Interesting Observations from James O'Beirne's Diary

[RJNorton]

(12-18-2014 07:28 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  

(12-18-2014 01:48 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Regarding Atzerodt Theodore Roscoe writes, "Of all Booth's co-conspirators Atzerodt was probably the earthiest. And much of that earth seems to have been on his wrists, on the nape of his neck, in his ears, and in the pores of his nose. Still, by all accounts, he was a good-natured sort of clod - an amiable animal with the face of a dancing bear."

Fits him like a glove. That's just how I imagined him to be. I always thought Herold looked a bit greasy and unwashed too. Mind you, I guess you would having spent quite a bit in the clink.

Hi Maddie. This is another description from Theodore Roscoe's book. This is how Roscoe described David Herold:

"Contemporary photographs show David Herold as an individual with two faces - a surprising quality of countenance.

The full-face portrait presents a young man with reasonably well-molded features and an expression of at least average intelligence. The eyes are expressive. The mouth is normally composed. Given sympathetic study, this countenance may be seen as containing a suggestion of sensitivity. If the gaze seems faintly troubled, under other circumstances it might express amusement. Contemporary young ladies might have rated the portrait as handsome.

Herold's profile photograph bears scarcely a family resemblance to the full-face. The forehead is canted, the nose curved like a sabre, the mouth small and tight, the chin receding. The cheek has a pouchy sag, and the eye, under a heavy lid, looks beady and moronic. This Herold might be the other's half-wit cousin."

IMO some of the early books on the assassination tended to mostly agree with Roscoe's second description, but the books nowadays tend to treat Herold's intelligence, etc. in a much more favorable light. If you look at his statement to John Bingham aboard the Montauk he had the ability to be quite articulate and crafty - not dumb at all.