Joseph Hazleton - First Hand Account of the Assassination

[BettyO]

Recently came across this MP3 of Joseph Hazleton's account of the assassination -

Several glaring errors; but interesting all along -

   

Click here.

[RJNorton]

I find it fascinating to listen to the voice of a person who saw Booth that day and was at Ford's that night. Betty, like you say, his memory is quite faulty in some parts, but I was curious about Hazleton saying Booth wore a blue shirt. I know Dave wore a blue shirt for his reenactment in the woods. Is it solely Hazleton's word that Booth wore a blue shirt the night of the assassination? Or do we have other descriptions that corroborate Hazleton's word on this?

[BettyO]

Roger, I too was attracted by the fact that Hazelton remembered Booth's blue shirt! There are other recollections (some found by John Elliott and Barry Cauchon) which will be revealed when their book is published. I don't want to go into that now....and yes other sources state that Booth wore a blue flannel shirt. Dave was right on spot with that as well. Some of Hazleton's recollections are faulty, such as Laura Keene shouting from the stage that Lincoln had been shot by Booth. She did try and calm the audience, but did NOT mention Booth as far as we know..... still, it's so very interesting to actually hear the voice of someone who was present that night. Hazleton's recollections of Booth before the shooting are charming and not what one would think.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I find it fascinating to listen to the voice of a person who saw Booth that day and was at Ford's that night.

It absolutely is! I can't word it better than Gene on the book-thread: you find some of the most interesting things, Betty! Do you know when/where this was recorded?

[BettyO]

This was recorded about 1933 not too long before Hazelton's death in October of 1936. Hazleton was later a Hollywood actor in the silent movies, working for Warner Brothers. He made this recording in '33 at the Freeman Lang Studios in Hollywood. The original recording is held at the Huntington Library which also holds Powell's knife. Here is the URL about the recording:

hdl.huntington.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16003coll6/id/647

The actual recording is from Internet Archive.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Many thanks, Betty. I assume this is the link and a figure got lost when you posted it?! Thanks a lot again!
http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/ref/collec...ll6/id/647

[BettyO]

Thanks, Eva!

Exscuse my bad typing....your link is the correct one!

[Eva Elisabeth]

No need to thank or excuse, Betty, it was nothing but your link. I just wanted to help to make it work.

[Rsmyth]

So, along with Hazelton, we have Samuel Seymour on tape/film. Are there any others?

[BettyO]

I'm looking.....I was hoping to find Ferguson. I do have E. H. Sothern. He has that same deep theatrical voice that characterizes Edwin Booth.

[RJNorton]

So, along with Hazelton, we have Samuel Seymour on tape/film. Are there any others?

Rich, there was the incredible account from Mrs. Nelson Todd that was on radio station WOR, but I don't know if there is an audio version available. We probably shouldn't count this one. Among other things she says the broken bone in Booth's leg was so bad that "the bone actually protruded through his trousers and smeared the stage with blood."

http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...pe#pid8586

[HerbS]

The recording is truely living History of a Tragic moment in time!

[Rsmyth]

Hi Roger, Didn't Mrs. Todd also say someone swung across the stage on a rope and rescued JWB?

[BettyO]

Tarzan perhaps?

Sorry for the bombast....yes, I think that is the one where someone threw a rope to JWB and pulled him offstage or something to that effect.

[RJNorton]

Hi Roger, Didn't Mrs. Todd also say someone swung across the stage on a rope and rescued JWB?

Tarzan perhaps?

Sorry for the bombast....yes, I think that is the one where someone threw a rope to JWB and pulled him offstage or something to that effect.

Yes, she said the following:

"When Booth's spur caught and threw him to the stage he broke his leg in a terrible way, so that the bone actually protruded through his trousers and smeared the stage with blood. Naturally he couldn't move. Laura Keen leaned over and patted his head. Then to my amazement I saw a rope swing out, evidently thrown by some confederates, lasso him and whisk him into the wings. That was the last time I ever saw John Wilkes Booth."