Media Coverage of the Conspiracy Trial

[MaddieM]

(12-30-2012 08:10 AM)BettyO Wrote:  

Quote:Speaking of ladies attending the trial, Cary Delery of the Historical Shop had an original trial pass signed by Hunter. It was made out to, "Mr. McConnell and five ladies". He theorized they were there to show support for Mrs. Surratt. I think they were there for Lewis Powell.

I have to agree, Jim. A LOT of ladies, Clover Adams amongst them, visited the court room and were very anxious to get a look at the conspirators; particularly Powell. According to the memoirs of Clover Adams, she too went to see the conspirators and described how Powell was the most handsome man in the room and that Herold was a "pretty little man"..... sounds to me like each of the conspirators had their own bunch of groupies.

Seriously, though....do you think that the prisoners, as described in the papers were meant to sell more papers via sensationalism? I do. I also see it as a means of garnering interest in the trial and much to General Hunter's and Hartranft's probable headaches, a clamoring for passes to get into the courtroom to watch the proceedings -

Certainly, Clover Adams describes it as exciting entertainment for a rainy day and even spoke to the guards to get "inside" information on how the prisoners reacted from everything concerning the trial to the few "gifts" that they received from anxious ladies in the courtroom viewing the trial.

the thing is though, how much of this and other reports are accurate? They seem to be coloured by whoever wrote them, and their own perceptions and prejudices. The power of the press is immense, and can whip up hatred or compassion at a whim.