Killing Lincoln - Nat Geo (Reactions)

[Linda Anderson]

John, Robinson's statement has puzzled me, too, but I think that Seward's bedroom was in the southwest corner of the house facing Lafayette Square. Fred Seward testified about the location of Seward's room in John Surratt's 1867 trial.

"WITNESS, resuming. At the time I was in my in my own room, which adjoins that of my father, in the third story of the house.
Q. Would you please explain which way the house fronts?
A. The house fronts towards Georgetown.
Q. It fronts the square exactly?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. State the position of your father's room in the third story?
A. His was in the front room in the third story, on the south side.
Q. At the corner, was it?
A. Yes, sir; the left hand corner as you front the square. My room was on the other side.
Q. Same front?
A. Yes, sir; the two rooms occupy the whole width of the house."

Also, Fanny's diary entry for April 13 states:

"There were superb fire works in La Fayette
square. Mother & I watched them from the window
of Father’s room."

In addition, William H. Bell testified in the 1865 conspirators' trial about Powell's assault.

"Then, by the time I turned around to make another step, he [Powell] had jumped back, and struck Mr. Frederick. By the time I could look back, Mr. Frederick was falling: he threw up his hands, and fell back in his sister’s room; that is two doors this side of Mr. Seward’s room."

I think that Fanny's room was in the southeast side of the house so Bell's statement makes sense if you consider the bathroom as the first door down from Seward's room and Fanny's room as the second door down.