John Fazio Interviewed

[RJNorton]

(05-04-2020 04:41 PM)Steve Wrote:  Also Booth supposedly got the information that Lincoln had been invited to the performance of Still Waters Run Deep at Campbell Hospital in March 1865 from fellow actor E. L. Davenport. Does anybody know the original source where Davenport says that (or somebody who said Davenport told them that before he died)?

Steve, I looked through a lot of books, and the earliest mention of this that I could find is in The Mad Booths of Maryland by Stanley Kimmel (1940).

Kimmel writes:

In the company performing at the Soldiers' Home was the actor-manager E. L. Davenport who was well acquainted with Wilkes. During an intermission in the play, Davenport went to the rear of the theatre where there was a garden. Wilkes suddenly appeared attired in boots and spurs, which seemed odd to Davenport, but he was otherwise elegantly dressed. He was somewhat excited, but, on seeing Davenport, said, "Hello, Ned; who is in the house?" Davenport mentioned several well-known names, and Wilkes inquired, "Did the old man come?" - meaning Lincoln. Told that the President was not there, he turned on his heel to go.

"It seems to me that you are in a great hurry," said Davenport.

"Yes, I am trying a new horse and he is rather restive," replied Wilkes, and disappeared.

There is no footnote for this; thus I do not know Kimmel's source. I thought maybe it was in Samuel Arnold's memoirs, but (unless I missed it) I do not see Davenport mentioned in that source.