Evening star., 1934-06-03

can be rightfully claimed as the that
mutely helped track the slayer? Or, did both
of the flags. one display in the Treas
ury Building and the other in Lincolns Mu-
scum, help impede the progress OF the killer
that tragic night SO years ago?
Charges and counter charges have been many
in recent years for the historical accuracy Of
both claims. As is the case with other his
tOrical data and research effort each new ex-
cursion into the realm of the past brings TO
light additional facts on the various cases in
question. And so, recent careful investigation
into this matter CT Just which is the flag that
tripped Booth after his ccwardly act. brings
forth sufficient proof to warrant the statement
that full claim can now be established for the
authenticity of the flag on display in the
Lincoln Museum as the one which tripped
Booth.
A READERS question in the Harrisburg.
Pa. Patriot some months ago brought to
the fore again the perennial question: Which
Is the right hag?" The question reads:
Il notice il, the u. S. Treasury Building in
Washington there is a flag on display Which
t0aS draped on Lincoln'S bor the night OF the
assassination. 1t goes further and states that
Booth caught his spur in it. causing him, to
trip; also at the Lincoln Museum (FordS The
aterJ there is another flag, Which also claims
to haze been the one. Which is the right one?
"A READER"
The answer follows:
"The flag recently presented to the Lincoln
Museum by Mrs. E. Palmer CAN'T is a Presi-
dents flag, ,ohile the one Which has for some
time been on exhibition in the u S. Treasury
Building is a United States flag or National
Colors. 1t is entirely possible that Booth caught
his spur either both, neither OF these
flags The presidential Dor at the time OF the
assassination ,0as drGped Uith seuer0l flags,
and Booths spur may haze rdked across more
than one as he leaped out OF the bor onto the
stage. Until more definite historical data are
unearthed than are at present in possession OF
the Government it is safe to assume that the
claim is authentic for both flags.
So, to clear the matter of doubt, if possible,
this writer, from purely historical factual
standpoint, began a further fact-hnding search.
This effort resulted in abundance of evi-
dence pointing most definitely toward the
claim that the flag now on display in Lincolns
Museum is the one which tripped the martyred
Presidents assassin. The evidence follows:
History has an unfortunate way of being
distorted. The dramatic appeal of fiction, to
the average mind, possibly is controlling fac
tor. There has been much written and read Of
Lincolns assassination. tales which vary in
scope of detail and circumstance as the pos
sible breadth of imagination. However. there
is definite point and fact on which all
agree-that Lincoln was shot by Booth and, in
leaping from the Presidents box in Fords
flag that was draped around the box Now,
with two flags displayed at points in WASH
ingt0n, one in the Treasury Building and the
other in Lincoln's Museum, and with claims
made for both the flag, the question settles
to: How best to determine just which is which?
CHILDREN in school, many of us have
u read passages on the subject something
like: THE American Flag, which stands for all
that Is noble, reached forth and trpped the
assassin as he was escaping after his wicked
deed and due to the fall he was handicapped
and later caught" To be sure, Booth tripped
on q hag but was it the national colors
some other insignia?
Through the kindness Of Capt. Clemens,
curator Of the Lincoln Museum, and A. v.
Sullivan Of the Treasury Department, who
kindly placed all files and other information
for inspection, it was possible to unravel the
apparent mystery. In going over the data in
the Lincoln Museum, Capt. Clemens displayed
q presentation letter of Mrs. E. Palmer Gavit,
who gave the Treasury guard flag to the mu-
scum. It reads:
MY father, Emory S. Turner, ,oent into the
Ciuil War as q second lieutenant in the 120th
NeW York Volunteers. Gen. George Sharpe Das
head OF the regiment. My father lost his left
arm at Gettysburg, and after the auar tuas en-
ployed in the Treasury Department. When they
organized the Treasury Guard he ipas made
their major. He told me their flag tDds draped
on the Presidents bor the night President Lin
coin iDds shot, and think he told me that
Treasury Guards iUere on duty that night in
the theater. He also told me this ipas the flag
Booth caught his spur in phen he tell; you can
edsily see the unepen tear made by the spur
and the place iDhere tsouuenir hunters cut
pieces before the flag toGs remored. cannot
remember Yho wds in command OF the Treas
nry Guards but my father ,oas asked to remoue
the flag and care for it until further orders.