Johnson at odds with Holt & Stanton in June of 1865

[Eva Elisabeth]

I think conspiracy is conspiracy and that Johnson had no choice but to find Mrs. Surratt guilty if he was going to approve the executions of Herold and Atzerodt.

Thanks, Laurie, although I am generally opposed to the death penalty, this is my opinion, too. The reasoning why to treat Mary Surratt differently than Herold and Atzerodt seems unjust to me (and like Stanton said would have been an invitation to abuse women as a tool for such). In "Blood on the Moon", Ed Steers pointed well out the law's treatment of conspiracy. I wonder if Mary Surratt was aware of the law and that she was subject to it.

What is even more disturbing to me is that her son John was let off on the exact same evidence that condemned his mother.

Toia, I agree on this.