Historic Trial Transcripts
The Lincoln Assassination
Conspiracy Trial Transcripts
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This is the complete transcript of the Abraham Lincoln assassination conspiracy trial of David E. Herold, George A. Atzerodt, Lewis Payne, Michael O’Laughlin, Edward Spangler, Samuel Arnold, Mary E. Surratt and Samuel A. Mudd.
This transcript is complete and unabridged, it is the entire trial from May and June in 1865; with all the witnesses, the defense arguments, the arguments on jurisdiction, the closing arguments, and the verdicts.
On the evening of the 14th of April last, at about twenty minutes past eight o’clock, in company with Miss Harris, I left my residence at the corner of Fifteenth and H Streets, and joined the President and Mrs. Lincoln, and went with them, in their carriage, to Ford’s Theatre in Tenth Street. On reaching the theatre, when the presence of the President became known, the actors stopped playing; the band struck up “Hail to the Chief!” the audience rose, and received him with vociferous cheering. The party proceeded along the rear of the dress-circle, and entered the box that had been set apart for their reception. On entering the box, there was a large arm-chair that was placed nearest the audience, farthest from the stage, which the President took, and occupied during the whole of the evening, with one exception, when he got up and put on his coat, and returned and sat down again. When the second scene of the third act was being performed, and while I was intently observing the proceedings upon the stage, with my back towards the door, I heard the discharge of a pistol behind me, and, looking round, saw, through the smoke, a man between the door and the President.
From the testimony of Major Henry R. Rathbone on Monday, May 15, 1865.
Click here to read his entire testimony.