History

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

• A prosecution witness supported perjured testimony
• Thomas Ewing presented three sets of closing arguments; one for Samuel Arnold, one for Dr. Mudd and one against the jurisdiction of the commission
• Mrs. Surratt was too sick to appear in the courtroom today

The June 23, 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 to give Thomas Ewing more time to work on his remaining closing arguments
• The conspirators continued to receive their daily time outside in the same prison yard that would later contain the gallows

The June 22, 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:

• William Doster presented his closing arguments for Lewis Powell, portraying him as having been indoctrinated by slavery, the Confederacy, and John Wilkes Booth
• The other conspirators listened in rapt attention at the narrative of Powell’s life and even Powell’s eyes teared up for a bit at mention of his distant family
• Doster presented his closing arguments for George Atzerodt, including his confession that he had joined a plot to abduct, not kill, the President
• Frederick Aiken presented his closing argument for Mary Surratt, thoroughly attacking the credibility of the chief prosecution witnesses against her, Louis Weichmann and John M. Lloyd
• Gen. Kautz, of the commissioners, described Aiken’s argument as “flowery” but “neither legal or logical”

The June 21, 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 prisoners started receiving daily time outdoors in the prison yard on this date
• Thomas Ewing presented his closing arguments for Edman Spangler
• An extension was granted to the remaining defense lawyers in order to give them time to finish their arguments

The June 20, 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:

• 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.

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

• The court did not meet due to the continued illness of Col. Tompkins
• Lewis Powell was taken out of his cell and examined by Dr. John Gray
• Concerns over Edman Spangler’s wandering mind granted him some time outside in the prison yard
• It was decided that all of the conspirators should be given some time outdoors each day

The June 17, 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:

• One of the military commissioners was absent from the courtroom so an orderly was sent to check on him
• The much debated “Lon” letter (pictured above) was once again the subject of testimony and discussion
• Testimony was heard regarding funds utilized by agents of the Confederate Secret Service
• David Herold “celebrated” his 23rd birthday

The June 16, 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.