New Eyewitness Account?

[RJNorton]

(04-24-2018 09:06 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  Also, isn't there some uncertainty on whether or not the President's head was actually in Mrs. Keene's lap? I cannot remember where I read this.

Hi Craig. You are right on. We have discussed Laura Keene's presence (or lack of it) before. Please see the discussions here and here.

Kees stated the issue so succinctly I think I'll put his words in this thread, too:

"Imagine the scene shortly after JWB fired his deadly bullet… Abraham Lincoln, stretched out on the floor, three doctors (Leale, Taft, King) – maybe four (if Gatch or Sabin was there), Mary and Clara, wearing full gowns, Henry Rathbone, bleeding profusely, Kent (“About three minutes after the President was shot, I went into his box”), four soldiers (Soles, Sample, Griffiths and Corey rushed into the box), maybe five (Ltn. Bolten), maybe several others (unknown to me). Don’t forget the furniture (in addition to AL’s rocker there were at least four chairs and a settee). Imagine how much floor space this took up. And….in front of the small door a press of people. And suddenly there is Laura Keene, wearing a full gown complete with hoop skirt, carrying a pitcher of water and accompanied by Ferguson, or the alternative story by Gourlay…. Laura Keene in full dress gown, kneeling at AL’s side, taking his head in her lap. How could that have fit in the small box with all those people and furniture. How was she able to get so quick off the stage (remember in full dress gown with hoop and pitcher - where did she fetch the water?) and move through an angry mob and/or a small alleyway up a small stair. Is this all a hoax or a legend that evolved over time, or saw Laura (or her managers) an opportunity and took it by inventing this story? Where is the primary evidence that can prove that it actually happened?"