Where was John Surratt on April 14, 1865 ?

[loetar44]

It’s still my feeling that John Surratt was in Elmira, but I’m more and more confused. At the trial eight witnesses swear positively to seeing Surratt, and five others think they did. Okay, each saw him at a different place and you can (if you want) easily discount the testimony of some of them. But have all these witnesses lied ? It is possible, but not probable. Are all these witnesses mistaken? It too, is possible, but also not probable. And why to believe that witnesses for the prosecution were bribed? In that case, you also can say that the witnesses for the defence were bribed. You also can say that the prosecution used perjured testimony to show Surratt’s presence in DC on April 14. But why? I think there are more accounts saying that Surratt was in DC on April 14. I think of the brothers Queen who said they saw Surratt at or near Herold’s house on April 14. And Atzerodt said one day before he was hanged that Surratt was in DC. Why should he have lied one day before his death?