Herold and Surratt

[BettyO]

Yesterday afternoon, I found an interesting deposition in the LAS file regarding Herold and John Surratt which I had never seen before. It states that Surratt was seen in DC with Herold "eating oysters" at a restaurant about 4 PM on the evening of the 14th of April.

Here is the grist of what was written verbatim:

Cover Sheet:

Washington DC, 25, April, 1865

Rosch C. H. reports that George W. Nokes, Forrest Queen, French Queen were hunting companions of David E. Herold and that they went frequently to the residences of Messrs: Burch, Ward and Jenkins.

Mr. French Queen saw Herold and Surratt on horseback April 14, 1865 together.

Same day a man (Surratt or Powell?) called "Colan" had oysters with Herold at Steele's.

Attaches a specimen of Herold's handwriting.


Letter/Report:


Washington DC 25th April, 1865

Officer C. H. Rosch, makes the following report:

George W. Nokes
"House - Folding - Room"
Capitol Building

Forrest Queen and his brother, French Queen - 604 8th Street

The above were in the habit of hunting with David E. Herold.

They frequently went to

Burch's (who has a tavern now at Annapolis), Ward's, Jenkins' which are east of the Capitol.

French Queen saw Herold and Surratt 4 1/2 PM April 14, 1865 on horseback coming from the vicinity of Herold's house and going towards the city.

Previously Herold and a man named Colan, dressed like a farmer, had oysters at Steel's Saloon corner of 8th and (blank) Street, near the Navy Yard. This was the same day April 14, 1865. Colan had been seen in Herold's company three days previously.

From the log of F. T. Walsh, Druggist, 8th Street, Officer Rosch learned that Herold had sympathized with the South, but young Walsh would not repeat the expressions which Herold used.

At Pope's Stable, a colored boy said that Herold purchased a pony gig (small buggy) in '64 and sold it about March 4, 1865 - to whom the boy does not know, though he could identify him.

C. H. Rosch

(Copy of Herold's Signature)

Herold is known to be strongly attached to a horse, gun and a dog; not devoted to ladies especially.

Young Walsh says Surratt hair is very light.

CHR

---

Just took a look through both 1864 and 1860 Boyd's Directory of Washington DC (the 1865 issue is scarce) -

I found NO mention of a Burch's Saloon under "Restaurants", "Porter-Houses" or "Saloons"; but DID find a Birch's Restaurant in the 1860 Boyd's - surprisingly, nothing in 1864! Likewise, no mention of a Steele's Saloon!



The deposition of Rosch can be viewed here.