Where was John Surratt on April 14, 1865 ?

[Susan Higginbotham]

(03-24-2017 05:34 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  We have discussed so many things that I hope this is not a repeat. We have discussed Susan Jackson's trial testimony, but have we discussed what she told the authorities? It's different.

From The Evidence:

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"A Negro woman (Susan Jackson) stated that the night of the murder, late at night, three men called at the house of Mrs. Surratt and requested to see her. The woman was in the habit of sleeping upon the floor in a basement room. At the time she was lying upon the floor apparently asleep; that these men in the course of their conversation stated to Mrs. Surratt that her son was in the theater with Booth at the time of the assassination. One of the number requested her to allow him to change his clothes with she acceded to, and took him upstairs, and he was gone apparently sufficient time to allow him to change his clothes. When he returned the girl feigned sleep. Another boarder at the house by the name of Nora Fitzpatrick, about nineteen years of age, was present at this interview and leaned over this girl to see whether she was asleep, and when one of the men inquired whether she might not overhear what was said, said that the girl was asleep and they need not be afraid."

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Who were the three men and which one needed to change his clothes?

IIRC, Kate Larsen suggests that the men were Weichmann and the detectives who were getting ready to take him to search for John Surratt.

As I remember, neither Susan nor Nora Fitzpatrick was questioned about this incident at trial, which suggests that the government no longer put much faith in the story.