Lincoln Discussion Symposium

Good try, Thomas, but the correct answer is not a person from the Booth family.

Could it be Andrew Johnson???

The wording sounds like Hay, but I wouldn't assume him being the correct answer in the assassination trivia category.

If we were talking 1700s, my guess would be Alexander Hamilton, who placed no faith in the "unwashed masses." Then I thought of Brigham Young, whose Mormon movement was subject to scorn by the American mobocracy (or so he claimed); but that didn't fit the assassination topic either. I'm stumped.

My guess is John Adams.

Kudos to all for logical and thoughtful guesses!! Still no one has the right man. I thought this question would be a hard one.

Hint #2: Keep in mind what Eva said above...the question is in the assassination trivia category.

Hint #3: John Surratt did not say this, but a circumstance involving him led to this comment from another person.

I'll try again. Let's try the category, Circumstances Invoving John Surratt That led to this Comment From Another Person, for $10.
Who is Richard Merrick? (the defense attorney for Surratt)

That's another good try, Gene, but it's not Merrick.

Hint #3.5: The quote came after the assassination, not before.

Dr. Mudd said this while imprisoned at Fort Jefferson in a June 3, 1867 letter to his wife:

https://archive.org/stream/lifeofdrsamue...8/mode/2up

Excellent, Dave! My next clue was going to be the answer is on the Internet.

The quote in context:

"I am curious to know what offense will be set up by the Government in Surratt's case. I am very much afraid the trial will meet with another postponement so that they can urge a longer continuance of my exile on this account. Our country seems a complete mobocracy instead of a Government of law and order.

The President does not feel warranted in the execution of his plainest duties under the Constitution without first consulting the mob spirit."

Kudos, Dave!

A Lincoln assassination author stated, "The first thing an author of a controversial book should learn is to grow a protective skin."

What was the name of the author who said this?

Wild guess - Osborn H. Oldroyd?

Excellent guess, Eva, but it was not Oldroyd.

That's got to be Vaughan Shelton. Why just last week I had my Oujia Board out and he expressed a similar sentiment......