The Assassin's Accomplice: Mary Surratt and the Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln

Of the five assassins hanged for Lincoln's monstrous death, only one was a woman: Mary Surratt was the first female executed under federal law in United States history. Intelligent, stout and a politically astute southern widow, Mary Surratt conspired with her son John and his friend, the handsome and magnetic actor, John Wilkes Booth, to first kidnap, then, when the plan fell flat, assassinate President Lincoln. Mary Surrantt's role throughout was essential and her acts to effect Booth's post-assassination escape become indisputably damming in this sobering narrative. It follows Mary's path to the gallows in unemotional minutiae and is one of the most objective and well-researched books in the fascinating and never-ending Lincoln/Civil War mileau. Mrs. Surratt is naturally central to the story but author Kate Larson introduces characters hitherto overlooked but profoundly implicated in and/or impacted by the events. For example, Mary's own daughter Anna, a pre-Victorian teenaged groupie was obsessed with Booth and unstable even before the drama began, then lost her sanity entirely as a result of the political intrigue, her integral role as an eye-witness, the assassination's aftermath, and her mother's grim death. However, what author Larson accomplishes most impressively in "The Assassin's Accomplice" is to portray Mrs. Surratt, her life and her deeds through an unapologetically clear plate-glass window. No excuses, no heroism, and no ultimate exoneration. This biography, unlike those of many high-profile historical women, is honest and stark, the backstory studied, the evidence examined, and the conclusion honestly defensible. The author was in no way seduced by her subject nor was she tempted to allow her own interest in and knowledge of the period to hijack the evidence. Well done Ms. Larson. You are a talented scholar and writer and are owed many thanks for what you accomplished in "The Assassin's Accomplice".

Having read other interesting claims of authenticity for their books, I've finally read a very well written and accurately researched piece of work about Mary Surratt and her so-called part in the Lincoln assassination. I am appalled at other books, written by PhD's, that can't even hold a candle to this book by Ms. Trindal. Any reader of history will not be displeased, but will be pleasantly surprised for the truthfulness of this work. It makes one relieved to finally find a sense of justice most deserved for Mary Surratt. Anyone who has also attempted to find truthful answers about why there was so much injustice, based on lies, and an ardent lack of carefully reviewing the slim evidence against Mary Surratt, will immediately see that not everyone buys into the government's sham military trial held. If the defense had even been given the opportunity to read Booth's diary, they would see that Mary Surratt could not have known what Booth did by changing his mind about various last second, so-to-speak, behaviors and actions, and thus there would have been no conspiracy of murder against her!!! This government unfairly rushed to justice, and this a great example of the victors getting to make the rules and write history for their own sake and not for the truth. I commend Ms.Trindal for her work and efforts, and for her attempt to disclose the truth. Many blinded minds will be irritated by her findings. I wish I had read this book ten or twelve years ago. Dr. Dahk Kxox, publisher and author of 90 books.

Really a great study of a relatively unknown woman. Larson finds the real woman behind all the myth from both sides. An engaging read, a well researched history and worth buying!

At last, we have a judicious and thoroughly unbiased account of Mary Surratt's involvement in the assassination of Lincoln. Professor Larson goes to great lengths to give Mary the benefit of the doubt. Court records and trial transcripts are gone over with a fine tooth comb proving what many have surmised for years: Mary was a willing co-conspirator who allowed all of the conspirators, including Booth, to use her boarding house and tavern at Surrattsville, as a meeting place for planning the death of Lincoln. There are new tidbits of information concerning Mary's inept lawyers, if you can call what they did, practicing law. Yet, even with their obvious stupidity, what was revealed by the witnesses, indicate that Mary was not the pious, innocent boarding house keeper she pretended. Even the Catholic clergy brought in as character witnesses, couldn't vouch for much; many didn't even know her that well. The evidence exists that President Johnson did receive information regarding a stay of execution for Mary, but with all the evidence, it is obvious that he had no choice but to let the matter proceed. It is only in the afterglow of the hangings, that public furor over the execution of the first woman by the federal government, increased to a rising crescendo, egged on by Southern sympathizers. Highly recommended, I would only suggest that the author, in a revised edition, include an extensive bibliography that would better assist those who are new to this area of Civil War study.

More specifically, was Mary Surratt guilty of helping plot the murder of Lincoln? Author Kate Clifford Larson is so convinced of Mary's complicity, she calls her Booth's accomplice. The evidence against her is circumstantial but compelling. Even today, there is a reluctance to attribute guilt to Mary Surratt. She was widely viewed as loving, kind, and regular in church attendance. Weichmann testified to her exemplary character. Fellow inmate Virginia Lomax cited examples of her kindheartedness to others in prison. Even Mary's ex-slave, Rachel Semus (p. 187), testified Mrs. Suratt always treated her fairly and she thus never had reason to complain. [As a descendant of slaves, I certainly don't grant Mrs. Surratt a pass. Unfortunately however, even our most revered figures - Washington and Jefferson - engaged in this detestable commerce. Second, at a time when incivility and sometimes cruelty to slaves were not uncommon, Mary was utterly blameless. Compare with "kindly" Dr. Mudd who shot a slave for insubordination (Edward Steers, "His Name is Still Mudd"). Compare with Lewis Paine who was arrested after stomping a black maid for talking back.] Mary Surratt's saintly image frustrates attempts to see her as complicit in Lincoln's demise. But, says author Larson, she lied when she denied knowing Paine. She lied when she denied knowing David Herold who had visited frequently at her tavern. And why the many visits by Booth to her H Street boarding house, the two sometimes disappearing for clandestine conversations lasting an hour and longer? Why could she not find that exculpatory letter from her son, purportedly received the very day detectives demanded it? Why the April 11 hushed tones with Lloyd about having "shooting irons" ready soon? If the guns were for no sordid purpose, say hunting, why the intrigue? And on the April 14 trip to the country, supposedly to transact urgent business, why did she not actually seek out Mr. Nothey who only lived 3 miles from the tavern? She could have sent Nothey's letter via a 3-cent stamp, avoiding a $6 horse and buggy rental and a 5-hour round trip, especially, Larson notes, since she allowed Nothey another 10 days to respond (p. 85). Urgent indeed. The prosecution stated this was all subterfuge for the real reason for the trip: to prepare for Booth's visit that night. Why did Mary call Booth an instrument of the Almighty sent to punish the proud and licentious people of Washington? Author Kate Larson cites two incriminating meetings between Mary and Richard Smoot. Initially regarding him with suspicion, Mary brightened considerably when he revealed he owned the boat requisitioned to kidnap Lincoln. And when Smoot returned the day of the assassination demanding payment, Mary whispered the boat would be needed that very night. Atzerodt's Lost Confession compromises Mary more than just a little, but less widely known is Larson's assertion that both Herold and Atzerodt implicated Mary the