Traitors | Accomplice or Martyr | 5

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 December 2021

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Not every case of treason is open and shut. With some accused traitors, questions of their guilt or innocence can linger for generations. That’s certainly the case with Mary Surratt. Even before she was hanged in 1865 for her alleged role in the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln, many argued that she was an innocent widow convicted on false testimony. After her death, she became a martyr to the Confederate cause. To this day, Civil War scholars are divided on whether or not she was an active participant in the Lincoln plot.

On this episode, Lindsay speaks with author and historian Kate Clifford Larson. Her book The Assassin’s Accomplice attempts to debunk many of the myths surrounding Surratt and the conspiracy to assassinate President Lincoln. They’ll discuss not only Surratt, but our general fascination with traitors and their stories of duplicity and betrayal.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to American History Tellers add free on Amazon music.
0:05.8	Download the app today.
0:07.0	Imagine a July 1865 in Washington, DC.
0:21.2	It's been one week since Mary Sarat was executed for her part in the conspiracy to assassinate
0:26.3	President Abraham Lincoln.
0:28.4	As one of the residents of her boarding house, you were a star witness at the trial, but
0:33.3	now Sarat's creditors have seized the house, and you need a new place to live.
0:39.2	You walk away from a new boarding house you've just toured, slamming the front gate shut
0:43.5	in frustration.
0:44.9	The landlord refused to rent you after he realized who you are.
0:49.4	Since Sarat's execution, public opinion has turned against you, and your name has been
0:54.0	dragged through the mud.
0:55.8	Now you're trudging down the sidewalk towards yet another boarding house, when you hear
0:59.9	a familiar voice behind you.
1:01.9	Well, well, look who it is.
1:05.0	You turn and see your old classmate, John Brophy approaching.
1:09.2	You sigh and keep walking, but he chases after you.
1:12.3	Hey, what's your hurry?
1:14.0	Can't you spare a moment for an old friend?
1:16.1	Leave me be, Brophy, please.
1:18.8	You and Brophy used to be friends, but like so many others, he's turned on you since Sarat's
1:23.9	conviction.
	...

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