What Was The Role of David Herold

[Clarence]

(09-20-2017 05:40 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  To complicate matters a little more, a Francis Walsh, who said that he had employed Herold for 11 months, testified on his behalf at the conspiracy trial:

By MR. STONE:

Q. Where do you reside?
A. In the city of Washington, on Eighth Street, east.
Q. How long have you resided there?
A. Since 1837.
Q. Do you know the prisoner, David E. Herold?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How long have you known him?
A. I cannot tell how long I have known him, but since he was a boy. I have known him for a great many years. I have known him intimately since October, 1863.
Q. State to the court whether or not he has been in your employ.
A. Yes, sir: he has been in my employ eleven months as a clerk.
Q. What is your business?
A. Druggist.
Q. State to the Court, as near as you can, his character.
A. While he was in my employ, he lived in my house, and I know of nothing objectionable in his character. He was like most youngsters, light, trifling in a great many things; but, as to his moral character, I never saw any thing to find fault with. He was temperate in his habits, and regular in his hours.
Q. Was he or not, in his general character, more of a boy than a man?
A. I think he was.
Q. Was he or not easily persuaded or influenced by any one around him?
A. I should think he was.
Q. State to the Court whether you did or did not consider him rather remarkable for his trivial character, easily to be influenced and led away.
A. Yes: I think he was more than usually so for young men of his years.
Q. He was boyish in every respect?
A. Yes, sir.

Reviewing the cursive letters from the time period, I see the capital “J”, “F”, and “Q” were quite similar. In Herold’s voluntary confession you can find a mention of a “Forest Queen”. Check out the F and Q. Also, the writer’s capital “J” in the document does not match the purported “J”. I think it is safe to say what has been mentioned as written “J S Ward” is really written as “F S Ward”. I agree “Ward” should have been “Walsh”. It fits with the testimony of Francis S. Walsh.