Worst Seat in the House

[LincolnToddFan]

A few months ago I read a work of historical fiction called "Henry and Clara" that I ordered on Amazon...can't remember the author's name but that is the premise of the book...that Rathbone did indeed see Booth approach Lincoln and didn't stop him. He secretly resented and blamed the president for the heavy war casualties. He was still shell-shocked from his nightmarish experience at the Battle of the Crater.

Was Rathbone even AT the Crater? I've never read that before.

Anyway, in "Henry and Clara" Rathbone locks eyes with Booth as he approaches Lincoln...then a split second too late he reacts to try and stop him. His guilt over his behavior in the Presidential Box at Ford's Theater on Apr 15th, 1865 set him on the road to madness, murder and attempted suicide.

Last summer I met one of Clara Harris's descendants online and she told me that there is a family tradition that Clara actually reached out and touched Booth's booted foot as he vaulted over the rail and onto the stage after the shooting.