Mary Surratt And The Plot To Assassinate Abraham Lincoln

The Unveiling of Mary Surratt's Dark Secrets

On the fateful night of April 14, 1865, an elaborate plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln unfolded at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Behind this sinister plan lay an unexpected and shocking figure – Mary Surratt, a seemingly ordinary woman whose involvement in the conspiracy would forever brand her as a key player in one of America's darkest moments.

Initially, Mary Surratt was an unlikely suspect. She was a widowed Southern sympathizer who ran a boarding house in the capital city. However, as the investigation progressed, the truth slowly emerged, revealing a web of deceit and betrayal that Mary Surratt found herself entangled in.

The Unraveling of a Conspiracy

The meticulous planning that led to the assassination of President Lincoln involved several individuals, including John Wilkes Booth, a well-known and talented actor of the time. Booth, along with several co-conspirators, devised a plan to not only kill Lincoln but also coordinate simultaneous attacks on Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William H. Seward.

Hanged!: Mary Surratt and the Plot to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln

by Sarah Miller(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1282 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	352 pages

FREE

Mary Surratt's connection to the plot became apparent when it was revealed that her boarding house served as a meeting place for the conspirators. As the noose tightened around her, evidence mounted against her involvement.

One crucial piece of evidence that sealed Mary Surratt's fate was her association with John Wilkes Booth himself. While records suggested that Surratt had met Booth on multiple occasions, it was her relationship with his co-conspirator, Lewis Powell, that proved most damning.

Powell, also known as Lewis Payne, was responsible for the attempted assassination of Secretary of State Seward. When he was captured, authorities discovered a photograph of Mary Surratt in his possession. This discovery, combined with testimonies from witnesses who connected Surratt to Booth and Powell, made it clear that she played a significant role in the conspiracy.

The Trial and Controversial Execution

The trial of Mary Surratt was highly controversial. Being one of the first women to be tried for a federal crime, public opinion was divided. While some believed in her innocence, the weight of the evidence against her proved challenging to ignore.

During the trial, it was discovered that Mary Surratt's son, John Surratt, had been actively involved in the conspiracy. Despite efforts to protect her son, Mary Surratt was unable to escape the guilty verdict.

Many argued that Mary Surratt's punishment was too severe, given her presumed role in the assassination plot. However, on July 7, 1865, she was hanged along with three other co-conspirators.

The Legacy and Mystery of Mary Surratt

Mary Surratt's execution marked a turning point in American history. As the first woman to be executed by the United States federal government, her case sparked significant debates regarding her guilt and the appropriate punishment for women involved in crimes.

Decades later, new evidence and testimonies have surfaced, suggesting that Mary Surratt may have been an unwitting participant or even falsely accused. Some argue that her association with known conspirators was mere coincidence, while others believe she was indeed a key cog in the assassination plot.

The contentious nature of Mary Surratt's involvement in the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln continues to captivate historians, sparking debates and fueling speculation to this day.

The story of Mary Surratt and the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln is one shrouded in mystery and controversy. As a seemingly ordinary woman, Mary Surratt found herself thrust into the dark underbelly of one of the most significant crimes in American history.

While her exact level of involvement remains disputed, there is no doubt that Mary Surratt will forever be entwined with the shadowy events of that fateful night at Ford's Theatre. From the whispers of conspiracy to the heated debates surrounding her trial, the legacy of Mary Surratt is one that reminds us of the complexities and struggles of the past.

Hanged!: Mary Surratt and the Plot to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln

by Sarah Miller(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1282 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	352 pages

FREE

From the critically acclaimed author of The Borden Murders comes the thrilling story of Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the US government, for her alleged involvement in the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.

A dubious distinction belongs to Mary Surratt: on July 7, 1865, she became the first woman to be executed by the United States government, accused of conspiring in the plot to assassinate not only President Abraham Lincoln, but also the vice president, the secretary of state, and General Grant. 

Mary Surratt was a widow, a Catholic, a businesswoman, a slave owner, a Union resident, and the mother of a Confederate Secret Service courier. As the proprietor of the boardinghouse where John Wilkes Booth and his allies are known to have gathered, Mary Surratt was widely believed, as President Andrew Johnson famously put it, to have “kept the nest that hatched the egg.” But did Mrs. Surratt truly commit treason by aiding and abetting Booth in his plot to murder the president? Or was she the victim of a spectacularly cruel coincidence? Here is YA nonfiction at its best--gripping, thought-provoking, and unputdownable.