Did John Wilkes Booth Escape? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Garrett's Farm

Booth was said to be cornered in a tobacco barn on Richard Garrett's farm. The barn was set on fire, but Booth refused to surrender. (See question 3.) After the shooting at Ford's Theatre, Booth made his way
to Dr. Mudd for treatment of his broken leg. The Surratt home was apparently the site for many conversations among the conspirators.

Answer: Secretary Stanton

Some books have suggested that Stanton was involved in the plot; that view is rejected by most historians. Be that as it may, Stanton was a decidedly "curious" fellow who had many "peculiarities". The idea of Stanton's involvement was undoubtedly assisted by the extreme secrecy that surrounded the aftermath of the shooting and by the treatment of the conspirators.

Answer: Shot by Union troops who had been pursuing him

The conventional view is that Booth emerged from the fiery barn on Garrett's farm and died there as a result of a gunshot to the neck.
(See qestion 4.)

Answer: Boston Corbett

Corbett was an apparently unbalanced fellow. He took credit for shooting Booth - despite orders not to do so - and collected a reward as a result. It has been suggested, however, that the angle of the bullet that killed Booth is more consistent with suicide: a shot by Booth from the pistol that he was carrying. (Parker was a guard who was assigned to protect Lincoln at the theatre; Major Rathbone was present with Lincoln when Booth struck).

Answer: David Herold

Herold, believed to be somewhat simple-minded, was said to be with Booth at Garrett's farm. Herold surrendered; Booth did not. (The other three choices were arrested as conspirators.)

Answer: John Surratt

Surratt found safety out of the country. His mother (and the three other choices given here) were not so lucky. They were executed.

Answer: His initials

Booth had impressed "JWB" on his hand. "Sic Semper Tyrannis" is said to be what Booth yelled as he leapt to the stage after shooting Lincoln. ("Thus always to tyrants".)

Answer: All of these

Booth certainly hated Lincoln and seems to have been substantially involved with confederate intelligence operations while the war was ongoing. Kidnapping thoughts, however, ultimately changed into murder plans.

Answer: William Seward

Johnson was apparently a target, but an attack never occurred. Seward was attacked by a knife-wielding Lewis Payne. Seward was badly injured by the powerful Payne, but survived.

Answer: Finis Bates

There were apparently many claims in the last part of the nineteenth century that Booth had been spotted or that someone had "admitted" to being Booth. Many of these claims were made by obvious cranks, but Bates tells an interesting tale about a man that he encountered in Oklahoma long after the assassination had occurred. (The identification of Booth was somewhat uncertain; there was also a desire by the government to claim that the guilty party had been captured.

In that regard, there are striking similarities to the aftermath of the JFK assassination.)