Was Stanton a murder target?

[PaigeBooth]

(10-16-2016 12:43 PM)loetar44 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 07:50 PM)PaigeBooth Wrote:  Although O'Laughlen did show up at Stanton's home the night before Lincoln's murder, it is unlikely he was there to assassinate him. Mr. and Mrs. Stanton had a party at their home that evening, which meant people were gathered inside and outside their home mingling and watching firework displays. So assasinating Stanton would have been extremely difficult and escape impossible.

You are right, assassinating Stanton that night would have been a great risk for the assassin, with escape hardly possible. But… the plans to assassinate Lincoln, Johnson, Seward and possible Stanton (and Grant) were made for April 14, not April 13. It might be possible that O’Laughlen was checking out Stanton’s house for his (possible) attack a day later. Can you agree with this scenario?

Yes, that scenario is definitely possible. After all, Powell was seen examining Seward's home on both April 13th and 14th. However, if O'Laughlen was assigned by Booth to kill Stanton, he probably would have attended the meeting at the Herndon House on April 13th, which he did not.
O'Laughlen seemingly wanted to distance himself from the plot. He was asking for Stanton when he was at his home, so it has been said that he was there to tell about Booth's plans-- but that is only speculation.
Thanks for the great question!