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CE

UR
Here is the transcript from the courtroom when Dr.
SO
#2
Samuel Mudd took the stand:

Prosecutor: Is t h is t h e m a n who visited y o u r h o m e on a t 4 a m on April 15, 1 8 6 4 ?


( P r e s e n t s a p i c t u re of J o h n Wilkes Booth)

Mudd: Yes, it w a s h e a n d one o t h e r m a n . I know now t h e o t h e r m a n w a s David


Herold, b u t I did n o t k now t h i s a t t h e time.

Prosecutor: Once t h e s e two m e n a r r i v e d, w h a t did t h e y w a n t f rom y o u ?

Mudd: They w a n t e d m e to c r e a t e a splint a n d c a r e for his i n u r e d leg.

Prosecutor: And did y o u ?

Mudd: I could n o t t u r n h i m a way! The m a n w a s in incredible pain,


looked like a p r e t t y n a s t y fall t h a t c a us e d this.

Prosecutor: How do you kn ow it w a s c a us e d fro m a fall?

Mudd: ...I don’t. It just looked like a fall m a y h a v e c au s e d it. I supp ose it could
h a v e bee n c a u se d by s o m et h i n g else.

Prosecutor: I a s s u m e you spoke wi th t h e s e two m e n while you t e n d e d to t h e injury,


right?

Mudd: Well of course, b u t only of simple things.

Prosecutor: Did you a s k t h e m a n w h a t c a us e d t hi s i n j u r y ?

Mudd: I did not.

Prosecutor: I t h i n k t hi s is a little st r a n g e , Dr. Mudd. Why would you n o t inquire a bou t


t h e c a u s e of t h is injury. You a r e a doctor a f t e r all.

Mudd: It just did n o t occu r to m e to p r y into his p e r s on a l business.

Prosecutor: I don’t believe you. I t h i n k it is a little odd t h a t a s t r a n g e r k n o ck s on


y o u r door in t h e middle of t h e n ight -- a n d you willingly as s i s t t h e s e two
s t r a n g e r s wit hou t g a t h er i n g a n y s o r t of information.

Mudd: (...silence...)

Prosecutor: H a d you s e e n t h e s e m e n pr i o r to t h i s e v e n in g ?

Mudd: I n e v e r s aw e i t h e r of t h e p a r t i e s before, n o r c a n I conceive who s e n t t h e m


to m y house.

Prosecutor: We h a v e s e v er a l witn esse s saying t h e y s aw you, on s e ve r a l


occasions, meet ing wit h Mr. Booth a n d t h e o t h e r conspirators...

Mudd: They m u s t be m is t a k e n . I did no thin g wrong b u t help a m a n w h o m I


t h o u g h t w a s a n i n n o c e nt stra nge r. I h av e n e v e r s e e n t hi s m a n before in
m y life.

Prosecutor: I’d like to believe you, Dr. Mudd. But, w h y t h e n does Mr. George
Atze ro dt claim t h a t , “I a m c e r t a i n Dr. Mu d d k n e w all a bou t it.”

Source: Created and adapted from information provided at


http://
law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/lincolnconspiracy/mudd.ht © History with Mr. E
ml Specializing in American and World History for late Elementary, Middle, and early High

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