About two weeks ago, it was on a Thursday night, I was at home; it was pretty late, nearly supper time, when two men came there on horseback, accompanied by a white boy, they got off their horses, and the boy took them and went away. One of the horses was a roan, or iron gray, and the other was a light bay with a small star on the forehead. One of these men was lame and carried a crutch; he wore a cloth slipper on his right foot, and carried the crutch under his right arm. He had on a close-bodied coat and wore a shawl; he was a stouter man than the other, who was a small man, I think that he had very light whickers; he wore two coats and a soft, black, low-crowned hat with a narrow brim. They came to our place and Mrs. Adams was there but Mr. Adams was away, he came home about half an hour after they came; I was not at the house when they came, but was at work, and left them talking with Mr. and Mrs. Adams. I heard the big man who was lame ask if there were any Yankees or soldiers around there; and Mr. Adams told him there had been none for two or three months. Mr. Adams’ place is at Newport, about six miles from the Potomac. That was all I heard them say. Mrs. Adams told them they could not stay there, but that she would give them something to eat. I suppose she was afraid to let them stay there because she was also afraid the soldiers would come and catch them. They stayed in the pines near the house until next evening which was Friday night and were at the house off and on at different times; they did not lodge at Mr. Adams’ but only got meals there. They left in the evening after dark, and went towards Pope’s Creek where Thomas Jones lives. A Mr. Bateman, I don’t know his first name, who lives at the oak on the roadside about three miles from Newport, as you go through Allen’s Fresh towards Cobb Neck, told me that Jones put them across the Potomac. They crossed from Pope’s Creek a little above Mrs. {?} Watson’s on the creek. This was a place where they had a boat hid. A man named Lomax used to fish there on the river, gilling shad. I don’t know Lomax’s first name. Bateman told me that the men got over the Potomac all right and I judge that he and Jones rowed them across by his saying that they got over all right and by what folks said. The nearest point on the Virginia side opposite Pope’s Creek is Matthias point. Their horses came back this way in charge of the boy, if I were trying to find them I would inquire of the people there who saw them, Mr. A_bey {Robey?} or Oliver who keeps a store there. I judge ______ saw these men but I did not hear him say anything about them. Tom Downey, who lives at Newport and Mr. Budd, who lives about two miles the other side of Newport, and some other folks that I don’t know, I judge saw them. I heard gentlemen, that I don’t know, ask Mrs. Adams where these men were going, and she said she said they were going to Pope’s Creek to cross the Potomac. I know Thomas Harbin and Joseph Bayden {sic}. They came to Mr. Adams from this way about two weeks ago. I think they came on Tuesday before I heard of the death of the President. They stayed there about a week, and went away on Saturday night. There was another man with them that I didn’t know. I was fishing with gill nets and they came to me and I put them across a little run at Allen’s Fresh, on the other side from Mr. Adams, toward the Potomac. They didn’t tell me where they were going. They gave me five dollars to put them across the run. I put them across on a Saturday. They were going towards the Banks of Dee. I heard Harbin say that he was going there. I have not seen them since, and do not know whether they have come back or not. James Owens
Lets start at Newport.
About two weeks ago, it was on a Thursday night; when two men came there on horseback accompanied by a white boy; ( Booth*, Herold* and Samuel Cox Jr.*)
I know Thomas Harbin and Joseph Bayden; They came to Mr. Adams about two weeks ago.; They came on Tuesday; And went away on Saturday.
Based on the description of the two men and their horses, I think its fair to say that Booth, Herold, Harbin, and Bayden were together in Newport on the Friday that
Jones retrieved B&H from the pines in route to Huckleberry/ Dent's Meadow. And, by this time, the white boy had the horses away.
scenario;
Booth and Herold were carried by Harbin and Bayden (Baden) about two miles to Allens Fresh. (follow the dotted lines, they're very important!) The dots turn and and
head north ending at Rich Hill. Based on Jones's directions..." The route we had to take was down the cart track, a distance of about one mile and a half, (follow the dots from the red star toward
Equality) ...then down the public road for another mile to the corner of my farm." ( Huckleberry)
From the pines near the red star, it is approximately one and a half miles to exit the pines at Popes Creek Rd.
Equality. " Jones told me where they left the thicket he took them along the public road nearly opposite
Equality for half a mile or more, until he struck the public road leading to Popes Creek. The route they were conveyed to the thicket was not a public road, but a cart-road through the timber a little south of my house." (Rich Hill) ; " They (B&H) rode out from the lawn to the public road about one hundred yards away." ; " F.A Robey, who was manager for pa, took the horses Wednesday or Thursday night into the bog in Zakiah Swamp and shot them".
Statements of Samuel Cox Jr.
At this point I think its safe to say that the cart track was the old public road leading from Bel Alton to Allen's Fresh. A small portion of the original path still exists and
a deed to one of the homes on that path specifically states that the property lies on The Old Public road leading From Bel Alton To Allen's Fresh.
As for the white boy, I believe it was Cox Jr. and I think that when he left Newport on Thursday night in charge of the horses, he went back up the cart track to Rich
Hill and then they were taken east-southeast from Rich Hill to the swamp, just as he claimed. He later claimed to be the only white man who knew where they were killed, which makes me think that he may have had a hand in it.
Oh, and Jerry, they were'nt searching for a one-eyed horse. They were looking for a horse that probably would'nt blend very well with the rest of the herd. In particular, a bay mare, 14 and a half hands high with black legs, mane and tail, and a white star on the forehead. White spots also dotted one foot. Saddled or not, you would have to be a brave person to want to keep a horse like that. IMO, you would really have to ask yourself only one question; Is it worth risking your life over?
I will, once again, encourage folks to use the maps thread.
http://www.lincoln-assassination.com/bboard/index.php?topic=1653.0
