The Conspirator Page #3

no burden of proof,

no jury of your peers and no appeal.

All right, you were one

of Lincoln's pallbearers, too.

How can you represent her?

She's entitled to a defense, Freddie,

so I shall defend her.

Mary E. Surratt,

in aid of the existing armed rebellion

against the United States,

you are charged with having received,

entertained, harbored, concealed,

aided and assisted John Wilkes Booth,

John A. Surratt

and their confederates...

David E. Herold...

Lewis Payne...

George A. Atzerodt...

Michael O'Laughlen...

Edmund Spangler...

Samuel A. Mudd...

and Samuel Arnold...

in traitorous and

murderous conspiracy

to kill then-President

Abraham Lincoln,

Vice President Andrew Johnson

and Secretary of State

William Seward.

Pursuant to special orders

number 211 and 216,

how do you plead?

What say you, madam?

Guilty or not?

I am innocent.

In that case,

as each of the defendants

has entered a not-guilty plea,

we will begin.

Judge Advocate Holt,

please proceed.

Just a moment, your honor.

What is it, Senator?

I... I wish to request an adjournment.

An adjournment? We just got here.

My client has been in custody

for a month,

wasn't allowed to contact counsel

until yesterday.

General Hunter, a delay will only serve

to prolong the nation's sorrow.

My learned colleague,

you've had over four week s

to prepare your case,

no doubt assisted by

the entire War Department.

I believe the defendant is entitled

to equal consideration.

Senator Johnson, our fellow citizens must

be permitted to put this tragedy to rest.

The sooner we dispose of this matter,

the better... for everyone.

Everyone but my client.

Judge Advocate Holt, please proceed.

In that case, I move for termination.

Termination?

On the grounds

this trial is unconstitutional.

The defendant is a civilian

entitled to a public trial

before a jury of her peers.

The attorney general has affirmed

the legitimacy of this proceeding.

Has he furnished a verdict as well?

Senator.

You will mind the horror

which summons us.

Indeed.

We all mourn the loss

of our leader,

but in our grief, let us not betray

our better judgment

and partake in an inquisition.

Inquisition? How dare you?

Sounds to me like we have

the enemy among us.

Maryland not being among our most loyal

of states during the war,

its senator ought to certify his allegiance

to this court.

I have served this nation

as its attorney general.

That is certification enough.

Nevertheless,

we may require counsel

to sign this oath of loyalty

as prescribed by Congress.

I am a member of Congress,

the same body that creates armies,

authorizes military tribunals

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