John Surratt

[RJNorton]

(05-02-2013 11:02 PM)Gene C Wrote:  I'm still not 100% convinced Surratt was in Elmira when President Lincoln was assassinated.

Although the majority of my assassination views are "conventional," I do believe there is enough evidence John Surratt was in Washington on April 14 that it should not be dismissed out-of-hand.

I think Booth's thinking changed with the Harney mission's failure. This set in motion a whole series of events. Mary Surratt traveled to Surrattsville on April 11 and told John Lloyd the "shooting irons" would be needed soon. Also, on April 11, Lincoln spoke from the White House. Booth, Herold, and Powell were in the audience. Among other things, Lincoln discussed possible new rights for certain blacks. He suggested conferring voting rights "on the very intelligent, and on those who serve our cause as soldiers." Booth was enraged.

On April 13 Herold was sent into the country to inform key people something was about to happen. Dr. Mudd may have been one of these folks Herold visited.

Also on April 13 Lewis Powell was sent to scout the Seward residence. We have pretty good evidence that this occurred.

I think it's possible Booth looked at what he had available (Herold, Powell, and Atzerodt), and decided he needed John Surratt to assist. He contacted Surratt and told him to come to Washington. Booth may also have told Mary that John was coming.

I believe a grand total of 13 eyewitnesses placed John Surratt in Washington on April 14. One eyewitness said he saw Surratt in front of Ford's Theatre prior to the assassination. Another person, a barber, said he cut Surratt's hair in Washington on the morning of April 14. And there were many others.

In his July 6th statement, George Atzerodt wrote, "Booth told me that Surratt was in the Herndon House on the night of the murder, the 14th of April, we were not all together at the Herndon House. Booth told me that Surratt was to help at the box, that he expected others in the box. I saw Surratt a few moments ago."

On Wednesday, April 12, Mary Surratt told Richard Smoot that John would be in Washington on April 14th.

Additionally, the ledger pages for the Brainard House in Elmira for the dates "John Harrison" (John Surratt) was allegedly there are mysteriously missing.

I just think there's enough there to give John Surratt's whereabouts on April 14th a second look.