Questions Regarding Mary Surratt

[John E.]

I think Mary Surratt was guilty of aiding JWB. Pure and simple. I think people tend to mix up her sentencing with her level of guilt and have misplaced sympathies because of it. Very few people in 1865 had issues with the court finding her guilty. They had bigger issues with a woman being executed.

She was guilty, lied to save her butt and it didn't work. It wouldn't be the first time someone portrayed themselves as a pious, innocent bystander to avoid being executed. Happens all the time.

I think her son John knew she was guilty. If he returned, he MAY have given the government an out as far as her execution but it isn't for certain. He may have been executed right along with her and we'd be discussing the first Mother/Son tandem to be executed by the Federal government.