John Surratt's real parents?

[L Verge]

Tom,

I understand your reasoning as far as young John; but since there is nothing to show that he had any contact with Booth (or knowledge of the change of course) for at least ten days prior to the murder, I don't see how he can be judged differently from Arnold. If John (or his Confederate controllers) had prior knowledge to the assassination, wouldn't he - as #2 man - have stayed at least in the vicinity of D.C. to see that it was done?

As for Mary getting word to her son to stay in hiding, the screenwriter for The Conspirator movie insinuated as much and hinted that the message was sent via Catholic advisers. Sounds logical to me.

I have also pondered why Pius IX and his team allowed Surratt to be extradited to stand trial if there was a possibility of his being executed. Wasn't/isn't there an honored tenet of the church to grant sanctuary to people who might be put to death? Did the U.S. agree to not seek the death penalty if Surratt were sent back? Or, since Pius was having a tad bit of trouble in his own land, did he blink on the sanctuary clause in order to gain support from the U.S. -- or at least a U.S. warship to get him out of Dodge if the situation came to that?

I have read Andrew Jampoler's excellent book on Surratt and hope to find time to read a new one by Michael Schein. I was also privileged to know Fr. Alfred Isacsson and to have him speak several times at Surratt House. However, the legalese of John's flight, capture, escape, capture, trials, etc. just goes right over my head.