Author Archives: Dave Taylor

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

• It was a Mudd-centric day at the trial
• The prosecution witness who claimed Dr. Mudd threatened the lives of Lincoln, his cabinet, and all Union men in Maryland in March of 1865, was recalled by the defense and asked about his work attempting to procure reward money for his testimony
• Dr. Mudd’s actions when the authorities came to his house were discussed
• More relatives established Dr. Mudd was on his farm when two questionable prosecution witnesses placed him in Washington
• Dr. Mudd’s visit to D.C. on March 22nd and 23rd were documented by defense witnesses
• The detective who arrested Samuel Arnold testified once again
• Dr. Mary Walker, a ground breaking surgeon during the Civil War and the only female winner of the Medal of Honor, visited the courtroom wearing pants, much to the amusement of some of the male prisoners

The June 6, 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.

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

• A questionable prosecution witness attempted to place Dr. Mudd in Washington in early March
• The loyalty and reliability of Mary Surratt’s brother was brought into question
• Some of Dr. Mudd’s relatives and servants reiterated that the doctor was on his farm throughout the first week of March
• Another dubious letter written in code was entered into evidence
• William Wood, the man who would become the first director of the United States Secret Service one month from this date, testified
• Many residents of Charles County came to Dr. Mudd’s defense in stating that the identity of Lincoln’s assassin was not known for certainty on April 15th
• The court was cleared of visitors to discuss the accidental publication of the previously withheld testimony from the first days of the trial
• Ward Hill Lamon, the one time protector of President Lincoln, visited the court

The June 5, 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.

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

• George Atzerodt’s attorney attempted to call President Johnson to testify about the non-attempt on his life, but had to settle for the ex-governor of Wisconsin instead
• Some of the officers in charge of the conspirators during their imprisonment testified about Lewis Powell’s mental and physical state
• Dr. Mudd’s defense presented witnesses to contradict the idea that David Herold waited for Dr. Mudd when the doctor visited Bryantown on April 15th
• Over the objection of the defense, the prosecution brought forth a new witness against Dr. Mudd, George Atzerodt, and Michael O’Laughlen
• A witness for Mary Surratt testified about her poor eyesight, in hopes of explaining why she claimed not to have known Lewis Powell when he was arrested at her house
• The commission finally learns Lewis Powell’s true name, they having known him as Lewis Payne up until this point

The June 3, 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.

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

• Edman Spangler’s defense called witnesses to explain how the locks to the Presidential box were broken before April 14th
• The allegation that Spangler slapped one of his coworkers after the assassination was brought into question
• Testimony about one of Booth’s fellow actors was heard to poke holes in Louis Weichmann’s claims against Mrs. Surratt
• Samuel Arnold’s coworkers verified he was in Virginia for about two weeks prior to the assassination
• Some light was shed on Lewis Powell’s recent past before he met John Wilkes Booth
• William Doster explained that he would seek an insanity defense for Powell
• A fabricated letter was entered into evidence
• Anna Surratt spent part of her time as a visitor in the courtroom giving the stink eye to Louis Weichmann

The June 2, 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.

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

• The court did not meet today, it having been set aside as a National Day of Mourning and Prayer
• Lewis Powell was visited by a woman who may have been formerly enslaved by the Powell family

The June 1, 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.

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

• It was a day of brothers in the court
• Two of Samuel Arnold’s brothers testified about him staying in a Baltimore suburb during the latter half of March before getting a job in Virginia
• John T. Ford and two of his brothers testified about Edman Spangler’s duties at Ford’s Theatre and the day leading up to Lincoln’s assassination
• Dr. Mudd’s brother clarified that while their father owned the lease to the Mudd farm, Dr. Mudd only needed to ask for it in order to sell it to John Wilkes Booth
• Edwin Booth, the brother of John Wilkes Booth, appeared in court as a visitor

The May 31, 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.

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

• Testimony about Jefferson Davis’ reaction to Lincoln’s death was presented
• Several defense witnesses for Dr. Mudd took the stand
• Edman Spangler’s actions behind the scenes at Ford’s Theatre were called into question by prosecution witness Jake Rittersbach
• David Herold’s defense attempted to portray him as a “light and trifling boy”
• Controversy broke out with a member of the commission objecting to the testimony of Confederate General Edward Johnson
• Anna Surratt, Mrs. Surratt’s daughter, took the stand and was overwhelmed with emotion
• An attempt was made by George Atzerodt’s defense to get his confession put onto the record

The May 30, 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.

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

• Dr. Mudd’s cousin testified about when Dr. Mudd told him about Booth and Herold’s visit
• Confederate plots to burn New York City and spread Yellow Fever throughout the Union were described
• More defense witnesses for Dr. Mudd took the stand explaining his whereabouts in the months prior to the assassination
• The newspaper reporters describe the physical toll relic hunters are having on the courtroom
• Booth’s mistress, Ella Starr, made an appearance in the court room but did not testify

The May 29, 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.