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Linda Anderson · 06-12-2014, 04:17 PM

(03-07-2014 03:57 PM)John E. Wrote: One of the other interesting things I learned from Lawrence Gardner's article about being on the Montauk was that he met John Wilkes Booth for the first time (albeit briefly) at Grover's the day of the assassination.

I also found another account from a supposed Navy crewman who saw JWB's initials tattooed on the actor's forearm. I wish we could get to the bottom of where it was located for certain.

Ironically, the hotel clerk said the tattoo was on Booth's right hand in the space between the index finger and thumb. We know that isn't true -- Unless he had 2 tattoos.

John, I came across an interview of some members of the Garrett family in the 12/11/1881 Boston Herald.

Lillie Garrett was eight years old when Booth and Herold showed up at the Garrett farm.

"'I remember one very interesting incident that occurred when he was here.'
'What was that?'
'He was lying prone upon the grass in the front yard, and we were all playing about him; I grabbed him by the arm in the game, and accidentally pushed his shirt sleeve up to the elbow; and there, upon the forearm, I saw tattooed the letters 'J.W.B.' 'Oh, What are those letters on there for?' said I quickly.
'Why, child, those are the initials of my name, 'James W. Boyd.'
'I remembered then that the man who had brought him had introduced him as Mr. Boyd, and then I went on with the play, and probably would have forgotten the circumstance but for the startling events which rapidly followed it.'"