New Development in Booth Case Coming Soon

[L Verge]

(05-10-2019 01:54 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(05-10-2019 11:07 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Here's the response from Colleen after checking the David E. George file (which takes up an entire drawer of the Hall Papers). Notice that she has quoted a note that Mr. Hall taped to the front of the Hugh B. Ryan file:

Mr. Hall must have anticipated this question because a file summary is typed up and taped to the front of the file as follows:

On Dec 31, 1902 David E. George made a will in Enid, OK Territory. In this he left a bartender, Isaac Bernstein, the proceeds of an insurance policy George alleged he had in the Knights of Pythias, Lodge #70, Dallas- $3,000 he said. No such person belonged to this lodge, as can be seen from the membership lists. But this led to an investigation of the possibility that Hugh B. Ryan, who did belong, was an alias for George- or conversely. The papers in this file cover my investigation. I am inclined to believe that the Ryan name was an alias- but the proof is a bit thin. JOHall.

I checked and Hugh B. Ryan was not an alias and he was not David E. George

Hugh B. Ryan
born c.1856 Culpeper Co. Virginia
son of painter Albert G. Ryan and his wife Susan J. Fletcher

In the 1880 census Hugh is living with his parents in Washington DC with occupation listed as painter.

Hugh appears in 1888 Dallas city directory as Hugh Ryan, bartender.

Hugh appears in 1889 Dallas city directory as Hugh B. Ryan, painter.

Hugh's parents place this notice in the 04 Nov. 1895 Washington Evening Star, informing of Hugh's death in Indian Territory. It also mentions that he used to live in Dallas:

Thank you so much for this info. It will be included in the George file and attributed to you.