Isn’t it supposed to be: “Hic Sic Semper Tyranus”? That was how Booth said it, which was probably why he broke his ankle.
Since nobody demanded an explanation, you must all be shy. See, two visitors from Kentucky were at the Ford Theater that night. They came to see a girly show or a western, but instead they were treated to a warmup act, Pagliacci. Here’s their reaction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib4-xPgQb4A
The next production was supposed to be Our American Cousin, and our two friends were thoroughly annoyed by then, having sat through six hours of a fat man singing in a clown suit. So they expected at least a hoochy-coochy dance for some variety. But noooooo! Instead they hear a shot, some idiot jumps out of a balcony onto the stage and shouts “Hic sic semper tyranus,” and they both smacked him for calling them hicks. The blow broke Booth’s ankle. He limped away, the entire theater and our two friends from Kentucky in hot pursuit.
Paul Harvey said so, so it must be true.