12. Booth went to the Garrett Farm alone after Herold left him
Booth was identified to Richard Garrett as John W. Boyd, explaining a tattoo he had which read JWB, and was offered the hospitality customary to Virginia farms. By the time of his arrival at the Garrett farm he was exhausted, in pain from his broken leg, and filthy. He told the Garretts that he was a Confederate soldier returning home from the war, explaining his appearance and his injury. The next morning Booth was resting when Herold arrived at the Garrett farm. Herold identified himself to the Garretts as Booth’s cousin. John Garrett, Richard’s son, himself a former Confederate soldier, was already suspicious of Booth. Herold’s arrival served to increase his doubts over Booth’s veracity.
Herold was invited to stay for dinner, but when he requested to stay in the house for the night he was denied. Both Richard and John Garrett were suspicious of their visitors, and they were asked to leave following dinner. Booth insisted they must stay, and the nervousness of the pair whenever the Union cavalry in the area were mentioned led to Garrett’s decision to order them out of the house. Booth chastened him for his treatment of a wounded veteran of the war. Noting that both Herold and Booth were armed, the elder Garrett agreed to allow the two of them to spend the night in his barn, but insisted that they be on their way in the morning.