Thomas A Jones

[Wild Bill]

The item that you all would like to see is the Owens Report. Owen was a black employee of the Adams Tavern in Newport, MD., who saw Booth and Herold coming into that area from the north--Did not Dr William Queen live up that way? He places Booth and Herold at the Tavern and concealed nearby. This differs markedly from Thomas Jones' tale. I understand that members of the Queen family told Rick Smith a while ago that a family legend has the horses from Booth and Herold living their lives out on the Queen place. Owen did not survive his imprisonment, probably beaten for his information. He also knew about rowing Confederate agents Harbin and Baden across he Potomac from Banks O'Dee to near the Quesenberry plantation in Virginia. This sent Lafayette C Baker on Booth's trail to Garrett's farm.

The article you all want to see is J. E. “Rick” Smith, III, “The Owens Statement,” Surratt Courier, 32 (No. 10, October 2007), 3-6.