No need to question this Lincoln conspirator’s guilt

[L Verge]

(05-09-2016 01:05 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(05-08-2016 08:21 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Excellent summation, Anita.

As for the items left at the Surratt Tavern on March 18: They had been sent ahead to the tavern in a buggy with David Herold with the intention that he and the goods would meet up with the gang and the captured Lincoln on March 17. When the team didn't show, Herold went five miles south and spent the night at John Chandler Thompson's hotel in T.B.

The next morning, with no one showing up still, Herold started back towards D.C. He was met on the road between that village and Surrattsville by John, Jr. and Atzerodt. They decided that it was too risky to try and get those items - especially the carbines - back into the city, so the old Surratt home became the logical hiding place. They remained there until midnight of April 14/15.

I don't believe that the original intention was to hide them anywhere. The gang and Lincoln would meet up with Herold, and all would go happily down the road towards the Potomac River and cross over in the newly purchased boat.

I've asked this before and as far as I remember received no reply - if the intention indeed was to kidnap Lincoln, this was AFAIK speculated/intended to happen using a carriage to transport him to Richmond, not on horseback (never read of this possibility/speculation). Why wouldn't they have had all the stuff in the carriage where it would have been available right away without the need of any interrupting of the flight? (This IMO indicates kidnapping had never been the actual goal.)

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(I personally also feel Mary Surratt was much more eager to participate and oblige than her son.)

They intended to kidnap Lincoln in his own carriage. Why take time and the chance that he would fight and escape while they stuffed all the things at his feet? They could have Herold ready and waiting to hop on the seat of his buggy and boogie down the road behind them -- sorta the rear gunner?

P.S. I appear to be the lone soldier who does not believe that Booth made the third trip to the boardinghouse that night. Susan, didn't you find where Nora identified who the caller was? I think Mr. Weichmann speculated a tad too much.

In my opinion, once Mrs. Surratt had done the last chore of delivering the field glasses and message to Lloyd, Booth didn't need her anymore and wouldn't waste time going the six blocks or so to check in with her. I'm not saying that he didn't clue her in during the mid-afternoon visit that the time had come -- for kidnapping or assassinating, we know not which. Show me proof, and I might bend.