Assassination Trivia

[KateH.]

The term was coined by William Withers Jr. He was the orchestra leader of Ford’s Theatre. As Booth was trying to make his escape out the stage door after shooting Lincoln, he smashed into Withers and slashed through his coat with a knife, leaving a good scar on his arm. Withers called it the “Booth Barometer.” Every time there was a storm brewing, the injury would hurt.