The Mammoth Book of Celebrity Murders by Chris Ellis Read Free Book Online

and then going for breakfast at the National Hotel. Wanting to look his best for what would be the most important day of
his life, Booth then went for a haircut before returning to his rooms where he met with Michael O’Laughlin. O’Laughlin, despite his southern sympathies, could not resist joining in the
merriment and arrived from Baltimore with the intention of joining the party. Booth attempted to re-engage him in the conspiracy but failed – O’Laughlin was too busy enjoying himself
and had more partying planned for that very evening.
    After O’Laughlin left the hotel Booth set about organizing his own plans. He visited Ford’s Theatre which he used as a mailing address and was handed a bundle of letters by Henry
Clay Ford, brother of the theatre owner. During their brief discussion Ford told him that the President and Mrs Lincoln would be accompanied by General Grant to their theatre that very night.
Booth’s guesswork had been wrong – they would not be at the Grover Theatre as he thought and now he would need to change his plans rapidly.
    Leaving the theatre he headed over to the livery stable where he kept the horse he had bought while in Maryland and instructed the liveryman to deliver the large, heavy horse to Ned Spangler who
would put it in the stables he had readied just behind Ford’s Theatre. His plan now was to allow Lewis Paine to use the horse as his getaway and so he now needed a horse of his own. It was
mid-afternoon when visited a stable on C Street, where he ordered the stable lad to make the horse available and ready to go by 4 p.m.
    Booth next arrived at Mrs Surratt’s boarding house where he found her preparing to leave for a brief visit out of town with Louis Weichmann, her long-time lodger. Booth now fully
implicated Mrs Surratt by handing her a small package wrapped in coarse brown paper and tied with twine, which he requested she take with her and deliver to a man named John Lloyd at the
Surrattsville Tavern. The package would play a major part in Surratt’s life although she nearly set off without it and had to return to collect it, keeping Weichmann waiting in the carriage.
Weichmann was soon to find out what whispers had passed between Booth and John Surratt the first time they met, that it was not a property deal they were engaged in, but rather a murderous
conspiracy.
    Booth next called on Lewis Paine whome he found lolling on his bed. Booth quickly brought Paine up to date with the plan, telling him he intended to shoot the President that very evening and
demanding that he take care of General Grant. Paine accepted the assignment with little emotion, shortly thereafter checking out of his hotel and heading out for something to eat.
    Booth then unsuccessfully tried to track down George Atzerodt, leaving him a note, before heading back to Ford’s Theatre where he was seen by a number of people. It is thought that Booth
then reconnoitred the presidential theatre box. Making his way up to the mezzanine floor he would be able to see boxes six and seven, normally separated by a screen, but now enlarged to accommodate
the President’s party. As Booth made his way back out he came across a man who he had dealt with previously in respect of buying properties. When the man suggested they go for a drink in an
adjoining bar, Booth readily accepted.
    At around 4.00 p.m. Booth collected his horse from the stable and had the liveryman shorten the stirrups for him before heading off towards Grover’s Theatre. Finding the manager’s
box empty Booth settled to write a letter to the National Intelligencer , a prominent Washington newspaper. In a surprising turn of events, as Booth was leaving the theatre he bumped into
John Mathews, one of the men he had visited in New York and who had turned him down in his quest to kidnap the President. He greeted Mathews cordially and the two spoke for a short while before
Booth asked if Mathews would kindly deliver his letter to the