Assassination Trivia

[RJNorton]

Dave Taylor mentioned one of David Herold's sisters in another thread today and that made me think of this trivia question. David had 7 sisters - which one outlived all the rest (she died in 1930)?

[Dave Taylor]

I believe the answer is Davy's sister Alice, who married Richard Earnshaw.





Coincidentally, Georgia Herold, another of Davy's sisters, married Richard Earnshaw's brother, John Earnshaw.



All of Herold's sisters are buried in Congressional Cemetery, which is where he and his parents are also buried.

[RJNorton]

Correct, Dave. Well done.

You win bacon, eggs, and French Toast for breakfast next time you do your John Wilkes Booth in the Woods reenactment!

[RJNorton]

One person said Louis Weichmann discussed Mary Surratt with him privately. What person said that Weichmann told him the following?

"Some time last winter I suspected the plot against the President. I told a clerk in the War Department and he informed Stanton. Stanton gave me the choice between turning State's evidence and hanging. Terrified, I told what I had heard, and, although I believed Mrs. Surratt to be innocent, Mr. Stanton appeared to believe her guilty. I did not want her hanged."

[Dave Taylor]

I know John T. Ford conversed with Weichmann when they were both in the Old Capitol Prison. Could this have been something said between them?

[Susan Higginbotham]

John Brophy?

[RJNorton]

Excellent guess, Dave, but Susan got it. Kudos, Susan! You win best wishes for a wonderful weekend!

[RJNorton]

Who is this man?

[STS Lincolnite]

Well, he has a moustache so he must be John Wilkes Booth right!? Another lost photo rediscovered! Just kidding of course.

[RJNorton]

Scott, I will admit this is one of the hardest ones I've ever asked as I have never seen this man's photo in any book.

Hint #1: This man was very good at something John Wilkes Booth also enjoyed in his spare time. The two men definitely knew each other.

[RJNorton]

Hint #2: On the day before he shot President Lincoln John Wilkes Booth asked this man to do a favor for him.

[PaigeBooth]

Hi, Mr. Norton, I'll take a stab at this.........I've always thought Sam Chester resembled Booth, but not sure if he ever asked him for a favor that close to the assassination. Since this man does look like Booth, my first guess would be Sam Chester.

However, since I know Booth asked John Matthews for a favor, my second guess would be Matthews; using your clue, I've never seen a picture of Matthews in a book or at all.

[RJNorton]

Paige, your guesses are outstanding, and I commend you!!! However, neither one is correct. A photo of John Mathews does exist, and you can get an idea of what he looked like in this short video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi0aOzsuyaw

Paige, do you have Twenty Days? There is a more complete photo of Mathews on p. 203.

[Wild Bill]

Henry Merrick

[RJNorton]

That is yet another outstanding guess! But it is not Merrick.

Hint #3: Like Merrick, this man worked in Washington, but not at a hotel.