Legend has it that Booth was hiding out side in the shadows near the front door of the theater when the Lincolns had arrived. It was about 9:00pm, this was the time for booth to go in to the theater for the first time since Lincoln had arrived. even though he had entered the theater after the play had started he was still on time, every word spoken was like a clockeach time the clock ticks down. Once hearing his diaolge cue he would know excatly how much time remained in the performance. He knew that he still had an hour so he got Ned Spangler to hold his out in the ally, Ned refused because he had a job to do in the theater so Booth got John, the boy who sold peanuts, and John held the reigns of his horse for him. Booth then walked into the back of the theater went under the stage through a dark hallway that only actors could go through and out the front of Fords. From there he went to the Star Saloon at around 10:o0pm. Alone Booth drank whiskey, anyone who knew Booth did not disturb him in the saloon. Booth slapped some coins on the bar and left without saying a word. As he went onto Tenth st. he noticed the presidents carriage parked and waiting to leave with the president once the play was over.
It was time Booth entered the theater lobby, listing to the diaolage onstage. He was still on time. He climed the curving stair case to the balcony, following the same path as the Lincolns took to their box. he walked slowly along the wall. One theater patron, still hoping to see Grant noticed a man approching the box. He reconised Booth. Booth could see the door of the vestiblue that lead directly to the presidents box. What he saw,did not see, supprised him. There was no guard at the presidents door. He expected to see someone guarding the door. Booth turned the door knob and pushed open the door, there was no guard no one stood between him and Lincoln. inside the box the Lincolns where enjoying themselfs, not because of the play but because the where side by side out of the White House with one of the most enjoyable weeks of their lives. Mrs. Lincoln asked her husband "What will miss Harris think of me holding on to you so?" Lincoln replied with his last words "She will not think a thing about it." Booth closed the door and put the wood plank that he had hidden here a few hours ago in front of the door. Lincoln looked in the room Lincoln was sitting on the left, closet to Booth, facing the stage. His wife set to the right of him, on her right was Miss. Harris and next to her Major Rathbone. Booth could enter the box shoot Lincoln with out having to get past the Major. On stage there was 4 scenes left. It was around 10:00pm. Booth plunged into his pockets and withdrew his weapons, in his right the pistol and his left the knife. Booth listened to the words on stage for his signal, he knew that in just a few moment there would only be one actor on stage and he would speck a line that would be for sure to produce laugher through out the theater and drown out any noise even hopefully a bullet Booth thought. Booths thumb pulled back the hammer of the gun until he herd it cock into firing position. Booth turned the corner not hearing words anymore but a dying clock in his head. It was 10:13pm. Hawk began reciting the last words the president will ever hear a series of corny insults that delighted the aduiance. Lincoln was so near that Booth could have reached out and taped him with the muzzle of his pistol. No one in the box had seen or heard him enter. It was now time Booth raised his right hand to sholder height, extended the pistol forward. He was so close all he had to do was aim the gun. Booth squeezed the trigger. the comic line was spoken "You sockdologizing old mantrap" was followed by an explostion of laugher. The black powder charge exploded ans spit the bullet toward Lincolns head. The muzzle flash lighted the box for a moment like a mini lighting bolt. Booth had succeeded. Lincolns head dropped forward, his body lost all muscle control and saged in his rocking chair. To read on go to the second part.
It was time Booth entered the theater lobby, listing to the diaolage onstage. He was still on time. He climed the curving stair case to the balcony, following the same path as the Lincolns took to their box. he walked slowly along the wall. One theater patron, still hoping to see Grant noticed a man approching the box. He reconised Booth. Booth could see the door of the vestiblue that lead directly to the presidents box. What he saw,did not see, supprised him. There was no guard at the presidents door. He expected to see someone guarding the door. Booth turned the door knob and pushed open the door, there was no guard no one stood between him and Lincoln. inside the box the Lincolns where enjoying themselfs, not because of the play but because the where side by side out of the White House with one of the most enjoyable weeks of their lives. Mrs. Lincoln asked her husband "What will miss Harris think of me holding on to you so?" Lincoln replied with his last words "She will not think a thing about it." Booth closed the door and put the wood plank that he had hidden here a few hours ago in front of the door. Lincoln looked in the room Lincoln was sitting on the left, closet to Booth, facing the stage. His wife set to the right of him, on her right was Miss. Harris and next to her Major Rathbone. Booth could enter the box shoot Lincoln with out having to get past the Major. On stage there was 4 scenes left. It was around 10:00pm. Booth plunged into his pockets and withdrew his weapons, in his right the pistol and his left the knife. Booth listened to the words on stage for his signal, he knew that in just a few moment there would only be one actor on stage and he would speck a line that would be for sure to produce laugher through out the theater and drown out any noise even hopefully a bullet Booth thought. Booths thumb pulled back the hammer of the gun until he herd it cock into firing position. Booth turned the corner not hearing words anymore but a dying clock in his head. It was 10:13pm. Hawk began reciting the last words the president will ever hear a series of corny insults that delighted the aduiance. Lincoln was so near that Booth could have reached out and taped him with the muzzle of his pistol. No one in the box had seen or heard him enter. It was now time Booth raised his right hand to sholder height, extended the pistol forward. He was so close all he had to do was aim the gun. Booth squeezed the trigger. the comic line was spoken "You sockdologizing old mantrap" was followed by an explostion of laugher. The black powder charge exploded ans spit the bullet toward Lincolns head. The muzzle flash lighted the box for a moment like a mini lighting bolt. Booth had succeeded. Lincolns head dropped forward, his body lost all muscle control and saged in his rocking chair. To read on go to the second part.