Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-13
THE DEATH OF LINCOLN: the Story
of Booths Plot. His Deed and the
Penalty. Ry Clara T.. I.aughlin. New
York: Doubleday. Page x Co.

HEN MISS lduSHnll
took the preparation Of
AA/ book dealing with Lincoln's
wv assassination. for publication
in connection with the cente-
mar of his birth she proceeded in sys-
tematic manner to gather materials. She
came TO Washington last spring and de-
voted some time here TO the searching OF
the records and newspaper files and inter
viewing those who had personal pc
quaintance with the tragedy and rs
actors. The result is a volume of value
a dispassionate, clear account OF Lin
coins death. an unpGejudiced review of
the plot Ia capture and the plot 10 Kill.
Miss LaughIn Is of the opinion, as.
indeed. are most historians today, that
these two plots. though both headed by
Booth were separate. and that Surratt,
Arnold. Mclaughlin and Mudd. though
concerned in the plot to capture. had no
knowledge or participation in the plot
10 kill. She is not pronounced in her
view regarding Mrs. Surratt though it
is evident she does not believe the
woman to have been guilty of any de-
gree OF criminal participation in or
knowledge of the assassination con
spiracy. OF the trial of the conspirators
before the military commission named
by President Johnson she says:
1T is doubtful if ever in the history
of Jurisprudence trial has been held i'll
which justice was more difficult to APP
proximate. First of all, there was sec
1ional feeling. which had been running
high for years, higher for the last four
wears. and was now dashed into its high
est fury by the common belief that the
Confederate leaders were responsible for
I-inColns death. Then there was the nat
ural rage against the alleged Slayers of
a beloved ruler. accumulated by the man
ner and the moment of that rulers TAX
ing off. Thirdly. there was politics. by
reason of the fact that the prisoners were
believed TO be affiliated with that secret
organiza ton known as Sons of Liberty.
which was opposed to the war. in league
with the democrats. supported Mcclellan,
and was deemed by the most ardent re-
publicans reasonable and treacherous
There was religious bitterness. too. The
Surratts We're Catholics. DR.. Mudd was
Catholic, OLaughlin was A Catholic, and
the report gained wide currency that all
of those dpprehended were of the Roman
communion and that the Church of Rome
had planned the slaughter of the Presi-
dent. Another factor was the great re-
wards offered for the apprehension of
Booth. Herold. Atzerodt, Payne and John
SuTrdlt- ana lastly, III dUultlOn u all Tue
usual things which tend to defeat the ends
OF justice in a criminal trial, there was the
extraordinary notoriety to be gained by
sensational testimony at any of the ses-
sions. whose least word when the court
alowedb was published far and wide and
discussed as almost never before or since
has trial evidence been discussed.
Miss Laughlin then proceeds to say:
1.-The trial, which seems hdeouSy I'M
fair to us now. was probably as fair as
a trial could be in those circumstances.
IN those times. From the point of view
of the prisoners it was inhuman. But
from the point of view of the frenzied
north IL seemed quite equitable.
The author writes with dramatic eff
fectiveness in describing the scenes in
Washington on the night of the crime.
She paints vivid portrait of Booth
with sympathy for his attractive quail
ties and repugnance for the lamentable
fanaticism which impelled him to his
crime. She has enriched the volume with
numerous illustrations. some being re-
productions of contemporary portraits and
prints the latter including portraits of the
eight people who were tried by the mill
fary commission. A valuable feature of
which includes a note on Confederate SIM
plicity, DR.. Mudd's statement. J. II. Sur
rats Rockville lecture, Lincon's last
utteranceS, sketch of Our American
Cousin" Atzerodts statement. outline
of Surratt's trial. and various other state
ments of those connected with the crime
and with the pursuit and trial of the
asSasSins.
THE ASSASSINATION OF ABRAHAM
LINCOLN AND ITS EXPIATION. BY
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