Laurie and the Ghost of Mary Surratt

[L Verge]

Agreed. I have found that most of these productions have a slant that they want to prove, and the historical facts get in the way. I have a terrible tendency to give facts whenever I can. Mr. Robertson was (and may still be) one of the best self-promoters that I have ever encountered. He appeared on the scene with that awful "Booth" book and then disappeared - at least from the assassination field. I received numerous phone calls and letters from him and his friends praising the book, and they could not understand why we would not sell it or promote it at Surratt House.

The "historian" Steve Foreman was another one who appeared quickly and departed quickly. His information was accurate, but he certainly was not known in our field.

Elizabeth Trindal is a friend and the author of An American Tragedy, a very sympathetic bio of Mary Surratt. She did a tremendous amount of work researching Mrs. Surratt and made contacts with descendants, who have ignored us at the museum, because of her sympathetic approach. Her take on the ghost angle was exactly what the producers needed - the poor widow lady looking for companionship who made friends with the wrong person and is doomed to haunt the halls of history.

BTW: I have never claimed to have seen or heard anything at Surratt House resembling a woman. The footsteps that I cannot explain are definitely those of a man in heavy boots. As I have said before, until he touches or talks to me, he can walk all he wants. I need my paycheck!

I would also recommend that our posters read both An American Tragedy by Betty Trindal and Assassin's Accomplice by Kate Clifford Larson (a member here). Kate takes the opposite approach on Mary Surratt's guilt -- and, IMO, comes closer to reaching the conclusion that facts and assumptions tend to lead towards.