, would show. Was there any "law" about wearing pistols in town? I wouldn't expect men to wear Pistols to the theater. I'm working on an idea, that Booth had the Derringer, so it woud be well hidden. The heavier gus must have been available somewhere for the escape and the possibility that there would be a running fight. The lost hat was an accident, that was cured, when he found a hat hanging somewhere. I'm not very familiar with the guns he had - did he need to bite the powder casing, and press the cap in place, etc. or did he have a cartridge type? The different caliburs, is another worisome point. Did he plan to reload? or just fire 12 and quit? (The powder and the caps, were also worn on the belt, in their own containers. He would have had 4) This is developing into a very foolih idea, on his part.

[Rick Smith]

John,

If you study enough photographs of the time period, you will see that men's coats, and the rest of their clothing, with the exception of the vest, were cut large to provide a rather generous fit. Even so, I think that a gunbelt, even with "hog leg" style holsters which were less bulky, as opposed to the typical military holster of the time, worn under the coat would show.

At Garrett's, Booth was found to have on his person two hand guns; a Colt 1860 Army model .44 caliber & a Colt 1851 Navy .36 caliber. Loading these weapons is a time consuming process. During the war in Missourri, Confederate Bushwhackers would customarily carry several extra, pre-loaded cylinders to save time loading and give them the advantage of extra fire power. The loads were either pre made paper & ball cartridges, and were ignited with small caps which were fitted onto a nipple at the back end of each cylinder chamber or were made up by pouring powder into each cylinder followed by wadding, then loading a ball and putting a cap in place. These were known as cap & ball pistols.

I have no idea about laws regarding the carrying of firearms in the city.

It still makes sense to me that the hat & pistols were picked up at Surratt's town house after the assassination. This stop would have taken a matter of a few minutes at most and there was no organized pursuit till much later.

Rick

[MaddieM]

(10-23-2012 11:28 AM)Art Loux Wrote:  

(10-22-2012 02:48 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  Joe, I had forgotten about Hazelton's description of Booth's attire. That makes sense that he came prepared to ride hard and fast. I have never worn a slouch hat, but I have always been of the opinion that it was pulled down more towards the ears and more secure on the head.

Jim Garrett - your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to put on white gloves, convince the Ford's curator to let you examine the boot, and report back to us as to any pockets on the inside.

Seems to me that Joe's remembering the Hazelton statement and the possibility of examining Booth's boot might provide the factual information required?

Laurie,

A man who examined the boot in 1925 wrote: "This is of well-worn black leather, 23 (maybe 28) inches long an approximately 20 inches in diameter at the top or thigh. The sole and heel together measure 11 inches outside, the sole at its greatest width ?? inches, and the sharply squared off toe is 2 1/2 inches. It is the boot for the left foot. The heel is intact at the outside, but is worn down about 1/4 inch at the inside and the same is true of the sole , indicating that when walking Booth turned his ankles in, and perhaps was inclined to be knock-kneed. [Yes, I know he was bowlegged] Inside, at the top, the boot is faced with smooth white calfskin for a distance down of 6 1/2 inches, where it joins the rough interior. At the front on this calfskin , some two inches below the top, is written in black ink, but very faintly, the name and address of the maker, and about an inch below this the name "J. Wilkes -----" From "New Interest in Booth Relics Keeps War Department Busy," Washington Star, Sunday Morning, May 17, 1925 by George M. Battey, Jr.

There is no mention of a pocket. I have another article which claims Booth used the boots for ice skating and there is a screw hole in the heel for mounting skates.

I'm loving the forensics on this.... knock kneed ? That would very much compliment his rather weak chin.

[Jim Garrett]

This is such a goooood thread. I consulted with Gloria Swift, former curator from Ford's Theatre and all round super person. She is a consumate historian and professional, and I hold her up in the upmost respect. It is our objective opinion that: JWB, being the consumate professional rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed what he was going to do Friday night. He was seen by a number of people at Ford's that afternoon, most likely acting out the drama to unfold later that night.

JWB could not be weighted down with extra baggage. Being such a noted actor and "the handsomest man in America", he knew he would be noticed (as he was), but he couldn't afford any undue attention, such as "Hey, why does Wilkes have a gunbelt and braces of revolvers on?". He was armed with what he needed to perpetrate the crime (the deringer) and an additional weapon (the knife) for self defense. It worked!

JWB knew he would have absolutely no obstacles getting into the box. His only possible confrontation before "the deed" would be in the box, since he took the precaution of secreting the wooden bar that afternoon to prevent any intervention from outside the box. How about that planning, boy did it work!

So his only threat would be from inside the box. He knew there was easy access to the President Once he entered the alcove, the worst case situation would be he would be noticed and confronted before he was ready to pull the trigger. If that happened, it would most likely be nothing more than an inquiry, not the type of physical or restrictive confrontation. Even if their was a confrontation, JWB would be just a few feet from the President....and Booth had the element of surprise.

Booth had timed it perfectly. PERFECTLY! The entire theatre would be in a moment of extreme laughter and the last thing they would expect is a gunshot. He was only one actor on stage and the only other people that might be between him and the back door were Jacob Rittenspaugh and Ned Spangler. He did not anticipate William Withers. He knew that by the time anyone had any idea what was going on, he would be out the back door.

But his escape was secondary. His objective was to kill the President. If he got away, it was the icing on the cake. And guess what? He got away. He shot the President, dispatched his resistance (Rathbone), lightened his load, dropping deringer jumped to the stage, proclaimed his victory (Sic Semper Baby!!) and was out the back door......all in about 1 minute (according to William Ferguson). Damn, he was good! He had the guns and spare hat on his horse. I can't conceive that he planned to stop at the boarding house minutes after the shot. That would be too dangerous. He knew if he were to escape, he had to get South fast! He was going to stop at the tavern and then maybe Mudd's or elsewhere, if needed, before getting to the river.

The assassination was very very well planned. Kill the President and get outta Dodge ASAP. Done

[JMadonna]

AND....He crossed a guarded bridge that authorities did not think he could cross - very well planned indeed.

[Gene C]

(10-26-2012 06:21 AM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  But his escape was secondary. His objective was to kill the President. If he got away, it was the icing on the cake.

My understanding is Jim was saying the assassinatin was well planned. Who know how far JWB could have gone if he had not broken his leg. At least to Bowling Green where he may have hopped a train?

[Jim Garrett]

There was a very real fear on the governments part that with his head start, if JWB got into Virginia, he could get away. Time was not on the government's side.

[Laurie Verge]

I have always suspected that the fugitives were headed for the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Rail Line at Guinea Station, Virginia. It was not that far from Bowling Green. I think that it might still have been running in late April of 1865, but I can't find definite info on it. From there, I think he would head into Mosby territory and head southwest into the hills of Appalachia and thence to Mexico.

If that could have been the scenario, I don't understand why he lingered at the Garretts' when the rail line was so close. Now, who is going to shoot my theory down?

[Jim Garrett]

Laurie, you are correct, the rail line went through Milford, just South of Bowling Green. I always thought that Booth was just completely spent. He had become very use to city life and the luxuries it afforded. He was on the run for 12 days with a broken leg, that by the time he reached Virginia, had undoubtedly become infected. He was living out in the elements and probably very mal-nourished. JWB learned that instead of being the avenger of the South to be welcomed with open arms, he was a parriah. The trip through Port Royal was the last straw. He was turned away at every encounter, until the hapless Garretts.

Put a fork in him, he was done. What do you think?