Herold and Surratt

[JMadonna]

(11-08-2013 12:28 PM)John Fazio Wrote:  

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(11-06-2013 10:53 PM)SSlater Wrote:  My conclusion is: If Surratt was still a member of the assassination team, he would have made himself available, and would have been effective.

I never said that Surratt was NOT in Elmira. That wasn't the issue; the issue is what he ultimately did in response to Booth's telegram to get back to Washington because their plans had changed. What is most important is not whether he was in Elmira or not, but the fact that he did, by his own admission, telegraph Booth to determine whether or not he had already left for Washington. All of this demonstrates continuing concerted action consistent with the decapitation plot. Your categorical statement that they never met again after 3-17 cannot be given as truth, but only as opinion. My opinion is that if they didn't meet, it wasn't for want of trying, and, further, that meeting was not necessary to the conspiracy; communication was, and there was that.

John

IMO - Surratt was never a part of an assassination scheme. I believe he was the messenger who gave Thompson to OK to kill Lincoln but never knew what was in the letter. His job was to give the communication to Thompson and had no need to know what the letter contained.

Booth 's kidnapping scheme was dead when he learned that Lincoln now had a bounty on his head. It's the reason why he told Surratt ' plans had changed'. The new plot became a race which is why Booth told Atzerodt that the NY crowds would get him, if he didn't.

I don't believe Surratt knew of Booth's new plan so I agree with SSlater's logic in that he had no reason to be in Washington.