Could be that this gentleman was an understudy or perhaps simply employed in some other capacity at Fords on the night of the assassination. Could also be a "marketing" ploy made up by Mr. Manley to better his theatrical reputation. Found this article/obituary on his death which also states that he was at Ford's the night of the tragedy. The article is in the
Seattle Daily Times, March 3, 1916
The last article states that the "Oldest Actor" worked with Kean, Forrest and Booth but doesn't mention which Booth, or that he was associated in any way with Ford's Theatre or the cast of
"Our American Cousin." This article is from the
Augusta Chronicle (Georgia), March 21, 1915.
Also found some genealogy on him here:
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th...1214398942
Also more interesting stories concerning folk who claimed to be there:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ance...111923.htm
True or false - Ford's Theatre and the cast of
"Our American Cousin" is beginning to look like the Peterson House' "Rubber Room" - everyone claimed to be there! I have found similar occurrences where elderly gentlemen also claimed to have been at the hanging of Mrs. Surratt. Everyone wanted to get into the act apparently; whether or not it was legitimate or verifiable.
Actor Charles Manley acting at Ford's?
