MHT09 - Mystery History Theater; The Hit on Abe series

“Up to the Turn of a Doorknob”

After an almost comical number of failures to kidnap Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth’s Flying Circus falls apart, but now, it’s not about kidnapping anymore. It’s about murder in the worst degree.

A soldier thinks he hears Booth talking to a co-conspirator about Lincoln leaving Ford’s Theater during the play’s second intermission, but dismisses it. Lincoln’s body guard Ward Lamon is in Richmond on business for his President. John Parker, the “special policeman” guarding Lincoln, leaves his post to grab a beer with Lincoln’s coachman and footman. The third act begins and Booth downs a shot of courage in Taltuvull’s Star Saloon, then slips next door into the theater and clandestinely makes his way to Lincoln’s box.

At about the same time, off Lafayette Park, an injured, bedridden Secretary of State William Seward is attacked by a person or persons unknown in a confused frenzy, the account of which--to this day--has never been satisfactorily explained. Can the key to the mystery be found in the Seward Family's closet of skeletons?

This episode was originally posted by Vyzygoth on his Alembic Files site in March 2015.

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