How did John Wilkes Booth get into the box Lincoln was in at Fords Theatre?

Answer 1

The door to the president's box was supposed to have been locked, and the hallway door leading to the president's box was supposed to be guarded by President Lincoln's personal guard, by the name of John Parker. Parker, was not guarding the door, instead, according to many observers, was downstairs at the tavern, next door to the theater.

Major Rathbone attended the play with the president. He said, " The door was not closed during the evening."

Answer 2

He casually walked in the front door at about 10 p.m. He had fifteen minutes to put a bullet into Lincoln's head. President Lincoln's guard was John Parker. Parker was invited to have a drink by a fellow conspirator. Parker was escorted to the tavern next to the theatre. Booth was waiting at the tavern for their arrival. When they came in, Booth knew the president was unguarded. Booth got up and left the tavern and headed to the theatre. He walked in the theatre's front door and was warmly greeted by the ushers. He went up the stairs to the balcony, walked in back of the audience and into the hallway leading to the president's box. Booth was able to do this because he was a famous actor and worked at the theatre. He was a frequent visitor. His appearance was welcome and did not cause any concern. Source: ''Lincoln, Davis, and Booth: Family Secrets''

Answer 3

The State Box, was a private room in Ford's Theater, reserved for the President and his guests.

President Lincoln was inside the State Box with his wife, and another couple, Major Henry Rathbone and his fiance', Clara Harris. The door to the State Box was supposed to be locked, and guarded by a Body Guard, at all times.

John Parker, a Washington D.C.Metropolitan Police Officer, had been assigned as the President's Body Guard, the night he was shot. Sometime during the play, Parker left his post, and the door to the State Box, unlocked.

John Wilkes Booth was familiar with Ford's Theater, having performed on stage, as a starring actor, in several plays at Ford's. Booth had befriended a stage hand and theater Carpenter, Edmund Spangler, who let Booth in the theater, through a back entry, and arranged for a horse, for Booth.

Booth walked through the unlocked, and unguarded door, to the State Box, which was a small room, quick and unnoticed, Booth immediately shot President Lincoln, once with a Derringer pistol, to the back of the head.

Answer 4

He intended to go out he entrance door in the back of the box - the same way he got in. But a body guard prevented that, and Booth had to leap to the stage - breaking his leg in the process.