The Judicial Murder of Mary E. Surratt

"The Judicial Murder of Mary E. Surratt" by David Miller DeWitt is a historical narrative examining the trial of Mary Surratt following President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. The book casts a critical eye on her trial as a conspirator, highlighting the questionable fairness of the military tribunal that judged her and the wider ramifications for justice in a nation reeling from tragedy. Opening with a depiction of Washington D.C. in the wake of Lincoln's death, the narrative introduces figures like Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and General Lafayette C. Baker, who spearheaded the investigation. As the story unfolds, the narrative shows a rush to judgement that engulfed potentially innocent individuals like Surratt. DeWitt presents Surratt as a tragic figure ensnared in political events and a justice system seemingly biased against her.