(03-27-2013 04:10 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(12-30-2012 04:14 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  From American Brutus:

"Lewis Powell and David Herold had already gone to Lafayette Park. The Park superintendent always called out the time as he locked the gate, and as soon as that happened, Powell would approach the Sewards' house. He would knock on the door, and then tell the servant he had medicine to give the secretary. It seemed an excellent plan, but at the last minute a complication arose: one of Seward's doctors was still in the house. Now Powell had to either come up with a new cover story or delay his attack. Since nothing came to mind, he sent Harold galloping away to tell the others to hold off."

Thus, Mike Kauffman has Herold riding from the Seward home to the Kirkwood House to tell Atzerodt to delay the attack on Johnson. I have asked this before, but we have some new members since then. Does anyone know the source for Mike Kauffman's version? Fletcher's testimony helps in placing where Herold was but does not help with answering the question about delaying the attacks. Mr. Kauffman's book, as far as I can recall, is the only assassination book in which I have I read this version.

(03-27-2013 04:54 AM)BettyO Wrote:  I've changed my original affirmations in Alias to reflect more or less on the pointman theory -- I agree with Laurie - I think Herold was the "Point Man" -

Powell knew his way around DC well enough to get out - even if he wasn't headed back to Virginia

(04-05-2013 12:42 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  I have to disagree with you on the closeness of the various places - having walked to every one of them in my better days. We need only consider Seward's home on Lafayette Park (behind the White House so close to 16th Street), the Treasury building at 15th and F, Kirkwood House at 12th and Pennsylvania, and Ford's Theatre in mid-block of Tenth Street.

Where does the Willard even figure in except for Herold riding past it while heading to the Navy Yard Bridge? And, I don't understand your reference to Herold riding from Ford's to the Willard.

Sorry, your scenario just does not compute - but Fletcher's statement putting Herold between Seward's and the Avenue does, and it's the only written, primary evidence that I know of (and taken from a man who had a vested interest in getting the description correct since he was viewing a horse that he was responsible for).

(04-05-2013 12:43 PM)John Fazio Wrote:  

(04-05-2013 12:42 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  I have to disagree with you on the closeness of the various places - having walked to every one of them in my better days. We need only consider Seward's home on Lafayette Park (behind the White House so close to 16th Street), the Treasury building at 15th and F, Kirkwood House at 12th and Pennsylvania, and Ford's Theatre in mid-block of Tenth Street.

Where does the Willard even figure in except for Herold riding past it while heading to the Navy Yard Bridge? And, I don't understand your reference to Herold riding from Ford's to the Willard.

Sorry, your scenario just does not compute - but Fletcher's statement putting Herold between Seward's and the Avenue does, and it's the only written, primary evidence that I know of (and taken from a man who had a vested interest in getting the description correct since he was viewing a horse that he was responsible for).

Laurie:

I should have known better than to challenge a native of the area. You will have to give me a little time to study the geography.

John

(04-05-2013 12:43 PM)John Fazio Wrote:  I have been through 90 books on the assassination and find Kauffman's scenario re Herold telling the others to hold off nowhere else. Similarly, Roscoe has a bizarre description of the episode which is found nowhere else. Without a source, I am very skeptical of both scenarios.

(04-05-2013 03:47 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  I think we covered this earlier, Maddie, but my point (and that of several others - including Mike Kauffman, whom I often disagree with) is that Herold was not an escort, but a point man to make sure that Powell got in the Seward door and then take off to see that Atzerodt and Booth were also accomplishing their deeds.

BTW: I will be seeing a relative of Atzerodt tomorrow when he brings a group on a Booth Tour. I first met him in 1983, and have only talked to him a few times over the years. I believe that George was his great-grand uncle -- however, don't quote me on that because I am lousy at genealogy and lineage.

(04-03-2013 02:11 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Many thanks to Art Loux for sending this interesting article. It comes from the Boston Daily Advertiser of July 8, 1865.

Art notes, "Shortly before his hanging Herold was quoted saying he “consented to see that Powell undertook his work” and then agreed to guide Booth and Powell through Maryland. See page 1 of attachments and the red marked paragraph. The reporter has garbled Herold’s words for certainly no one needed to “see” or assure Powell did his work. Whatever Herold's assignment it seems to have been with Powell. His sighting on 14th Street by stableman Fletcher is consistent with Herold coming from Seward’s house.

Also, the statement indicates Powell intended to go south with JWB rather than north to Baltimore."

(04-05-2013 03:49 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  John, I was very curious to see what Roscoe had to say after I read your post. Here's a portion:

"To Herold, Paine doubtless seemed a backwoods moron. At least six times that evening Herold described for Paine the escape route across the city. Paine couldn't remember it. As they approached Lafayette Square the numbskull had to be told Dr. Verdi's name over and over; he kept forgetting it."

Does anyone know where Roscoe obtained any of this?

Quote:"To Herold, Paine doubtless seemed a backwoods moron. At least six times that evening Herold described for Paine the escape route across the city. Paine couldn't remember it. As they approached Lafayette Square the numbskull had to be told Dr. Verdi's name over and over; he kept forgetting it."

Does anyone know where Roscoe obtained any of this?