The evidence that sealed Mrs. Surratt's fate

[John Stanton]

It's easy for us to say what they should have done or said, we have had years to develop our opinion. Yet, we expect those poor souls to think clearly and patriotically, and stop this crime. However, everyone involved expected the assassination to change everything and save the Confederacy. As for Mary, as a Catholic, as a Mother, as a woman, and a citizen, she didn't want a murder. If she learned there would be a murder -that night - by 10 PM she was a "limp rag" -she couldn't think of her own name. Later, her weak condition, her pleas for Help ("I don't want to fall") are an indication that she wishes she had done something -to stop the crime. Because she didn't do "something" she became Guilty, by association. But, she had no "part" in the plan to murder.