On Saturday afternoon, Rev. J. Vaugh Lewis, of St. John's (Episcopal) Church, made application to President Johnson, in behalf of the mother and sister of David E. Herold, who was executed with Mrs. Surratt, Payne, and Atzerot, July 6th, 1865, for Herold's remains, and the order was immediately given. The order was placed in the hands of Mr. Joseph Gawler, undertaker, who presented it to the commandant at the Arsenal, General Ramsey, and the detail of men was made who soon dug to the box containing the remains, (lying between the cases containing the bodies of Payne and Atzerodt) and they were delivered to Mr. G., who at once took them to his establishment on Pennsylvania avenue, between 17th and 18th streets. The top of the case was found to have decayed and fallen in. The body was recovered from the pine case and placed in a fine walnut coffin, ornamented with silver handles and screws, with a plate on the breast inscribed "David E. Herold, aged twenty-three years." The flesh had entirely disappeared, the skeleton only remaining, but the clothing appeared to be in a fair state of preservation. The head was entirely separated from the body. The phial containing a parchment slip with the name of the deceased was found in the box and handed to his mother.

The coffin containing the remains was removed in a hearse today at 12 m. from Mr. Gawler's establishment to the Congressional Cemetery, where it was met by the mother and five sisters of the deceased, and Rev. J. Vaugh Lewis, pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church. It was immediately removed to the grave prepared for it, which is in the old portion of the cemetery, . . . and adjoining the grave of the father of the deceased. A cross of flowers was placed upon the coffin by one of Herold's sisters, and the funeral services of the Episcopal Church were performed by Rev. Mr. Lewis, after which the coffin was lowered and the grave filled up. The ceremony was strictly private, and besides the officiating clergyman, the only persons present were Herold's mother and sisters who seemed very much affected. . . .

Biography:
David Edgar Herold was born on June 16, 1842, in Maryland. He was the 6th of 11 children born to Adam and Mary Porter Herold. Two brothers died very young leaving "Davey" the only boy in a family with 8 sisters. The Herolds moved to Washington, D.C., and they lived in a large brick home at 636 Eighth Street near the Washington Navy Yard. The family was well off financially. David's father was the chief clerk at the Navy Store at the Washington Navy Yard for more than 20 years. David liked to go bird hunting and spent several months every year engaged in that sport. Thus, he was very familiar with the Maryland countryside.

David had studied pharmacy at Georgetown College and had worked for several druggists in Washington. In 1863, while working for Thompson's Pharmacy in the heart of Washington, Herold may have delivered a bottle of castor oil to the White House and personally given it to Abraham Lincoln.

Herold had probably met John Surratt while attending Charlotte Hall Academy in the late 1850's. It is possible that Herold met Booth because of his friendship with John Surratt. It is also possible that the initial meeting took place in 1863 when Booth purchased drugs to treat a growth on his neck. Because Booth was involved in smuggling quinine to the South, it made sense to befriend Herold who had access to medicines. Additionally, it is likely that Herold was recruited by Booth because of his knowledge of lower Maryland which might be helpful in Booth's plot to kidnap Lincoln and take him south. On the night of Wednesday, March 15, 1865, Herold met with Booth and other conspirators at Gautier's Restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue to discuss the possible abduction of the President. These plans never worked out.

When Booth's plans turned to assassination, "Davey" Herold was assigned to guide Lewis Paine to the Secretary of State's home so Paine could assassinate William Seward. Then Herold was to lead Paine as he escaped from Washington, D.C. When screams came from the Secretary's home, Herold didn't wait for Paine and rode off. He crossed the Navy Yard bridge and escaped from the Washington area.

Somewhere on the road to Surrattsville (now Clinton), Maryland, Herold met up with Booth (probably near Soper's Hill). The two stopped at John Lloyd's tavern and picked up a carbine, Booth's field glasses, and whiskey. From there they rode to Dr. Samuel Mudd's home near Bryantown and arrived about 4:00 A.M. Mudd set Booth's broken leg, and the two fugitives left Mudd's on the afternoon of April 15th, 1865.

Until April 26th the two were on the run. On that date, they were surrounded by Union cavalry while sleeping in a tobacco barn on the farm of Richard Garrett near Port Royal, Virginia. Herold gave up, but Booth was shot and killed after the barn was set on fire.

During the trial Herold had no chance whatsoever. He had been seen with Booth during the 12 days after the assassination and was in the barn when Booth was captured and killed. He was found guilty and sentenced to hang along with Lewis Paine, Mary Surratt, and George Atzerodt. In jail he was visited by his mother and many of his 8 sisters shortly before the execution. Often described as a half-wit, in reality he was not. Herold was hanged on July 7, 1865. Of the four who were executed, he is the only one for whom no last words were recorded.