The evidence that sealed Mrs. Surratt's fate

[RJNorton]

(05-10-2013 11:54 PM)John E. Wrote:  Do we know of anything John did that would have gotten him hanged? As far as evidence is concerned, he did about as much as O'Laughlen and Arnold.

Did he hide weapons?
Did he help Booth escape?
Was he assigned to kill anyone?
No one can say.

He was used to working in the shadows and he kept it that way.

John, you bring up some interesting points. I have been meaning to ask this question for some time now, and I think I will ask it here. We sometimes see John Surratt being referred to as "second in command" after Booth. Why is this? If John were truly "second in command," wouldn't he have been in Washington on April 14th? (assuming the Elmira evidence is correct) Was there truly a "second in command" after Booth?