The Assassin’s Accomplice

[Thomas Thorne]

One of the key pieces of evidence that suggests Mary Surratt's complicity in the murder is her agitation when she saw Powell when he turned up at 541 H St when the federal officers were there. I believe she was primarily agitated because JWB had told her of Powell's assignment to kill Seward. If she thought that, LTP's return to her house, capture and certain identification as Seward's assailant would put her in extreme jeopardy.

The counter argument would be Booth did not tell her of Powell's assignment. Could Mrs. Surratt have deduced that Powell was Seward's assailant merely by reading the Washington newspaper accounts of the assassination and the Seward attack from Apr 15-Apr 17? Was Powell's physique and physical characteristics unique among JWB"s entourage?

I tried to resolve this issue without success by reading the Library of Congress "Chronicling America" digital newspaper website. Searching via keywords "Seward" and "William Seward" the Washington newspapers contained in this database had hardly any coverage of the attack on Seward for the days in question.

I am still looking.
Tom