What Was The Role of David Herold

[BettyO]

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?

How DO we know this? Was Roscoe there? Much as I love Roscoe's book (read it in one week and couldn't put it down, I remember) I question this statement. Powell was no backwoods moron - no numbskull. According to Gillette and others, he was somewhat educated and cultured. The fact that he had difficulty remembering a foreign name indicates to me that he was nervous - especially in lieu of his rather panicked behavior when within the house.