Friday, May 18, 2012

Today in the Lincoln Conspiracy: May 18

Eight people accused of participating in the conspiracy to kill President Abraham Lincoln went on trial before a military tribunal on May 10, 1865.

Military tribunal for the Lincoln conspirators



During the seven-week trial, the tribunal heard from hundreds of witnesses, but not from the defendants.  Under the terms of the tribunal's presidential commission, the accused were not permitted to speak in their own defense.

On May 18, a telegraph operator named A.R. Reeves testified at the trial  He told the tribunal that he transmitted a message from New York to Washington, addressed to Lewis Weichmann, a key prosecution witness.  The telegram was sent by John Wilkes Booth on March 23, 1865.

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