(Download) "The Trial" by Edward Steers, Jr. * Book PDF Kindle ePub Free

eBook details
- Title: The Trial
- Author : Edward Steers, Jr.
- Release Date : January 31, 2003
- Genre: United States,Books,History,Professional & Technical,Law,Nonfiction,True Crime,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 5902 KB
Description
Transcripts from the trial of John Wilkes Boothâs co-conspirators, plus commentary:âUnquestionably the world-class expert on . . . Lincolnâs assassination.â âCivil War News
On the night of April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in what he envisioned part of a scheme to plunge the federal government into chaos and gain a reprieve for the struggling Confederacy. The plan failed. By April 26, Booth was killed resisting capture and eight of the nine conspirators eventually charged in Lincoln's murder were in custody. Their trial would become one of the most famous and most controversial in US history.
New president Andrew Johnsonâs executive order on May 1 directed that persons charged with Lincolnâs murder stand trial before a military tribunal. The trial lasted more than fifty days, and 366 witnesses gave testimony. Benn Pitman, an expert in phonographyâan early form of shorthandâwas awarded a government contract to produce a transcription of each dayâs testimony. Pitman made these transcripts available to the prosecution and defense, as well as select members of the press.
Although three versions of the testimony were published, Pitmanâs edited collection was the most accessible. He skillfully winnowed the 4,300 pages of transcription into one volume, collated the testimony by defendant, indexed it by name and date, and added summaries.
In The Trial, assassination scholars guide readers through all 421 pages of testimony, illuminating Pitmanâs record. By drawing together the evidence that resulted in the conspiratorsâ convictions, The Trial leaves no doubt as to the events surrounding the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, making this book a fascinating account of the trial as well as an essential resource.
âSteersâs lineup is truly expertâreaders will be able to distinguish between fact and fancy and come away with a far better understanding of Lincolnâs assassination.â âWilliam Hanchett, author of The Lincoln Murder Conspiracies