What Was The Role of David Herold

[MaddieM]

(04-05-2013 06:01 PM)BettyO Wrote:  

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.

Being unable to remember small things like this indicates to me that he was perhaps distracted, his mind filled with other things, thereby interfering with his concentration. I suspect he wasn't wholly confident about what he had to do, and this also accounts for the botched job and the way he lashed out. Powell injured people because he was tall and strong, rather than calculating and determined. I think he did panic and I think he lost control and found himself floundering and just lashing out. That he failed to kill Seward speaks volumes of his mindset to me. That boy was no assassin, and he was far from cool as he was doing it. Seward was an easy target, a single stab to the chest would have done for him, but Powell wasn't thinking along those lines, he clearly had nothing planned and no modus operandi for hitting his victim in places that were fatal. I think he went for the neck because he was told to, either that or it was the only part of Seward's flesh that was exposed in the dim lighting and he just hoped he'd hit the right mark. Not exactly the actions of a determined killer.

One wonders if bravado and his youthful capacity for not thinking too much about the consequences of his actions played a large part in why he did this. It's telling that the older members of the conspiracy refused to have any part in the killing. I think also that there are many reasons why Powell took this course, not just the most obvious and crass one of him being a dumb, evil psychopath.

I dunno. Just my thoughts on it.

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(04-05-2013 07:19 PM)L Verge Wrote:  As for why a point man was needed: First, two sets of eyes converging on a target is better than one - especially in dim lights. Herold could be a calming influence on Powell just because he did know the layout of the land so well. And, this whole assassination plot depended on careful synchronization or timing of each murder. They all needed to be committed basically together. It is sort of like terrorism acts today -- set off car bombs in three different locations around town in order to split the police force sent to check out the situation. Herold was the man in charge of making sure that each assignment was carried out and which assassins needed to depart the city.

Could it be that Booth just wanted to ensure Herold didn't chicken out himself? He wasn't the most mature individual from all accounts, and perhaps this was more about Powell keeping an eye on Herold, rather than the other way around until the time came for the pair of them to meet up with Booth. I think Booth knew he could depend on Powell.. he had a proven track record of courage and reliability, and as testimony has shown, was also an honest and loyal person who could be trusted to keep his mouth shut. Could Booth have been concerned Herold would goof something up, so he sent him along with Powell to keep him out of trouble? I guess we'll never know. But it seems odd that Powell would need an escort in this matter, as he'd been to Seward house several times earlier in the week, hadn't he? Also, he was canny enough to find his way back to the Surratt Boarding house after spending 3 days in hiding, so he must have known his way about Washington reasonably well.

The other alternative is if Powell was nervous and showing signs of weakness that Booth feared might mean he'd goof it up. But judging from Powell's track record in the Army and with Mosby, I doubt that. More a case of second thoughts perhaps?