Gath, Stuart, and E.G.D.G.

[L Verge]

I believe that both Swanson, Steers, and others drew their conclusions from the evidence regarding Stuart's encounter with the fugitives contained in the prior research by James O. Hall, John C. Brennan and others. Mr. Hall was the original narrator for the Surratt Society's popular bus tours over the escape route of JWB, with the first one being held in May of 1977. Hall was telling of the situation at Cleydael long before others were publishing books. He is also the one who "discovered" where the Stuarts came up with the Cleydael name for their 1859 summer home. He was also very explicit in stating that it was Mrs. Dr. Stuart who retrieved the later Booth note from the fireplace after her husband had crumpled it up and thrown it away.