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Lincoln is shot
Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, is shot in the Presidential Box at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. by John Wilkes Booth. Booth escapes without being apprehended, though his leg is badly broken. Major Witnesses: Clara Harris, John Rathbone, and Dr. Hall -
Secretary of State is assulted
Early in the morning on this date, Secretary of State, William H. Seward is assulted in his home by Lewis Powell (Payne). Powell assults Seward's son, then Seward with a knife, before fleeing into the countryside. -
Lincoln dies
At 7:22am, President Lincoln dies in a house across from Ford's Theater. -
Powell and Others Arrested
Lewis Powell, Mary Surratt, and her boarders are arrested. -
Samuel Arnold Arrested
Samuel Arnold is arrested after authorities find him in Boothe's hotel room. -
Michael O'Laughlen is arrested.
Michael O'Laughlen, a friend of Booth, is arrested -
Lincoln's Funeral
Lincoln's funeral is held in the East Room of the White House. -
George Atzerodt Arrested
George Atzerodt (who had weapons of Boothe's) is arrested. -
Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Arrested
Authorities arrest Dr. Samuel A. Mudd based on his contact with Booth and his unsatisfactory answers when questioned. -
Booth Killed
John Wilkes Booth is shot and killed at Garrett's farm in Virginia. -
David E. Herold Arrested
David E. Herold is arrested on suspicion of involvement in the conspiracy. -
Lewis Powell Attempts Suicide
Lewis Powell attempts to commit suicide by banging his head against a cell wall. His canvas hood is replaced with a padded hood to avoid future suicide attempts. -
Johnson orders Lincon conspirators be tried
President Andrew Johnson orders that the Lincoln assassination conspirators be tried by a military commission. -
Military Commision Meets for the First Time
The Military Commission convenes for the first time. -
Conspirators are Arraigned
The conspirators are arraigned before the Military Commission. The Commission also adopts rules that will govern the trial. -
Testimony Begins
Testimony begins in the Lincoln assassination conspiracy trial at the Old Arsenal Building in Washington. -
Commission Begins Reviewing Evidence
In secret session, the Commission begins its review of the trial evidence. -
The Military Commission Determines the Verdicts
The Military Commission determines its verdicts and sentences. Four conspirators (Herold, Mary Surratt, Powell, and Atzerodt) are sentenced to die, three (O' Laughlen, Arnold, and Mudd) to life terms, and one (Spangler) to a prison term of six years. -
President Johnson Approves the Verdicts
President Johnson approves the verdicts and sentences of the Military Commission. -
Atzerodt, Mary Surratt, Herold, and Powell are Hung
Around 1:30 in the afternoon in the courtyard of the Old Arsenal Building Atzerodt, Mary Surratt, Herold, and Powell are hanged. -
Habeas Corpus
Mary Suratt petitions for Habeas Corpus, but President Johnson declares that Habeas Corpus is "suspended in cases such as this". -
John Surratt is Accused of Being a Conspirator
Louis Weichmann signs an affidavit strongly implicating John Surratt, who fled the country, in the assassination conspiracy. -
John Surratt Tried in Civil Court
John Surratt, after having been captured in Europe, is tried in civil court. The jury is unable to reach a verdict in his case and Surratt is released. -
O'Laughlen Dies in Prison
Convicted conpirator Michael O'Laughlen dies in prison. -
John Surratt Gives his Account of the Conspiracy
John Surratt begins a public lecture tour in which he provides his account of the assassination conspiracy. -
Edman Spangler Dies
Edman Spangler dies four years after his release from prison.
