Herold and Surratt

[John Fazio]

(11-07-2013 05:08 PM)irshgrl500 Wrote:  

(11-07-2013 01:47 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(11-07-2013 11:34 AM)John Fazio Wrote:  What time did Grant's train leave?

John

John, I used Jim Bishop's book for the 6 P.M. in my post. Yes, I realize Bishop did not footnote his book, but here is the time schedule included in The Day Lincoln Was Shot:

6 P.M. Leave Washington City
7:25 P.M Arrive Baltimore
12:00 P.M. Arrive Philadelphia
Change Trains
6:00 A.M. Leave Philadelphia
7:00 A.M. Arrive Burlington

I may be a bit behind but wasn't there an unsent telegram, which Surratt intended to send on 4/15, Saturday, from the lobby of Brainard House, in Elmira, NY? Ok, which also means, he could have been in D.C., the night before; the night of the shooting.

Irish girl :

I am not familiar with that. Who was he to send it to, if known? For what purpose, if known?

Here is a significant tidbit, frequently overlooked in the debate about Surratt's role in the assassination and his whereabouts on 4-14: Ste. Marie gave two accounts of Surratt's whereabouts, one in his Affidavit and one on the stand in the trial. In the latter he said that Surratt told him when they were in Italy that he was in Washington on 4-14 and that he left the city, by train, disguised as an Englishman, the following morning, and that he experienced much difficulty in doing so. The defense deemed this testimony so watery that they didn't even bother to cross-examine him. It is generally supposed, therefore, that the account is false and that the Affidavit, therefore, which put him in "New York" (presumably Elmira, New York state), is true. But, most interestingly, Surratt did not say to Ste. Marie that he was in New York admiring the scenery and calmly patronizing haberdashers and tailors; he said he was there "prepared to fly". It will not do of historians to accept the first part of his statement, but reject the second. The latter has as much claim to truth as the former. I conclude, therefore, that even if he WAS in Elmira, "prepared to fly" means that he was a part of the conspiracy to murder the President and knew very well what was coming (i.e. knew very well that Booth would assassinate the President during the evening of the 14th) and that what was coming, when it came, would be his cue to "fly". And "fly", of course, is precisely what he did, whether one accepts Macmillan's evidence, the Rockville lecture or the Hanson Hiss interviews. The law considers flight to be the criminal's unstated confession of guilt. Remaining in hiding while his mother was being tried and hanged is further evidence of deep complicity in the crime. There is, of course, much more.

On another matter: Is that a picture of you in your icon?

John