Criminal – "The Plot" (Feb 20, 2026)
Host: Phoebe Judge
Guest: Historian Kate Clifford Larson
Episode Overview
This episode delves into the complex story of Mary Surratt, her family, and their involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. Using the expertise of historian Kate Clifford Larson, the show unpacks how Surratt’s tavern and boarding house became central hubs for Confederate spies and co-conspirators, most notably John Wilkes Booth. Exploring themes of wartime espionage, shifting public sympathies, and the unprecedented execution of a woman by the U.S. government, the episode raises questions about complicity, justice, and the gendered ways we interpret history.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Mary Surratt’s Background and Sympathies
[01:02–05:19]
- Mary Surratt, widow and tavern owner in Maryland, operated in a region with split loyalties during the Civil War.
- Her son, John Surratt, used his position as postmaster to act as a Confederate spy.
- Mary’s tavern and boarding house functioned as significant meeting places for Confederate supporters.
- “She was a racist and she was a confederate. She wanted slavery to continue.” – Kate Clifford Larson [04:19]
The Surratt Family & Confederate Espionage
[05:19–06:44]
- After John Surratt's role as postmaster ended, he became a full-time courier and spy, traveling between Richmond and Canada.
- Mary moved her family to Washington, D.C., strategically aiding her son’s covert operations.
John Wilkes Booth’s Entrance
[07:20–09:05]
- John Wilkes Booth, famed American actor, began frequenting the Surratt boarding house.
- “He has the fire, the dash, the touch of strangeness.” – Actress on Booth [08:20]
- Booth, though from a northern-sympathizing family, was fiercely devoted to slavery and the Confederate cause.
The Plot to Kidnap Lincoln
[09:40–14:37]
- Booth devised a plan to kidnap Abraham Lincoln and ransom him for Confederate soldiers' release.
- Joined by John Surratt Jr. and other inexperienced conspirators, the group met and planned at the Surratt house.
- The plan failed when Lincoln’s schedule changed unexpectedly:
- "Lincoln changed his mind and didn’t go. It just infuriated the co-conspirators, but particularly John Wilkes Booth himself.” – Larson [14:37]
Shift from Kidnapping to Murder
[14:58–16:08]
- Following the plot’s failure, Booth became enraged and redirected his energy toward assassinating Lincoln, with Mary Surratt becoming further involved.
Final Preparations for Assassination
[18:35–20:54]
- Booth gathered supplies including weapons hidden at the Surratt tavern in Maryland, with Mary's assistance in logistics.
- On April 14, 1865, Booth learned Lincoln would be at Ford’s Theater and finalized plans with his co-conspirators.
The Night of the Assassination
[20:54–23:44]
- Complex conspiracy: simultaneous assassination attempts on Lincoln, VP Andrew Johnson, Secretary of State Seward, and General Grant.
- Booth fatally shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theater and escaped, suffering a broken leg as he leapt from the presidential box:
- “He leaps from the box…crashed on the stage…Booth broke his leg, but he limps off.” – Larson [22:40]
Immediate Aftermath & Investigation
[24:01–25:06]
- Mary Surratt’s behavior at home was described as odd and nervous after the assassination.
- Her boarder, Louis Weichman, shared suspicions with police, catalyzing investigation.
The Arrest and Interrogation
[25:17–29:28]
- Police searched the Surratt house and soon after, Louis Payne (an attacker on Seward) arrived, claiming he was hired to do yard work by Mary—she denied knowing him, which police found suspicious.
- “She very dramatically raises up her arm and her hand and says, I swear to God that I do not know who this person is. And the detectives thought that that was so bizarre, her behavior. They knew immediately that she knew who the guy was and she was lying.” – Larson [25:17]
- Mary, her daughter Anna, and Payne were arrested and Mary was described as "defiant and haughty" in police interviews.
The Military Tribunal
[31:00–33:52]
- Government justified a military tribunal due to the ongoing conflict after Lee’s surrender.
- Mary Surratt was subjected to intense negative press coverage, often gendered:
- “She was not the center of the conspiracy, but the press made it sound like she was.” – Larson [31:51]
- Her defense was ignorance: she didn’t know Booth’s plans, expecting that her femininity and Catholic faith would shield her.
Testimonies and Defense
[33:52–36:56]
- Louis Weichman (boarder): described Mary as sweet but recounted suspicious activity and guests.
- Anna Surratt (daughter): testifies for Mary's defense, later faints in court.
- Defense insisted John Surratt Jr. was the real conspirator and decried the military court’s constitutionality.
The Verdict, Execution, and Aftermath
[36:56–40:13]
- Mary sentenced to death along with three men; Johnson refused to commute her sentence despite commissioners’ appeals.
- On July 7, 1865, Mary became the first woman executed by the U.S. government.
- “Oddly, as soon as the hanging happened…everyone was uncomfortable with the hanging of a woman, particularly because there were photographs.” – Larson [37:58]
- Public opinion shifted post-execution, many claiming Mary’s innocence.
- President Johnson later criticized for not commuting her sentence.
- John Surratt Jr. escaped to Europe, was eventually tried (mistrial), and spent ensuing years publicly defending his mother.
The Legacy and Historical Debate
[40:38–41:20]
- Decades of debate over Mary Surratt’s complicity; supporters campaigned for her posthumous pardon (never granted).
- Larson’s assessment:
- “There’s no way that a person can come away thinking she was not informed, that she was not a co-conspirator, that she…couldn’t have helped John Wilkes Booth.” [40:53]
- New York Times opinion after her execution: "she had paid the penalty of her crime, and the wisest thing is to let her name be as far forgotten as the magnitude of that crime will allow." [41:05]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “She wanted slavery to continue.” – Kate Clifford Larson [04:19]
- “He was obsessed. He really was obsessed.” – Larson, on John Wilkes Booth [09:16]
- “My prospect is gone. My hopes are blighted.” – John Surratt Jr., after failed kidnap attempt [14:58]
- “She was very defiant and haughty, and she was trying to protect her son.” – Larson, describing Mary’s police interrogation [28:38]
- “I swear to God that I do not know who this person is.” – Mary Surratt, upon Payne’s arrest [25:17]
- “Mary never thought in a million years that she would get a death sentence.” – Larson [36:56]
- “Everyone was uncomfortable with the hanging of a woman, particularly because there were photographs available…” – Larson [37:58]
- “There’s no way that a person can come away thinking she was not informed…not a co-conspirator…” – Larson [40:53]
- “It’s such a complicated story, but I think everyone should know about Mary Surratt.” – Larson [41:20]
Important Segment Timestamps
- [01:02] — Introduction to Mary Surratt’s tavern & espionage
- [04:19] — Mary Surratt’s position on slavery
- [07:20] — John Wilkes Booth’s introduction to the Surratts
- [09:48] — Booth’s plot to kidnap Lincoln
- [14:37] — Failed kidnapping plan & conspirators’ frustration
- [18:35] — Booth’s shift to assassination plans
- [20:01] — Assassination conspiracy details
- [22:40] — Booth assassinates Lincoln, flees the scene
- [25:17] — Louis Payne’s arrest and Mary’s denial
- [31:00] — Military tribunal begins
- [36:56] — Mary’s shock at her death sentence
- [37:58] — Public discomfort after Mary’s execution
- [40:53] — Larson’s historical assessment of Mary’s guilt
Tone and Reflection
The episode is characterized by Phoebe Judge’s calm, probing narration and Kate Clifford Larson’s clear-eyed, nuanced historical analysis. The tone is thoughtful, direct, and sometimes somber, focusing on the personal tragedies and complex legacies surrounding Mary Surratt's story. The show highlights not just the facts, but also the emotional and societal resonance of the first woman executed by the federal government and the way historical narratives—especially around women and wrongdoing—are formed and reexamined.
This episode provides an in-depth exploration of the shadowy network behind Lincoln’s assassination and places Mary Surratt at the heart of debates about justice, gender, and historical memory.