Why was Mary Surratt not photographed after her arrest?

[L Verge]

John, I think you are correct on every score - especially the first one about Mary Surratt and Dr. Mudd being held elsewhere and thus not photographed. I think they might also have been considered a tad above the others in social standing and deserving of more respect?? Not sure if the hoods were left on until they entered the courtroom.

The CDV of Mary that was used for the centerpiece of The Ring of Conspirators engraving is in the New York Public Library and was likely taken shortly after her move to the boardinghouse in D.C., which would put it within a few months of the assassination. We surmise that based on the amount of debt she was in after her husband's death and the lack of income as long as she was struggling in Surrattsville. The boardinghouse brought her some income almost immediately, and it would have been tempting to have her picture taken - especially with Anna probably goading her into it.

This is rather rude of us, but reporters referred to Mrs. Surratt as being "fair, fat, and forty;" so some of us often refer to that photo as being the "fair, fat, and forty" photo.