Escape speculations

[L Verge]

(06-16-2015 06:55 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  I would think if the authorities had shut down the boardinghouse earlier, it would have saved Mary Surratt's life (but not necessarily the president's).

I doubt that the authorities had any idea of the true depth of what was going on at the boardinghouse except for the comings and goings of a few, what they considered, low level operatives during the final months when the destruction of the Confederacy was pretty much assured.

This kind of activity had been going on in other homes in the capital city for four years. The authorities were distrusted enough without developing the image of going around shutting down poor widow ladies' homes and source of income.

As for your other question about the Garretts, they never got paid for the government's burning of their barn. And, they had supported the Confederacy during the war. I don't think they would have been eligible for any reward money. Willie Jett is the one who led the troops to Booth (admittedly under duress), and he never got a portion of the reward - nor did Betty Rollins, whose interest in Jett's love life led to the soldiers getting his assistance.