Dr. Mudd...Guilty or Innocent?

[J_Man0507]

But just being a Confederate spy, or simply just a southern sympathizer, to the latter of which he was, does not make him guilty. Samuel Cox and Thomas Jones were spies, and they were not tried or convicted, even though there was about as much on them as there was on Mudd and Spangler. And they both knew, by that point, whom they were helping, IIRC. They kept silent though. They said not a word about it, and were eventually released. One would think if Mudd was a part of this network, he wouldn't have said a word of it to anybody.

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members,

The state of Maryland, near the Federal City and in the area of Prince George's County, was known to foster sympathy toward's the Confederacy. Yet, on the western side, it wasn't so strong. However,
Anybody can be considered a spy--I remember, my parent's World War II experiences and the poster - "Loose lips sink ships."

I proffer, how many times people eavesdrop on somebody's conversation and just get 'bits.' The begininng and ending may have been entirely innocent --however, the use of the system in which accusations of being a 'spy' was probably misused/abused like the legal system is today-- a means of revenge, manipulation, theft and or reputation being ruined.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[whitworth]

The Cut-off boot at Dr. Mudd's Home


http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj...racy/mudd.html


"Lovett returned to the Mudd home three days later to conduct a search of Mudd's home. When Lovett told of his intentions, Mudd's wife, Sarah, brought down from upstairs a boot that had been cut off the visitor's leg three days earlier [see above photo]. Lovett turned down the top of the left-foot riding boot and "saw the name J Wilkes written in it." Mudd told Lovett that he had not noticed the writing. Shown a photo of Booth, Mudd still claimed not to recognize him."

[ole]

Thanks for the excellent site, Whitworth. A well balanced piece, acknowledging that much of the testimony against Booth was likely staged.

It does support my contention that Mudd had been in on some kind of conspiracy. I still don't believe that at 0400 the following morning, Mudd could have been aware that Lincoln had been shot. News travelled fast, but not that fast and not overnight.

It does strike me as incredibly thoughtless to have not disposed of the boot. By this time, Mudd had most certainly learned that Booth was being hunted, and Mudd has his boot in his house. This item most certainly shows that Booth was in Mudd's house. So he lied about it. The commission might still have made something of it, but it seems that Mudd's best defense would have been, "Yes, I knew Booth. And I set his leg that morning. So what?"

Mudd might have burst into applause when he learned of Lincoln's death. But I still think he had nothing to do with it. (Or, at least, an untenable link.) He was, like Wirz, made an example of. It happens.

ole

[M E Wolf]

Dear ole and Witworth,

I agree with you about your post following Witworth's post and link, in reference to Booth's boot and Dr. Mudd.

It is easy to forget that in the Civil War, telegraphs mainly were on the railroad stations and offices; then added into the military and the White House (Presidential mansion), Secretary of War and manned 24 hours and 365 days for the entire Civil War.

Private citizens relied on the postal mail, the newspapers and gossip.

Further, the hour of night to which the assassination attempts on all of the individuals; would be helpful in 'disappearing' in the night per se--as, in military affairs--even battles would rarely be continued due to night conditions. Horses are able to see where humans cannot--so, leaning down on a horse's neck and letting them find their way--they usually will, especially if they have travelled the route several times. This might be a cause for Booth to rent the same horse repeatedly, as to travel and engrain the horse of the route so the horse would follow it--without much aid by the rider/Booth; to the destination.

Thank you for your post Witworth.

Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf

[J_Man0507]

Originally Posted by M E Wolf

Further, the hour of night to which the assassination attempts on all of the individuals; would be helpful in 'disappearing' in the night per se--as, in military affairs--even battles would rarely be continued due to night conditions. Horses are able to see where humans cannot--so, leaning down on a horse's neck and letting them find their way--they usually will, especially if they have travelled the route several times. This might be a cause for Booth to rent the same horse repeatedly, as to travel and engrain the horse of the route so the horse would follow it--without much aid by the rider/Booth; to the destination.

M.E, that actually does shed a little light on some things. I wonder if anybody else ever thought of that as the reason for all of Booth's rides out into the country. GPS, 1865 style. Was the horses name ****** or Tom Tom by chance?

But I digress. IIRC, the boot was found by a servant under the bed, where it had been tossed after Mudd cut the boot off. The servant was cleaning and brought it down and they turned it over. If anything, it just went to further proof that they were on the right trail of Booth, that he had stopped there, and that this was evidence of his stop, and that he was injured. Once more, if Mudd was in on it, and he knew about the boot, why not just destroy it? It has been cut, and he can't take it to be repaired because 1)it has J. Wilkes in the heel and 2) he doesn't have the other one. Kinda useless to have just one boot. If he was part of the plot, I don't think he would have kept that boot. He would have thrown it away. It makes no sense to keep incriminating evidence and then turn it over to those looking for the most wanted man in the United States.

(I had no idea that G*a*r*m*i*n was bad)

[whitworth]

"If he was part of the plot, I don't think he would have kept that boot. He would have thrown it away."

That's how many of them get caught. They don't cover their tracks, adequately. A cut disguarded boot wouldn't have been abnormal in a doctor's home. What Mudd didn't know is Booth wrote his name inside the boot. Someone who lived and rarely traveled outside the area, would have no reason to write their name in the boot. Booth, was an actor, a man of travel, who might take the precaution of identifying his boot. A man who usually always sleeps in the same home every night, had no reason to mark the boot. And that was the doctor's normal patient.

I helped catch some thieves who kept doing the same thing over and over again. Unfortunately no one noticed an obvious tip. I noticed and they were caught.

[J_Man0507]

Originally Posted by whitworth

"If he was part of the plot, I don't think he would have kept that boot. He would have thrown it away."

That's how many of them get caught. They don't cover their tracks, adequately. A cut disguarded boot wouldn't have been abnormal in a doctor's home. What Mudd didn't know is Booth wrote his name inside the boot. Someone who lived and rarely traveled outside the area, would have no reason to write their name in the boot. Booth, was an actor, a man of travel, who might take the precaution of identifying his boot. A man who usually always sleeps in the same home every night, had no reason to mark the boot. And that was the doctor's normal patient.

I helped catch some thieves who kept doing the same thing over and over again. Unfortunately no one noticed an obvious tip. I noticed and they were caught.

But he turned it over to the detectives. They did not find it and then ask why he had it. He turned it over to them. Why do that, if you think that it might incriminate you, and possibly put those tracking Booth on the right trail? Yes, I do agree that people get caught by doing something stupid; its all too common when you hear about a murderer or thief getting caught because he kept going to the same neighborhood, or had a busted headlight. Something foolish like that.

If he had tossed it, and known all along it was Booth, and then forgotten the boot, and several days later, found it, why turn it in? There are just so many things that don't add up to Mudd being a part of any conspiracy. He turned in the men who stopped at his house, he turned in evidence of who it was, giving them more evidence of who it was they were chasing (because people still weren't so sure; Edwin Booth was also a suspect), and Booth showed up in disguise.

We know Booth knew Mudd was a doctor. He sure didn't plan on breaking his leg in the escape. Mudd is on/near his route south to Virginia. He knows he can stop, get his leg set, and then keep going south without risking doing more damage to his leg, which has to be set. Taking advantage of his knowledge of the area. Using what he knew to get away. Doing what any criminal would do.

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members,

In the Civil War era; the 'plain view' law existed where law enforcement could seize anything illegal in plain view.

Two, from my understanding from a cobbler and or shoemaker that my family for generations have associated with; my relatives had their names in their shoes and boots in the 1880s through 1925. It was just normal.

As an equestrian; riding horses in tall shank riding boots; are custom fitted for that person. Mine had always had my name embossed in my custom made boots. So, I am doubting if having a name in the boot was really out of the ordinary.

I also had a riding boot cut off of me (yes, I have many experiences with boots LOL); If the doctor cut the back seam of the boot, it will open the boot shaft (long leg shank area from ankle to the knee); it can be restitched and be like new with no problem. It could be where the Doctor Mudd would hold the boot until Booth came by to pick it back up and be re-examined to see if his broken limb was mended.


This is no different from articles of clothing that were made. Many of my great-great-grandmother's kid leather gloves had her monogram.

I do believe Dr. Mudd was a victim of bad judicial handling and poor legal representation. He should have had his trial thrown out but, with everybody so fresh from the Civil War and it's horrors--Dr. Mudd became another casualty.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[J_Man0507]

You raise another good point, M.E. I would like to go and see the boot itself at Ford's Theater when they reopen it (they have been putting in an elevator) and see where Dr. Mudd cut the boot. Having been told that they were on their way to Washington, he may have assumed that the men might stop by on their way back to pick up the boot, and made the cut accordingly. I would also think the back of the boot would be the best place to cut anyway. But I don't wear riding boots, so I wouldn't know.