The Lincoln Conspiracy

Today in the Lincoln Conspiracy: June 3

John H. Surratt Jr.

John Surratt did not face a military tribunal for his role in the Lincoln conspiracy.  He was safely out of the country when the trial took place.  However, the military judges heard testimony that seemed to link Surratt not just to the earlier attempt to kidnap the president, but to his assassination.

On June 3, 1865, a tailor named David C. Reed testified that he had seen Surratt outside the National Hotel at 2:30 in the afternoon on April 14th.  The National was, of course, where John Wilkes Booth was living at the time.  Surratt maintained he was nowhere near Washington when Lincoln was shot, and had no contact with Booth after April 3rd.

Reed would repeat his testimony nearly two years later when Surratt stood trial before a civilian court.  He insisted he immediately recognized Surratt.  Reed claimed he had known Surratt since he was a child.  He described Surratt's clothes and hair cut, said he was 30 to 35 years old and clean-shaven.  In fact, on April 14, 1865, Surratt had just turned 21 and wore a beard.