The Trial Today: May 25

Here’s a sample of what occurred on this day in the Lincoln conspiracy trial:

• Several Union solders who had been held in prisoners of war camps in the Confederacy spoke about the terrible conditions they endured
• Men and women formerly enslaved by Dr. Mudd testified about the doctor’s Confederate sympathies and activities
• The first defense witnesses took the stand
• Michael O’Laughlen’s friends testified about him having been nowhere near Edwin Stanton’s home
• Frederick Aiken, lawyer for Mrs. Surratt, discovered that one of his defense witnesses lied to him
• The courtroom was packed to the brim with visitors making it hard for the reporters to hear testimony

The May 25, 1865 entry for the trial of the Lincoln assassination conspirators is now released and has more information. Please click here to access it. You can also access it through The Trial homepage.

Throughout May and June of 2020, I am publishing a day by day chronology of the trial of the Lincoln assassination conspirators. This includes almost daily posts announcing the release of what happened at the conspiracy trial 155 years ago. For more information about the creation of this project please click here.