Was the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln a Confederate Operation?
Conspiracy, terrorism, and obstruction of justice are not unique to
recent events, and maneuvering and scheming behind the scenes has a long
history. On an April evening, John Wilkes Booth crept into the
presidential box at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C., and shot
President Abraham Lincoln. Many have wondered ever since if there was
not a wider conspiracy associated with the assassination. Lincoln and
Booth: More Light on the Conspiracy takes up these questions, examining
the people, issues, and strange happenings related to the assassination
and its aftermath. Using the tools of investigative journalism and the
latest in scholarly research, H. Donald Winkler describes the events
that led to the shooting of the president, including Booth's activities
from July 1864 through April 1865, raising questions never before raised
and suggesting answers never before considered. Winkler has pulled
together relevant, reliable information about the terrorism, intrigue,
mysteries, covert actions, betrayals, deceptions, jury tampering,
obstruction of justice, subterfuge, execution by trickery, dirty
politics, and other shameful acts associated with the assassination. All
the controversial issues are considered, including the likely guilt of
Samuel Mudd and Mary Surratt, official Confederate involvement, John
Surratt's gratuitous reprieve, the veracity of Louis Weichmann, and John
S. Mosby's possible involvement. Also discussed are Edwin M. Stanton's
motives and decisions related to denying protection to Lincoln on April
14; hurriedly naming and pursuing conspirators; concealing Booth's
diary; hanging Mary Surratt while failing topursue John Surratt; hiring
Sandford Conover to find witnesses; and collaborating with the Radical
Republicans in their efforts to impeach Andrew Johnson. Lincoln and
Booth: More Light on the Conspiracy discusses the various possibilities
and options on controversial issues and challenges readers to draw their
own conclusions.