Booth's honesty: Lloyd v Mudd

[Rhatkinson]

One aspect of this saga that has long perplexed me is Booth's admission of assassination to Lloyd vs his silence of the same to Mudd. It seems that either one of two possibilities existed:

1. Booth, after "bragging" to Lloyd (a stranger to him) about killing Lincoln, decided to keep that information to himself and not tell Mudd based on Lloyd's alleged negative reaction to the news (and his imminent need of medical help); or,

2. Booth did reveal the news to Mudd, and Mudd lied about not knowing it.

I would bet #2 only because it makes no sense that Booth would brag to a man he didn't even know, but then keep that information from a man who he knew to be a southern sympathizer and accomplice in the capture plot.

As far as I know, Booth never commented on what he told Mudd. I don't believe Herold did, either. Mudd's version is not to be trusted at all. I would love to hear Dr. Steers' opinion (in particular, as well as others here) on this issue.

Heath

[jonathan]

I find it nearly impossible to believe that Booth would have told Lloyd what he did and then kept it from Mudd. I believe that Mudd knew exactly who Booth was that night and that something had happened. Sometimes I could go either way on whether or not Mudd knew that Booth had shot Lincoln, and occasionally my opinion wavers a bit. On the one hand, it's easy to see how Mudd could have helped Booth, knowing who he was but not what he had done, then learned about it the next day in town and told Booth he had to go. But on the other hand, Mudd's leisurely trip back home that day just doesn't seem to be the reaction of a man who has just learned that he left his family with the President's assassin. If I had to put money on the table, I'd say that Booth showed up at Mudd's and told him what he had done. Then the next day, Mudd went to town to run some regular errands, providing a good cover to see if word had gotten that far yet. When he saw that the manhunt was in full swing, he made his way home, trying to figure out the best way to save his own neck. Of course the best way for an innocent man in that situation to save his own neck would have been to tell the authorities right away that Booth was in his house, which is what Mudd would have done, if he was innocent. He knew if he turned them in right away then a) his family would be in real danger, and b) it would draw attention to Mudd himself, and his acquaintance with Booth might be revealed. I think the best thing for Mudd and his family would be for all of the conspirators to get off scot free or for all of them to die tragically before they could tell what they knew. Of course this applies most of all to Booth, and I'm sure it occurred to Mudd on his way home that afternoon. To me, this general outline just makes the most sense. We know Mudd and Booth knew each other, even if they weren't close friends. We know that Mudd was at the very least a Southern sympathizer. We know that Booth and Herold didn't try all that hard to conceal their identities to most people they met on their escape. The bottom line is that I find it very difficult to believe that Booth would not have told Mudd what he had done.

[J. Beckert]

I think you summed that up very well, Jonathan. I also have a problem with Booth telling Lloyd and then not telling Mudd. The scenario you've laid out sounds very feasible to me.

[Laurie Verge]

Those are exactly my thoughts also. First, Herold and Mudd went to Dr. Mudd's father's house seeking use of their buggy to transport Booth. If Booth were a stranger to Mudd, why would Mudd entrust a family carriage to a person that he might never see again?

Even if Mudd did not know what Booth had done, he did by the time he got to Bryantown. Why take your leisurely time going home? I once asked that of a pro-Mudd historian who told me that Mudd feared for his wife's and children's safety. Stupid me, but I would expect my husband to come rushing home to save us! Or, as this historian also said, if Mudd told the authorities, there might be a shoot-out at the Mudd house. My answer to that was that perhaps I watched too many cop shows on television, but wouldn't the troopers be smart enough to remain a safe distance from the house and wait for Mudd to evict the fugitives?

I' sorry, but I contend that Dr. Mudd was in the conspiracy from the beginning (upon receiving the letters introducing Booth into the Maryland planters' community) until the end. It's degree of guilt that we should consider.

[Gene C]

What if Mudd's wife was aware of the conspiracy too? Since Booth had previously been a guest in her home, is it not likely she recognized him too?
After all, he was a good looking and famous actor.
That might help explain why Mudd wasn't to worried about leaving the house with two "strangers" there

[Hess1865]

I agree with Jonathan's scenario

[jonathan]

Concerning Mudd's slow trip home that day, I think it further served himself because it would have drawn no interest from any neighbors or travelers he might have passed on his way. Surely his neighbors were questioned about whether they had seen any strangers around or any suspicious activity. It would not be good for Mudd if someone casually mentioned that they had seen him barreling home after having been to Bryantown. I'm sure Mudd was a very smart guy, I think he took his time to ponder his fate and try and figure out what to do. I just don't think there's any way Mudd wouldn't have rushed home unless he knew exactly who was there and what potential threat they posed to his family. He knew his family would be okay as long as nobody knew Booth was at his house.