What Was The Role of David Herold

[L Verge]

Am I the only one who thinks that Booth had three choices if stopped at the bridge? 1. Fight his way through by possibly shooting at the guard(s) and spurring his already quick horse into action. 2. Turn around quietly and lose himself in the turmoil of what was going on behind him. 3. Allow himself to be taken prisoner (if it really came to that) and play the role of "national hero" to the hilt.

There is also the possibility that Booth and Herold could have headed for the Bennings Bridge, just like Powell did. They obviously thought that people could cross there or they would have told Powell differently. It would have thrown them a number of miles off their planned course, but it would still lead them into Southern Maryland. Has anyone ever researched as to whether or not Bennings was guarded and, if so, did any sentries report a lone rider turning around about the time that Powell would have approached them?

Finally, as for Herold, if he had not been so loyal to Booth, when stopped at the Navy Yard Bridge, he should have just turned around and headed home. After all, he lived just a block from the bridge - and he had yet to be linked to the murder. Although Fletcher knew that Herold was on his rented horse, he very likely did not know that the horse or Davey had done anything as serious as assisting in an assassination.