1 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: Body Backs with Joseph Scott Morgan. I've been to two 2 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: locations over the course of my life where presidential assassinations 3 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: took place. I got to say I was left surprised 4 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: by both. I don't know how this kind of figure 5 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: is into the calculus, if you will, are what my 6 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: expectation was. I went to Dallas and stood just adjacent 7 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: to what they term as the sniper's nest on Dealey 8 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: Plause in Texas school Book Depository. There looked out that 9 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: window and I could see the road stretching on before me. 10 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: And what really kind of stood out to me, Having 11 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: watched newsreels for years and years relative to the Kennedy assassination, 12 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: I always imagined that area was going to be really, 13 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: really big massive. It wasn't. It was kind of condensed, 14 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: if you will. Now. I actually went down and when 15 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: traffic wasn't approaching me, I went out and stood on 16 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: the X where they claimed that the fatal shot was sustained. 17 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 1: But it seemed small. However, I went to Ford's Theater 18 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: as well. Other than the building being very very old 19 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: and probably having one of the best museums I've ever 20 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 1: been in period. Down in the basement, the space of 21 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: Ford's Theater was so much larger than I expected. And 22 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: as I stood there and I looked, and of course 23 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: it's not necessarily configured like it was at that time. 24 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,279 Speaker 1: They had to do a lot of restorate of work 25 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: and repairs and all those sort of things. But the 26 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: approximations of where everything is, you can only imagine that 27 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:03,279 Speaker 1: as a single sho shot rings out and the sound 28 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: of maybe ripping bunting as a spur is caught in 29 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: it and John Wilkes booth falls to the stage below, 30 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: it would echo in that space, everybody frozen in tom 31 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 1: It's hard to take the measure when great men fall. 32 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: But today we're going to talk about the assassination an 33 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: autopsy of our sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln. I'm Joseph Scott 34 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: Morgan and this is Bodybags. Dave Mack, my friend, a 35 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: senior crime reporter with Crime Online. When I proposed this 36 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: to you, I don't know if you thought that I 37 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: was out of my mind or if you thought that, Wow, 38 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 1: this is going to be really intriguing. I was fascinated 39 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,799 Speaker 1: by the prospect. That's why I wanted to do this. 40 00:02:55,560 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: I've always been interested in exactly what was found relative 41 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: to Abe Lincoln and his mortal remains, how did they 42 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: go about assessing what had happened? And so much has 43 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: been written about Lincoln. I think that probably out of 44 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 1: every president, there's been more books written than any other 45 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: president we've ever had, and they still continue to be 46 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: written today. But you know, when you get down to it, 47 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,639 Speaker 1: he was a man. He was a man that died 48 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: at the hand of another man, and he was felt, 49 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: like so many other people have died in our country, 50 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: at the end of the muzzle of a weapon. I 51 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: just wanted to explore that. Were you kind of surprised 52 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: when I pitched this to you? 53 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: My first thought when you suggested doing it, I thought, Okay, 54 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 2: I know nothing. I mean, other than the shot from 55 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: John Wilkes Booth. I am totally ignorant of his death 56 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 2: and what took place in those hours between the time 57 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: he was shot in the time he died. I know 58 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: plenty of rumors, I guess are theories of things that 59 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 2: had because no matter what happens when you talk about 60 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: Abraham Lincoln and the assassination, there are so many rabbit 61 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 2: holes to take a tour of from conspiracy theories to 62 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: know what really happened, which, by the way, was a conspiracy. 63 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 2: I remember mentioning this one day on my radio show, saying, 64 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 2: you know, we'll talk about the conspiracy surrounding the assassination 65 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 2: of President Lincoln. And I had people that were mad. 66 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 2: They thought I was just muddying the water that you know. 67 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: I was shocked that people don't know what really happened. Okay, 68 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 2: So when you mentioned covering it, I thought, Okay, this 69 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 2: is one big part of the story that most of 70 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 2: us don't know and cannot understand what really happened when 71 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 2: President Lincoln was shot in a public place at night 72 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 2: with an audience by an actor. I mean, there's a 73 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 2: lot going on in that moment. You're a scholar, you're 74 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: a forensic genius, you are all of these things. And 75 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 2: I'm gonna be honest, I'm waiting to hear what really happened, 76 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: the truth of what took place medically speaking with President Lincoln. 77 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: What's shocking to me. I guess I'm taking this in 78 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: measure compared to the way we see things now. I've 79 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: been to presidential inaugurations, I've been in the presence of presidents. 80 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 1: I almost got t boned one day in downtown Atlanta 81 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: many years ago by al Gore's detail that were blowing 82 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: red lights going to CNN, and I was actually returning 83 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: from a death scene. I just worked and I was 84 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 1: down by CNN Center and I could hear sirens, But 85 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: I wasn't expected because in downtown Atlanta, you don't expect 86 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: to see people driving like really really fast on the streets. 87 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: First off, the streets are horrible, They're real bumpy and uneven. 88 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 1: Not in that case. And there before me flew the 89 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 1: motorcade of al Gore when he was a vice president. 90 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: That's a vice president. I think the thing that many 91 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: people ask or many people have questions about when it 92 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: comes to President Lincoln is access and opportunity. Abraham Lincoln 93 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: was known for his kind of folksy way, and back 94 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: during those times, just measure this by what happens today, Dave. 95 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 1: If an individual wanted to come and see the President 96 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: at the White House, all they merely had to do 97 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: was it was referred to as presenting your card, and 98 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 1: you would knock on the front door of the White House. 99 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: You would show up, the door would be answered by servant, 100 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 1: and you would hand your card like a business card 101 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,679 Speaker 1: over to the person that greets you at the door, 102 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 1: and they would announce you. Now, you might not get 103 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: to see the president. It stated that there would people 104 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: be standing around, milling about and waiting, but there were 105 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: people that got into see them. There were really no 106 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: appointments that were needed. You could just take a shot, 107 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: no pun intended, and see him. And of course that 108 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: night at Ford's Theater, I think one of the lingering 109 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: questions guarding the president and what happened that night a 110 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: low these many years. How did Booth get access to 111 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: the president to his box? And it's one thing to 112 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: stand outside of the President's box. Because let me kind 113 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: of paint the picture for you if you're and having 114 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: been there, if you're in Ford's Theater, and I know 115 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: I'm going to say this wrong to all the people 116 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: that have theater background, so forgive me in advance, but 117 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: if you're standing center stage, if you will in the audience, 118 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: there's an orchestra pit right at the Ford portion in 119 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: front of the stage. They kind of sit down and 120 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: the stage itself is pitched, which I was struck by. 121 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: The stage itself gradually rises from the front to the 122 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: rear and then it comes to this big crescendo where 123 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: you can see that there is a tremendous elevation change. 124 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: It's not like it is today. The stage is completely 125 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: different from the way they have it reassembled down there. 126 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: I was struck by that. But up to your right 127 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: in Ford's Theater, there is a president what they called 128 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: a box up there. It was the Presidential Box and 129 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: it's still festooned today. They have bunting, the red, white 130 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: and blue bunting that's up there, and there's a portrait 131 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: of President Washington hanging on the front of it. They 132 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 1: had prepped it that way that night, knowing and this 133 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: is the key, knowing that the president was going to come. 134 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: It was actually announced that he was going to be. 135 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 2: There, you know, Joe, I actually found out. They had 136 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: flyers printed up announcing that he would be there and 137 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 2: what time he would be there. 138 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 1: This is fascinating because this is only four days after Lee. 139 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: It's surrendered at Appomattox, and people have described those times. 140 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: If you can imagine coming through this tremendous darkness, and 141 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: it is a darkness that none of us can comprehend. 142 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 1: I don't think of that war. In the movie Lincoln 143 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: Spielwerk's Lincoln character of Lincoln is played by Daniel day Lewis, 144 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: and he makes the comment describing describing the Civil War 145 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: is I want to put an end to this pestilential war. 146 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: I love that term. It just encompasses everything. Can you imagine, 147 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,319 Speaker 1: all of a sudden you get this news. They didn't 148 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: all they had telegraph and horseback. Suddenly the clouds began 149 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 1: to lift. Everybody's in a celebratory mood, and even reports 150 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: from the audience that night said that there was a 151 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: sense of levity in the audience that people It was 152 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: like it was celebratory and people were very I don't 153 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 1: even know if happy is an insufficient term relief. 154 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,959 Speaker 2: I think oddly though, even at that time, Lee had 155 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 2: surrendered to Grant four days earlier, but Tennessee was still fighting. 156 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, there were still battles going on. I don't know 157 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: that the surrender in North Carolina, which followed the surrender 158 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: at Appomattics had taken place even to this point, and 159 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 1: still out west you had skirmishes going on out in Texas, 160 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: so it hadn't actually come to an end. Things moved 161 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: a lot slower back then than they do now. Going 162 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 1: back even decades prior to this, The Battle of New 163 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 1: Orleans in the War of eighteen twelve was actually fought 164 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: after the end of hostilities, So that's kind of an 165 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: interesting It gives you an idea of how slow things moved, 166 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,079 Speaker 1: and they didn't have telegraph then, but it was a 167 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: different pace, and with that different pace, you didn't have 168 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:35,959 Speaker 1: the rigor that you have now when it comes to 169 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:37,119 Speaker 1: presidential security. 170 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 2: But you mentioned somebody being able to walk up to 171 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:41,959 Speaker 2: the White House, knock on the door and present your 172 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 2: card and have access to the White House and possibly 173 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 2: the president. So at Ford's Theater where he's in the 174 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 2: presidential box where everybody's been told he's going to be, 175 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: it was not necessarily guarded. It has been said that 176 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 2: it was essentially unguarded. 177 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:06,239 Speaker 1: One of the most infamous characters in this whole tragedy 178 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: was this fellow John Parker, who was actually one of 179 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: the original members of the first established police force for 180 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: DC what we now know is DC Police. He was 181 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: actually one of the first members that were hired. And 182 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: I mean, we'll break it down. He was a drunk. 183 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 1: He had been reprimanded multiple times, had been brought before 184 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: board over and over and over again and had never 185 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 1: been terminated from employment. Out of all of the people 186 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: in the world, he was actually assigned to protect the president. Now, 187 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: this is before the days where you had a Secret 188 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: Service presence taking care of everything. These guys that work 189 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: with Secret Service now they do advance planning so far 190 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: out that I think a lot of people would be 191 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: shocked to know everything that goes into that protection detail. 192 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: And back then, you know, when the Secret Service was 193 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: initially established, it had nothing to do with presidential security. 194 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: That's something that they inherited years later. There would be 195 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: two more presidents assassinated after Lincoln before it kind of 196 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: clicked with them that hey, you probably need a full 197 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: time detail. And back then they were known to do 198 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: counterfeit investigation. This John Parker character was assigned to Lincoln 199 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:31,439 Speaker 1: and he would be found sleeping on duty many times. 200 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,839 Speaker 1: He liked to as the older generation used to say, 201 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: he liked to pull the cork. And even that night, 202 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: after everyone got settled in the box up to the 203 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: right aspect or to the right of the stage, there 204 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,599 Speaker 1: was a chair for him out there that he would 205 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: be seated in, and you got kind of two doors 206 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 1: that you have to walk through in order to get 207 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: access to the actual box. He would not have seen 208 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: inside of the box he was stationed there. It was 209 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: at some point in time he was seen going down leaving, 210 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: chatting with the carriage driver for the President and Missus Lincoln. 211 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: Then adjourney over to a bar that was called the Star, 212 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: and I've seen it. It's immediately adjacent as you're facing 213 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: forts theater. It's to the right, and he began pulling 214 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: a cork over there during this period of time when 215 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 1: the play was going on. Re enters the theater, they believe, 216 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: and finds himself a choice seat down in the audience 217 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: so that he can enjoy the play, so the president 218 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 1: is completely unguarded. Then enters John Wilkes Booth his day, 219 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,199 Speaker 1: he would have been I guess from a movie star perspective, 220 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: he's Ben Affleck or a Matt Damon, or he's dad brother. 221 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 2: Because of his brother Edwin being an act. 222 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, hey, you know, you're absolutely right. And their dad, Julius, 223 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 1: you know, had immigrated from Great Britain, very well known. 224 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 1: I mean, this was a theater family. They were known 225 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,080 Speaker 1: and he was known. He was regarded as very handsome, 226 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 1: spent a lot of time at Ford's theater. But he 227 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: was just full of vitriol when it came to the president. 228 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 1: He blamed the president for everything. He supported quote unquote 229 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: the Southern cause, but never quite found the guts to 230 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: go and sign up and stand a post and shoulder 231 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 1: a weapon. Never could find that within himself to do. 232 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: But yet he planned several attempts. I think at one 233 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: point time he's going to try to kidnap the President 234 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: and ransoming. 235 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 2: That plan had to be changed, obviously for all kinds 236 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 2: of reasons. But you mentioned he didn't have the guts 237 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 2: to shoulder a weapon. He didn't have the guts to 238 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 2: man up and actually fight for what he claims he believes. 239 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 2: But he did think by doing this he would become 240 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 2: a hero in the South, which plays into what really 241 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 2: happened after the fact. 242 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: As a Southerner, I have to admit I think that 243 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: Lincoln was about bringing the country back together, healing. I 244 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: think that this was the worst possible thing that could 245 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: have ever have happened. He did damage to the South 246 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: that would probably rival the damage that had actually occurred 247 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: during the war. When the North had an opportunity to 248 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: visit vengeance upon the South. Boy they did it, and 249 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: they did it in spades. 250 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 3: Man. 251 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: I mean, they just wrecked the South for years and years. 252 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: And it was because of this act, this act of 253 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: this person. People were sick of war. They didn't want 254 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: anything else to do with it. That night back in 255 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: eighteen sixty five and that old theater, when John Wilkes 256 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: Booth pulled that Philadelphia derringer from his pocket, he pulled 257 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: that hammer back and he let fly that round. 258 00:15:47,960 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 3: He changed history. 259 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: You think about things in minute detail, particularly when it 260 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: comes to the assassination or president. The mere action of 261 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 1: placing the pad of your right index finger onto that smooth, 262 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: metallic surface of what otherwise would be known as a 263 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: beautiful and elegant weapon and engaging that trigger mechanism. That 264 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: one motion, that one initiation, that one action set in 265 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: motion things that I don't know that we have ever 266 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: recovered from Dave. 267 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 2: I think that what took place in the months leading 268 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 2: up to the assassination, from the summer of eighteen sixty four, 269 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 2: when John Willicks Booth was gathering amongst some people who 270 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 2: felt the same way he did, or at least leaned 271 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 2: that way, up until the point of the assassination, I 272 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 2: think that whole planning stage and the execution that took 273 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 2: place damaged our country and there are places still felt 274 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 2: to this day. I think Winston County, Alabama comes to 275 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 2: mind if you ever have a chance. And as long 276 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 2: as we're talking history, there's a place called Loony's Tavern 277 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 2: in Winston County, and at Looney's Tavern, the county decided 278 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 2: to not be involved in the Civil War, and they 279 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 2: decided they were going to be neutral Switzerland right here 280 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:34,199 Speaker 2: in Winston County, Alabama, and to this day, because they 281 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 2: remain neutral, if you go into Winston County, you can 282 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 2: tell how the road changes from the minute you go 283 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 2: into Winston County because they don't get support from the 284 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 2: state of Alabama the way other counties do because they 285 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 2: refused to be involved. That's how far out I mean. 286 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 2: It is twenty twenty three and we're talking about something 287 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,640 Speaker 2: that happened in eighteen sixty one, two, three, four and five. 288 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 2: But anyway, I had a question for you, because I'm 289 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,880 Speaker 2: not a gun expert, Joe, I don't know that much 290 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 2: about what they do. I'm looking at everything surrounding the 291 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 2: assassination and what John Willis Booth was going to use 292 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 2: He couldn't walk into the theater carrying a rifle. It 293 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 2: had to be a small gun. He knew as an 294 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 2: actor he would have access to areas within the theater 295 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 2: that the regular patron might not, so he knows he 296 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 2: can get up there. But he still has to have 297 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 2: a weapon that will do what he needs it to do. 298 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 2: But it has to be small enough that he can 299 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 2: get in there with it. So what are we talking 300 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 2: about with the gun that he used. Was that it 301 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 2: didn't have a magazine. It only had one shot, right. 302 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I did. 303 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 1: It's quite a beautiful weapon when you see it. And 304 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: I've seen this weapon, the weapon. You remember I'd mentioned 305 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 1: the theater museum Forts Theater. It's in the basement and look, 306 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: I recommend anybody if you're in DC, go to Forts Theater. 307 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:58,640 Speaker 1: It's one of those places that you got to pay 308 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: to get into. You know, there's a lot stuff that's 309 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 1: free in DC. That's the beauty of it if you're 310 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: a history person. But for theey you got to pay, 311 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: it's worth every dime you're going to spend. Trust me, 312 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: this weapon it looks like it's floating in the air 313 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: and when you see it, but it's pegged up there 314 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: with a couple of really tiny little nails and hanging 315 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: suspended in the air, and you can see it. And 316 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: what's really kind of fascinating about it is that you 317 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,120 Speaker 1: can move around this thing and you can actually stare 318 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,199 Speaker 1: right down the muzzle of it. I mean when I 319 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: say steer down the muzzle, you can stare down the 320 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: muzzle so effectively that you can actually see the lands 321 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: and grooves which are the twists that are built into 322 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 1: this barrel. I think many folks believe that this is 323 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: almost like an old fashioned smooth or musket. It's not. 324 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 1: It was back then. It was cutting edge technology. It's 325 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: referred to as a Philadelphia darringer. It had a walnut stock, 326 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 1: has a walnut stock, and it's beautifully embossed. This style 327 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 1: of weapon is something that people will referred to as 328 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:04,879 Speaker 1: a poker pistol, which is interesting also as a pocket pistol, 329 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 1: a palm pistol, a belly gun. And it was meant, 330 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 1: as you had stated, for concealment purposes. And the effective 331 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: range on it is very limited, very very limited. Once 332 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 1: you get outside of probably about ten feet, you might 333 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: as well be throwing rocks at that point. In time. 334 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: But the reason the scene is referred to as a 335 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,679 Speaker 1: poker pistol is that the distance across a poker table 336 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:35,639 Speaker 1: that the scene would have been deployed in would be 337 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:39,160 Speaker 1: sufficient to the task if you were firing at somebody 338 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,439 Speaker 1: across the table. I don't know if they're cheating at 339 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:45,120 Speaker 1: cards or whatever the case might be. But here's what's interesting. 340 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: When you look down the muzzle of this weapon. You 341 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: remember I talked about lands and grooves for its time, 342 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: this particular weapon had a left hand twist, which when 343 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 1: you think about lands and grooves, which are those kind 344 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: of spiraling marks that run down the length of the 345 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: barrel to add stability to the round. It's kind of 346 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: like throwing a football. The reason really good football players 347 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: are great, or quarterbacks that is, is if they can 348 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 1: get a tight spiral on ball, it maintains energy. Okay, 349 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: the bullet is spinning, the football is spinning, and it 350 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:24,439 Speaker 1: maintains it holds onto what energy that it can, and 351 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: it stays on target. Whereas if you fire something down 352 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: a smooth bore, that projectile is kind of rattling down 353 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: the barrel, if you will, and it has no kind 354 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: of predictability to it. Now, there are parameters for this thing. 355 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 1: First off, you have to consider the size of the round. 356 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: You have to consider the amount of powder or propellant 357 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: that would have been used. 358 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 2: What would it have looked like. Would it have been 359 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 2: like a bullet like we know today or would it 360 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:55,919 Speaker 2: be a round ball? And where would the powder be. 361 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 1: It's been known under several different calibers. And remember when 362 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: we say caliber, we're talking about the diameter in inches 363 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 1: around the circumference of the round itself. So this is 364 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: some people call it a forty four caliber. Some people 365 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 1: call it a forty five caliber. That is the Philadelphia Derringer. 366 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 1: It was a forty four caliber. That means point four 367 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: to four inches in diameter. Okay, the muzzle of the weapon. 368 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: Booth loaded this thing with a point four to one, 369 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: So he didn't get the maximum power because as it's 370 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: packed in there, as it's packed in there, and you 371 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,719 Speaker 1: have to use If people have seen what a ramrod is, 372 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 1: it's the attachment. It looks like a rod that's generally 373 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:46,960 Speaker 1: held beneath the length of the barrel on a weapon. 374 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 1: That is what was referred to as a muzzle loader. 375 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 1: So you have to put the round down the barrel 376 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: from the open end of the barrel and pack it 377 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: down in there. In order to get this thing to 378 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 1: initiate well. He used a caliber of bullet which was 379 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: a forty one caliber. The bullet is actually smaller. What 380 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: you want is primarily you want a round that is 381 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: going to be tightly fitted in there, because that is 382 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: going to take advantage of this muzzle, of this blast 383 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: of the propellant. As the firing sequence is initiated, you're 384 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 1: going to transfer more energy that's kinetic energy to this 385 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:27,639 Speaker 1: round as it travels out of the end of this 386 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 1: muzzle and gets to target. You have to preload this 387 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:53,439 Speaker 1: thing and have it loaded in your pocket. Generally, the 388 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: hammer is forward and hammer is the big mechanism. If 389 00:23:57,359 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: you'll take a look at this thing online, it's again 390 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: it's it's elegant when you see it. The hammer mechanism 391 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:05,439 Speaker 1: is that thing that has to be driven forward by 392 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,400 Speaker 1: the trigger. When you pull the trigger, the hammer slams 393 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: forward and initiates the firing sequence. And there's a couple 394 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 1: of components here. There is what's referred to as there's 395 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:19,880 Speaker 1: actually what's referred to as a nipple in the hammer housing, 396 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 1: which has a little firing port on the top. So 397 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:25,879 Speaker 1: you have to take a percussion cap which has got 398 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 1: an explosive in it, it's brass. You set it on 399 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 1: the nipple, okay, And so when the hammer, when the 400 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: trigger is pulled and the hammer slams forward, it sends 401 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: this little spark down this little portal inside of the nipple, 402 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 1: and it travels down until it strikes. That spark strikes 403 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: the actual propellant or powder inside of the muzzle that 404 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:53,639 Speaker 1: you've already preloaded. That explosion goes off, and so the 405 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 1: bullet then travels out of the end of the barrel 406 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: and heads toward the target. So pull the trigger. Now, 407 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 1: for instance, on a semi automatic weapon, you don't really 408 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 1: get the sense of any kind of delay, even though 409 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:12,400 Speaker 1: there is in a millisecond when the firing pin strikes 410 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:16,359 Speaker 1: that primer cap that we have on that's built into 411 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 1: a bullet now or to live ammo, and that firing 412 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 1: sequence all initiates inside the barrel. Not with this, what 413 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 1: would have happened is as Booth took this weapon out 414 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 1: of his pocket, he would have had to have cocked 415 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: the hammer externally. And it's really high. It looks like 416 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:38,640 Speaker 1: it sits about one to two inches above the top 417 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 1: level of the barrel. The back side of the barrel. 418 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: He would have pulled it back and it would have 419 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 1: clicked twice. You have a half cock and then you 420 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:48,440 Speaker 1: have a full cock. In order to fire it, you 421 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,120 Speaker 1: got to pull it all the way back so it'd 422 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: go click click. Okay. He probably would have done this 423 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: before he entered the area where where Lincoln and Mary Todd, 424 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: Lincoln and Major Rathbone and his day were seated. He 425 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:04,159 Speaker 1: would have walked up to the back of Lincoln and 426 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 1: pointed the scene at his head. And we can get 427 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: into that in a moment. But when he initiated this 428 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 1: firing sequence, Dave, you would have heard a click as 429 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:17,680 Speaker 1: the thing is fired, and then you would have heard 430 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: a small explosion. It would have been like that and 431 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 1: then boom. So it's like boom like this. What happens 432 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: is that externally, that hammer slams forward on that primer cap, 433 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:36,239 Speaker 1: initiates a tiny explosion, and that tiny explosion initiates a 434 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: bigger explosion, which is the propellant, and it drives that 435 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 1: round out of the end of that barrel. Now, today, 436 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: if you were try to get an idea of the 437 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: energy of this weapon, okay, in today's standards, it would 438 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 1: be probably the equivalent of our highest powered air gun 439 00:26:59,000 --> 00:26:59,399 Speaker 1: that we have. 440 00:26:59,640 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 3: Wow. 441 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 1: And the further away you are from target, the more 442 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 1: diminished the power is. So you have to be up close. 443 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: And of course Wilkes was close. He was probably within 444 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:15,199 Speaker 1: inches of Lincoln's head when he pulled that trigger, and 445 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:16,919 Speaker 1: his whole firing scene was initiated. 446 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 2: When that firing sequence initiated, the click okay, squeezes the 447 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 2: trigger and the beginning it starts. Would there have been 448 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:29,479 Speaker 2: enough time for President Lincoln to react to hearing that 449 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:32,159 Speaker 2: click the figure is pulled, for him to react and 450 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 2: begin to turn before before the bullet came out. 451 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:38,920 Speaker 1: That's the thing about this. I'm so glad you brought 452 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:43,360 Speaker 1: this up. As we have stated, and everybody knows John 453 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:46,160 Speaker 1: Wilkes Booth was an actor, and he had been present 454 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:48,680 Speaker 1: for this play so many times. He knew some of 455 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:51,200 Speaker 1: the people that were in the play. And not only 456 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: did he know that, he knew because it's a comedy, 457 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: all right, he knew when laughter was going to rise 458 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: and fall, and he timed it as a line is 459 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 1: delivered that during the period of this play that elicits 460 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: the loudest roar of laughter that can be experienced. According 461 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:20,200 Speaker 1: to what we know about the nature of the injury 462 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 1: that President Lincoln sustained, he apparently was leaning forward, perhaps okay, 463 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 1: with his head kind of pitched downward, all right. And 464 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:35,720 Speaker 1: some people believe he wasn't looking at the stage, but 465 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: he was probably looking in the orchestra pit, which is 466 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 1: in front of the stage. There may be some instrument 467 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: caught his attention when you're around an orchestra, and Lincoln 468 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 1: would have been around a lot of music, because every 469 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 1: time he walks in a room, somebody's gonna play Heil 470 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 1: to the Chief. There's still this fascination about a group 471 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 1: of people getting together and playing instruments, and they're playing 472 00:28:55,600 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: the soundtrack essentially for this play. Some people believe that 473 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,600 Speaker 1: he's looking down at the orchestra pit, and this kind 474 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: of dictates the orientation of his head relative to the 475 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 1: firing line. But Booth knew enough about the place so 476 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: that when laughter began to rise, he knew that his movements, 477 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 1: the cocking of that weapon, and any comment he would 478 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: make would be drowned out. He knew that anybody else 479 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: that might be occupying that area up there. Their attention 480 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: would be drawn to the stage, and the idea is 481 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: to get the eyes away from you if you're the assassin. 482 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 1: And to a great degree, he had planned this perfectly 483 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 1: in that sense, didn't plan his escape very well, but 484 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 1: he planned this to this point. He knew that this 485 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: was the best time. So when he fired that round 486 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 1: into the back of the president's head, he had one 487 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:53,640 Speaker 1: attempt to do it. Here's a fascinating thing about these 488 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 1: Philadelphia and Deringers as they referred to. You could buy 489 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 1: them in pairs. As a matter of fact, you could 490 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 1: buy I think I think this is correct. You could 491 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: actually buy a pair of these things for twenty four dollars, 492 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 1: which was a tremendous amount of money, but booth is 493 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: very successful, would have been considered in that day wealthy. 494 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:21,240 Speaker 1: Probably You could actually buy in pairs. And it stands 495 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:23,240 Speaker 1: the reason that you would want it because if one 496 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 1: round was not effective, you've got a second or fallback 497 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 1: weapon to fire as well. Because these are not semi automatic, 498 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 1: it's a pains taking practice to have to go through 499 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 1: and load it. And the way the loading actually took 500 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 1: place is that you would measure out the number of 501 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 1: grains that it would take grains of propellant, which this 502 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 1: is a black powder weapon. So it's very messy, very 503 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:51,280 Speaker 1: very messy. It's not like smokeless powder like we have today. 504 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 1: You put the powder down into the barrel, so you 505 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:57,479 Speaker 1: have to lift the muzzle so it's pointed skyward. You 506 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:01,320 Speaker 1: pour the powder down in there. Okay. Then you put 507 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 1: a cloth patch down on top of the powder. Then 508 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 1: the ball, which is a ball. It's a ball of lead, 509 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:12,240 Speaker 1: all right. It's not the kind of conical shaped bullet 510 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:14,479 Speaker 1: that we have now that have points on them. Okay, 511 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 1: you'd ask that earlier. This is actually a ball that 512 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 1: is now rammed down in there with this tiny little 513 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 1: ramrod that's attached on the base of this Philadelphia derringer, 514 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 1: and the bullet is what's referred to as seated at 515 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 1: that time. You get it tightly packed in there so 516 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 1: that when you're walking up and you're walking up down 517 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 1: the streets, or you're riding on horseback or whatever it is, 518 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:39,520 Speaker 1: bullet's not going to fall out. You have to have 519 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:42,000 Speaker 1: it tightly seated in there so that when you do 520 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,200 Speaker 1: use this thing and you cock it and you set 521 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:48,440 Speaker 1: that action in motion, you're guaranteed. First off, you're going 522 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: to still have a round in there, it's not going 523 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:53,080 Speaker 1: to fall off in your pocket. And then secondly that 524 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 1: it's tightly secured enough so that you're going to get 525 00:31:55,640 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 1: maximum pressure when that explosion takes place. Hey, friends, if 526 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:13,440 Speaker 1: that sounded like it ended kind of abruptly, there's a 527 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 1: part two. Please join us for part two of the 528 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:24,479 Speaker 1: episode regarding Abraham Lincoln his death and autopsy. I am 529 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 1: Joseph Scott Morgan and this is Bodybags.