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Chapter 7. |
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Chapter 7. |
Accused No. 3: A poor-witted youth, although he was 21 years old, physicians described him as having the mind of an 11 year old. He hunted and fished in lower Maryland and so was thought useful to BOOTH for the Plot-to-Capture plan for his knowledge of its road system. His affidavit says he saw JOHN WILKES BOOTH on horseback, the night of the assassination, followed him across the Navy Yard bridge and accompanied him on his flight. DAVID HEROLD, was captured on Wednesday, Apr. 26, 1865, in the GARRETT Barn where JOHN WILKES BOOTH was killed. On Thursday April 27, 1865, HEROLD was thrown into irons in the bowels of the Montauk Brought to Trial: DAVID HEROLD, age 21 a Druggist clerk with a mother and seven sisters, had no chin (as ATZERODT had no neck ..prs) no forehead, it slanted back so rapidly. People said his face looked like yellow wax, speckled with freckles painted thickly over cheeks and nose. He was said to be subnormal mentally; a silly boy who was easily persuaded by anyone he met to do what he had not the brains to know was wrong. Irresolute, as horribly scared as EDWARD SPANGLER , he was thought to look like a hopeless, trapped animal, and people said it was embarrassing to look at someone's exposed, naked, quivering soul. His features were also too small for his face, which was contempible and unhealthy dingy. [REF: #5 pg198 Trial Sentence: The Military Commission met secretly on the June 28 & 29 and voted the Death by Hanging penalty for "Conspiring to Murder"; Was not read the sentence until July 6, was hanged the next day at 1:00 o'clock p.m., July 7, 1865; Buried in the yard of the Old Penitentiary, Washington D.C. End of Chapter 07
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Paul R. Sarrett, Jr., Auburn CA.