Booth's crutch

[Rhatkinson]

I was looking through some of the photo's on Dave's site (boothiebarn.com) and saw this interesting picture of a portion of JWB's crutch that a local Bowling Green resident named Maude Motley owns. Jim Garrett photographed this and I was curious if there was any confirmation of that? I have never heard the history of this relic. Can anyone shed light on this?

Heath

   

[L Verge]

I'm sure that Rich Smyth can give a much more detailed description, but Miss Maude Motley used to meet our John Wilkes Booth Escape Route tour buses every time in Bowling Green, Virginia, beside what used to be the location of the Star Hotel. She brought with her a three-inch or so sliver of what was supposed to be the crutch. She had attached an engraved silver plaque on it for identification.

Miss Maude knew Lucinda Holloway and heard the stories of Booth from Garretts that she grew up with. I cannot remember the full provenance of how she acquired the sliver, but the story was that someone retrieved a portion of the charred crutch from the barn and then would slice off pieces to give to girlfriends. Rich, please fill in the blanks.

When Miss Maude passed away about two decades ago, the sliver went to a nephew in southern Virginia. Surratt House was interested in acquiring it, but the gentleman was not interested at that time.

[Dave Taylor]

Jim and Rich will do better with the details, but here's an audio clip of Maude Motley talking about the crutch piece in 1979. The recording was done by John C. Brennan and provided to me by the generosity of the late Art Loux.



http://soundcloud.com/dave-boothiebarn/m...ths-crutch

[Rsmyth]

The following info is from my notes, the Maude recording and Dave Taylor:
When the neighbors saw the flames from the Garrett barn they all rushed over and there was nothing left of the structure. They found the crutch which the broke up and passed out to each other.
Mrs. Reeta Gray’s father received a piece and proceeded to give a big part of it to the women he was “courting”. She showed this 3 inch piece to Maude, stating this was all that was left.
When Fort A.P. Hill took over the area, Mrs. Gray left her 72 acre farm near upper Zion and moved to Saint Stevens Church area in King and Queen County. Later she was placed in a nursing home in Saluda, Virginia. When Maude went to visit her, Rita took her hand and placed the crutch into it. Rita said I cannot take it, it belongs in your family, Reeta responded “They don’t give a straw about it.”
Maude had the plate put on it by a jeweler in Richmond. The engraving says “Booth Crutch April 26 – 1865. Maude, who claimed to have known the Garrett’s and Lucinda Holloway, was living in Bowling Green and when the Booth Escape Tours came through she would meet the bus and display the relic.
The crutch stayed in Maude’s family ending up in the possession of the son of her first cousin who stated that Miss Reeta Gray's father acquired it from Lucinda Holloway.
Another version of a crutch related is a story told to me by Dave Taylor. It is related by Richard Baynham Garrett follows. At the Garrett farm, son, Jack Garret who had been wounded in battle gave his crutches to John Wilkes Booth. Jack’s younger brother, Richard Baynham Garrett asked Booth for the crutches he had with him when he arrived at the farm. These were presumably the ones Doctor Mudd had fashioned for Booth when the doctor treated his leg. Richard, cut the ends off the crutches and used them in playing a wounded soldier. After Booth’s death when it was learned that he had assassinated the President, Richard burned the crutches.

[L Verge]

If I remember correctly, Lucinda Holloway had been Miss Maude's teacher? Miss Maude used to also tell us about the bloody floorboards from the Garrett porch having been removed and stored in a shed at the farm. The boys of the family and neighbor used to retrieve them and chase after the girls, threatening to touch them with the assassin's blood.

I believe that Miss Maude was in her early-80s when we first met her, so she would have been born before or shortly after the turn of the 20th century. I think I have posted before that she took several of us to her home once. It was like a Confederate museum, and she showed us a portrait of her grandfather, whom Lee had supposedly declared the handsomest general in the C.S.A. Ladies, he was a hunk.

[SSlater]

I have to chirp for this thread. What great memories it brings up. Miss Motley was a gem. Does anyone remember her references to the "Coat House"? (That would be "Court House", if said by anyone else.) I recall a lock of Booth's hair, in a frame, on the wall, in the lobby. I have a picture of her, and a tape of her whole story, somewhere in storage. I think I promised it to Laurie, whenever I find it. Dr. Hall conducted that tour (Before he was Doctor) Joan Chaconas was was on that tour, maybe the picture is from the same tour.

[Jim Garrett]

I will have to check my notes, but I believe Ms. Gray's father was a Lieut. in the 9th Va. Cav. When we questioned the current owner (who wishes to remain anonymous) it was given within days after Booth's death and has been in the family ever since. He was a Boulware and a cousin of Lucinda holloway.

[LincolnMan]

If the item was actually from Booth's crutch, woudn't it devalue it by placing a metal plate on it? Just wondering.

[Jim Garrett]

the tag is from the family and adds a bit to the quality of the item. It is a great example of the family sentimentality of the event and the family's connection.

[LincolnMan]

Ok Jim, you're the expert. I just thought it might ruin it in someway, but I see your point.

[L Verge]

I believe that Miss Maude was the one who added the silver plate on the sliver of crutch. I can tell you that watching it being viewed by each and every participant in a Booth Tour that Miss Maude met, it was like watching the Holy Grail being viewed. In the early days of our tours, two very impressive things on the tour were seeing that crutch and meeting Louise Mudd Arehart, Dr. Sam's youngest grandchild. She was a pistol, but it was like shaking hands with a part of history.

[Jim Garrett]

I believe that Miss Maude was the one who added the silver plate on the sliver of crutch. I can tell you that watching it being viewed by each and every participant in a Booth Tour that Miss Maude met, it was like watching the Holy Grail being viewed. In the early days of our tours, two very impressive things on the tour were seeing that crutch and meeting Louise Mudd Arehart, Dr. Sam's youngest grandchild. She was a pistol, but it was like shaking hands with a part of history.

I believe you are correct. The silver plate was added by Miss Maude. I love your description Laurie of shaking hands with history. Many of us have been fortunate enough to have known wonderful people just one step away from the Civil War era.

[RJNorton]

Jim and Laurie, your posts reminded me of a wonderful post Herb made in July 2012.

[Houmes]

I love your description Laurie of shaking hands with history. Many of us have been fortunate enough to have known wonderful people just one step away from the Civil War era.
[/quote]

I was thinking about these lines last night while I was talking with my wife, and we started talking about the idea of "Six degrees of separation." Then I brought up the subject of the last time I shook hands with John Lattimer, and I was wondering where his hands had been. Then she told me to change the subject.

[Jim Garrett]

I love your description Laurie of shaking hands with history. Many of us have been fortunate enough to have known wonderful people just one step away from the Civil War era.

I was thinking about these lines last night while I was talking with my wife, and we started talking about the idea of "Six degrees of separation." Then I brought up the subject of the last time I shook hands with John Lattimer, and I was wondering where his hands had been. Then she told me to change the subject.
[/quote]
Are we talking about his profession or a "Napoleonic Complex"