In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Sic Semper Tyrannis Though this be madness, yet there is method in't. Hamlet, 2.2 Darkness had settled over the city cloaking its hidden recesses from prying eyes. The celebration of Lee's surrender was marked by brilliant illuminations of most of the government buildings. Even the brightest lanterns, however , could not reach the back alleys where the city's underclass roamed. It was Good Friday,aholy dayreserved for the remembrance of man's sin against God-but it was joy, not sin, that was on the ~ninds of the people this glorious night. Jubilation was everywhere as the victors celebrated the joyous news of Lee's surrender five days before. AtJohn Ford's theater a special benefit performance was scheduled for America's leading lady, Laura Keene. Miss Keene would receive the lion's share of the house receipts as payment for her star performances on the stage. This night would prove to be especiallylucrative for Miss Keene, who would play to a packed house. Earlier in the day word had been sent to the Evening Star and National bztellige7zcer that the president and his wife would attend the theater that evening. Handbills were printed announcing the special event.' Among the guests would be Ulysses S. Grant, the hero of the hour. It would be an opportunity for the people to see the two great leaders together. Grant, however, would not attend. It was a few minutes past 9:30 P.M. when Booth made his way up the narrow alley leading to the rear of Ford's Theatre. The alley was known by the people who lived in the area as "Baptist Alley" from its long association with the church that had once occupied the structure. Booth moved slowly past several shacks that lined the passageway. The dim glow of candlelight leaking from one of the small shacks helped guide him as he quietly moved toward the rear of the building. Awooden door led from the rear of the stage into the alley.Reaching the door, Booth dismounted and gently tapped against its surface so as not to disturb the performance that was in progress. The door opened slightly and a man stepped outside. It was Edman Spangler, a stagehand who also worked as a carpenter-handyman around the theater. Spangler was an old friend of the Booth family. In 1852 he worked as a 114 Blood on the Moon carpenter in helping build the Booth home in Be1Air. Spangler now worked at the theater shiftingscenerybetweenacts.The twomen whspered briefly.Booth asked Spangler to watch his horse while he went inside for a few moments. Although Spangler was busy with the play, he couldn't refuse his charming friend. Once Booth entered the theater, however, Spanglerwould call foryoung Joseph Burroughs to watch the horse while he returned to his work behind the stage. Burroughs worked as a general do-all around the theater, passing out flyers, carrying messages, and selling peanuts to patrons. He had earned the name "John Peanuts."' Spangler turned Booth's horse over to Burroughs who soon stretched out on a small bench that stood next to the building. Stepping inside the rear of the theater, Booth took hold of a metal ring fastened in the floor and carefully lifted a trapdoor exposing a set of steps leading down into a basement beneath the stage. Descending the stairs, he felt his way across the dirt floor to the opposite side, where he came upon another set of steps. Climbing these he pushed open a second trapdoor that led back to the floor he had just been on, only now he was on the other side of the backstage area. In this way Booth was able to pass from one side of the stage to the other without being seen or interferinghith the play in progress immediately in his front. The maneuver required a familiarity with the theater and the underground layout of the building. Having passed to the other sideof the stage,Booth made hisway through a side door that led into a narrow alley. The alley ran between the theater and an adjoining saloon before emptying onto the sidewalk in front of the theater. Booth's familiarity with the theater served him well. He was able to leave his horse at the rear of the building while malung his way unnoticed to the sidewalk in its front. In this way, his horse was safely positioned in the rear of the building in readiness...

Share