Where was John Surratt on April 14, 1865 ?

[loetar44]

Roger and Laurie,

I was puzzling with the same today, had a busy day and right now finds the time to post the following.

What if Booth AND Smoot visited the boardinghouse? Booth at 9 PM and Smoot at 9.30 PM.?

Remember what is said about the 9 PM visit:
“The boarders were having supper in the street-level dining room when they heard the booted thuds of someone climbing the outside steps. The doorbell rang, and Mrs. Surratt answered it. By the sound of the footsteps the residents knew she had taken the person into the parlor above the dining room. About five minutes later the diners heard the visitor leave.”

And this wrote Smoot about his visit:
“I went direct to Mrs. Surratt's. As I approached the house I saw a woman standing on the porch. Her face was so hidden in the capacious depths of a huge sunbonnet that I could not see her features. As I started to ascend the steps the woman turned abruptly and went into the house, almost closing the door, and at the same time asking: 'Who is it?' I gave my name. The door was quickly reopened, and I was admitted into the presence of Mrs. Surratt.”

Two different stories!

It was Weichmann who told (on July 15, 1865, after Mary’s execution) the first story, after John P. Brophy tried to (as Weichmann called it) “blacken his character”. In his account he wanted the public to think that there was little doubt that Mary Surratt was guilty and that all what was said about his character were lies. He didn't believe that Mary was an innocent woman. He declared: “That a woman so kind, so compassionate, so generous and so religious, should have been cognizant of plots to capture or assassinate the President of the United States, is hardly to be believed. Yet it is strangely true.” So, he wanted to silence Brophy, and many others, maybe also his own conscience. Therefore he told about Mary’s actions and words, even that she deserved death. In Weichmann’s words: “She could have prevented all. But no; she was too much infatuated; she loved the South too much.” Already before the 4th of March Mrs. SURRATT was continually remarking to everybody that something was going to happen to "Old Abe". She wept and closed her house when Lee surrendered. When the illumination took place her home remained dark and silent. And on Good Friday Booth visited her THREE times. In reference to the THIRD visit she was (according to Weichmann) very anxious to be at home at 9 o'clock, (returning from Surrattsville) saying she had made an engagement with some gentleman, who was to meet her at that hour. I asked her if it was BOOTH, she answered neither yes nor no. If it was Booth, why not told that? Was that because she expected someone else (THAT MAN)?

When about a mile from the city, on Weichmann’s and Mary’s return from Surrattsville, and having from the top of a hill caught a view of Washington swimming in a flood of light and glory, raising her hands, she said, according to Weichmann: "I am afraid all this rejoicing will turn into mourning, all this glory into sadness." Weichmann asked her what she meant. She replied that after sunshine there was always a storm, and that the people were too proud and licentious, and that God would punish them. After telling this Weichmann told of the 9 pm visit. But was he really truthful? I suspect that he wanted the people to think that it was Booth who visited Mary, but he NEVER saw Booth, only heard the steps of a man. If Mary spoke with Booth one hour before the assassination, she was guilty, because she could have prevented it. But Mary did not prevent it, so it was obvious that Mary was guilty, and Weichmann was hoping that the public would judge him fairly, by telling that Mary was guilty.

Roger, you say that Mary agreed to go to Good Friday church services with Eliza Holohan. I think that Mary and Eliza indeed went to church, but returned due to poor wether. They arrived in the boardinghouse, just at the moment Smoot arrived, because he wrote: “I saw a woman standing on the porch. Her face was so hidden in the capacious depths of a huge sunbonnet that I could not see her features.” Was this woman Eliza Holohan? After the door was closed Smoot gave his name, after that Mary reopened the door quickly.

Smoot’s story make sense. It is in accordance with Kate Larson and Betty Trindal. I don’t think Smoot’s visit was “accidental”, Mary expected him (remember his visit on April 12th). Maybe the women went with the intention to return between 9 or 10 pm. Smoot said he was there at 9:30 pm.

According to Kate Larson, the two ladies departed after Booth's visit. In that case she had to depart AFTER 9 pm. And why did Weichmann NOT notice that? I have problems to believe Weichmann 100%.

If there were TWO visits that evening (Booth and Smoot) why did Weichmann than NEVER mention that? Because there were no TWO visits, but ONE (Smoot’s visit). It all fits exactly with Smoot’s story.

BTW: Laurie thank you for your support. I really do think that Smoot was the one and Weichmann was only clearing his own conscience, now Mary was dead, by publicly saying incriminating things about her, only to show that her punishment was just and he did his duty.