The Trial Today: June 19

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

• Closing arguments began on the part of the defense
• John Clampitt read the long absent Reverdy Johnson’s argument against the jurisdiction of the commission
• David Herold’s defense was read by one of the court reporters because his lawyer, Frederick Stone, was absent
• Mary Surratt was overcome by the heat and was placed in the doorway of the courtroom to get more air
• Walter Cox read his closing argument for Michael O’Laughlen which also included a defense of Samuel Arnold
• Julia Wilbur, an anti-slavery relief worker, visited the courtroom and sketched the layout in her diary

The June 19, 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.