Throwing more Mudd in the game

[Rhatkinson]

(09-25-2013 12:11 AM)SSlater Wrote:  I have no problem with the lies that are attributed to Dr. Mudd. We all would have done the same, had we been in his predicament. There is no question that Mudd was a sympathizer, but not an active "agent". Can anyone provide another incident where Mudd was treasonous? I do not believe that he knew Booth - at 4 AM - months after he was introduced or remembered the "land purchase" visit. I have met people at the Surratt House, and had long talks with them - but I would not recognize them if they came to my door at 4 AM. So, that is not a lie.
How did Mudd feel about the assassination? Did he consider it a crime? or was it an act of war? If the South did benefit from the assassination, and win the war, then the South may have hanged Mudd for turning Booth in. Mudd was in a No-Win situation, so he kept quiet, until....... Thus, his action, to help one of "his" soldiers, is understandable.
He did not invite Booth to Stop-by. He got trapped.

I don't think your analogy is the same. Running into a stranger once at the Surratt House is not the same as having met a famous actor three times (at least), having that actor stay at your home overnight on more than one occasion, taking the actor around town to introduce him to other contacts, and traveling to D.C. to meet with him and introduce him to John Surratt.

Plus, it is not as though Mudd only had a fleeting glance at Booth at 4 am that night. Rather, he was taken inside the house and thoroughly examined by the doctor. Not to mention Booth was at the Mudd home practically the entire next day. While I don't disagree with you on Mudd being forced to lie to save his neck, it is inconceivable to me that he did not recognize Mudd that night. (Not to mention that Mudd himself admitted to Samuel Cox, Jr. that he knew who Booth was that night.)

The only debate in my view is whether Booth told Mudd about the assassination on the night of the 14th (technically the early morning of the 15th I realize.) Perhaps he did not, but I find this very unlikely seeing that Booth told Lloyd (a stranger) about killing Lincoln. I could see a scenario where, based on Lloyd's negative reaction to the news, Booth decided to keep his mouth shut to future people they encountered during their escape.

Heath