Band at the execution

[NHjohn]

[quote='BettyO' pid='34656' dateline='1403602578']
I have to agree; especially considering vicarious liability. Seems to me that in college, we talked about this in a law class I took, and the professor also stated that this crime was also basically considered treason. The sentence for treason in the US always has been death. So, these four conspirators were considered traitors (and you see them variously described thus in some newspaper accounts) and therefore received the death sentence. I also have always believed that Stanton and the Commission wanted some scapegoats to serve as examples - and these four were tagged as "it!"
I believe they were considered traitors to their country compounded by the fact that at least one had served in the Confederate Army, come back over to the Union and taken the "Oath of Allegiance," not to take up arms. Washington, DC was still under martial law at the time of Lincoln's murder. It is estimated at least 500 soldiers, north and south were executed during the war, mainly for desertion but usually what I call "desertion plus," such as desertion plus deserting towards enemy lines intending to desert TO the other side, as opposed to just taking off for home; desertion plus a serious crime such as rape, murder, serious assault with a weapon. The execution ceremony was a tradition going back forever to make a show of justice with the hopes this would dissuade future deserters. Soldiers were usually shot, not hung. The thought being they at least deserved a soldier's death. However, hanging was reserved for scoundrels who committed other crimes plus desertion. I would have to disagree that "scapegoat" applies to these conspirators as my understanding of the word. I have some modern day "Confederate" friends who say Wirz, Commandant of Andersonville Prison was a scapegoat, the only man hanged for war-crimes. I also disagree. Now, Mary? maybe... interesting that some soldiers felt Mary would be spared at the last minute. I see in one of the photos of the execution, only three wooden coffins stacked up. Anyway, reference the info. on the drummer, 29th Maine Infantry. Hit the books last night, the 29th Maine was in DC for the Grand Review and kept there for a few days for provost duty before heading south. The regimental makes no specific reference to the trial, guard duty etc. Author, who was an officer in the 29th states the regiment was there 8 days after the review on May 23rd and makes no reference to anybody on detached service, such as Chase, the drummer who claims to have been at the execution. That doesn't mean Chase is lying about being a drummer. Soldiers were sent on detached service all the time.