Evening star., 1932-01-24


D everything they read Is true, or at
least plausible, and no matter how many times
they may be told to the contrary, still, once
their minds made up, it seems impossible
to change them. Nor does this apply alone to
the rank and file, since this human failing, as
1t would seem to be, is actually general, and
it is not an uncommon occurrence to find some
of the best-read people unintentionally adding
their influence toward perpetuating the biggest
errors.
Some errors, quite naturally, excusable,
as the writer once made when he spelled
the name "Wotherspoon" "Weatherspoon," as
he had found it recorded, but to repeat over
and again that George Washington laid
the corner stone OF the District of Columbia,
when history tells us he was many miles away
at the time, shows lack of knowledge on the
subject, just it does to say that the Execu-
tive Mansion was first called the White House
after 1t was painted white, following its de-
struction by the British, that Dolly Madison
cut George Washington's picture out of the
frame upon that same unfortunate occasion.
Once tell the people that Barbara Frietchie
waved the American flag in the face Of Stone
wall Jackson and they will forever afterward
believe it. though convincing evidence may be
shown that Whittier's poem was founded upon
an error of fact. And so 1t is with the still
oft-repeated statement that Admiral Cockburn
did noe sail up the Chesapeake Bay to burn
Washington until after the release of British
veterans following the Battle of Waterloo, when
a mere glance at the dates of the two events
will show that the burning of Washington took
place on the night of August "a, 1914, and
that Wellington's great victory did not occur
until nearly 10 months later
Equally erroneous is the statement that
Washington had his headquarters in George
town when he was surveying the District of
Columbia, and quite a number of things for
which there is absolutely no foundation.
these
care to do So and still they will be glaringly re-
peated almost the very next day, as was done
not long since when the writer thought he had
Strengthened out for all time the two Daniel
CAROLS But alas! he soon found out to the
contrary and Daniel Carroll of Rock Creek
the commissioner, and Daniel Carroll of Dud-
dington, the original proprietor, were again
very severely scrambled without any pardonable
excuse.
CO it goes with all phases of history pertain
- ing to the District of Columbia, and else
where as well, as is demonstrated by the
frequently renewed controversy over the ques-
ton as to whether the dead body of John
Wilkes Booth was or was not brought back TO
Washington and as to whether 1t was or was
not he who mortaly wounded in a barn
down in Virginia. Indeed, sometimes 1t seems
we do not want to be convinced, for unless we
actually feel this way about it, there is ample
and convincing evidence to show that Booth
was shot in a barn in Virginia. that he died
soon afterward; that his body was brought
back to Washington, formally identified, buried
in the floor of the old Arsenal Prison. and later
removed by the Booth family to a cemetery
in Baltimore.
When Booth left Washington on the night OF
April a. 1865 Immediately after he had shot
the President, he was accompanied by one OF
his dupes, the youthful David E. Herold, as
we find the name recorded in the city directory
Now the latter never left Booth for any length
of time from the night they left here until they
were cornered In CARROTS barn; that Is ad-
rnitted It Is also conceded that the man with
Herold in the barn, and who was shot ana
died was the one whose body was brought to
Washington. Herold admitted it was Booth,
and even boasted of 1t to William P. Jebb,
Confederate soldier who was later witness
for the prosecution, and testified.
In the National Intelligencer Of April 2a
1865, the following statement, signed by the
Secretary of War, appears:
Capture and Death of Booth
"His Companion, Herold, q Prisoner
'War Department,
washington, D. c., April 81, 1865.
Major General John A. Dix, New York:
AZ Wilkes Booth and Herod were chased
from the swamp in st. Mary's County Nd
and pursued yesterday morning to CARROTS
farm, near Port Royal, on the Rappahannock'
by Col. Bakers force.
THE barn in which they took refuge was
fired
Booth in making his escape, was shot
through the head and killed, lingering about
three hours and Herold taken alive.
Booths body and Herold are now here.
Edwin M. Stanton,
Secretary of War"
ELSEWHERE in the Intelligencer of the same
l. date appears account of the capture OF
the assassin, which although containing minor
errors yet on the whole is substantially cor
rect. 1t says:
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