All language subtitles for The.Lincoln.Conspiracy.1977.BDRIP.576p.x264.FLAC.KJNU.SDH

[Narrator] Ladies and gentlemen,

everyone sitting in this
audience has been exposed

to the traditional story
of the assassination

of President Lincoln.

For over a century history
books have taught us

that the murder was
committed by a crazed actor

named John Wilkes Booth.

The history books go on o say

a few Southern rebels
helped him and no one else.

The motion picture you are
about to see will shock you

because the true story of
President Lincoln's assassination

cannot be found in any history book.

It is a story of corruption,
treachery and coverup.

It is a story every American
has the right to know.

(gentle upbeat music)

(gentle upbeat music continues}

Open the door.

(gentle upbeat music)

Colonel Baker.

(dramatic music)

(footsteps tapping)

I have a summons for
the following prisoners.

Samuel Arnold,

Dr. Samuel Mudd,

Edward Spangler,

Michael O'Laughlen,

George Atzerodt,

Lewis Paine,

David Herold,

Mary Surratt.

(dramatic music)

[Judge] Order, order in court.

(people speaking indistinctly}

(dramatic music)

(gavel banging)

[Narrator] This is how it began.

The trial of eight conspirators

for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

On this hot muggy day in May, 1865,

the government would present its case

to a handpicked military commission.

They would be told that these
seven men and one woman,

along with John Wilkes
Booth, Jefferson Davis

and other rebel leaders
conspired to murder

the president of the United States.

But were the defendants really guilty?

To find out, we must look at the events

leading up to this trial.

They began in the fall of 1864.

(gentle upbeat music)

(horse hooves clopping}

Here on a bloody bat tie field,

the Civil War is well
into its fourth year.

And though almost 600,000
men have been killed,

there seems no end of sight.

Then on September 2nd,
after weeks of fighting,

General Sherman finally captures Atlanta.

Hope sweeps across the North,

And in November, President
Abraham Lincoln is reelected.

(dramatic music)

(fire raging)

(people speaking indistinctly}

At the White House, a reception is held

to honor the president.

Senators, congressmen, military
officers and cabinet members

arrive to share in the joy
of Lincoln's reelection

and the jubilation at the now

inevitable defeat of the South.

(gentle upbeat music)

Mr. Stanton.

Colonel Baker.

Mr. President.

Well sir, what's the news
from the War Department?

Any late word from the General Sherman.

Good news.

Sherman's well on his way to Savannah.

By all accounts, he's
leaving hardly enough behind

to feed a crow.

(Stanton laughing)

That is good news, Mr. Secretary,
and I'm grateful for it.

If we must starve the South
to win the war quickly,

then let Sherman get on with it.

But I can find no joy in it.

Well, a little hate can
be a mighty handy thing.

How could we win wars without it?

You may be right Mr. Stanton.

We may need hate to win the war,

but we're going to need a lot
of trust to win the peace.

Don't you agree Colonel Baker?

If we were all to trust
one another, Mr. President,

I'm afraid I'd be out of a job.

Who would need the
National Detective Police?

Well, for a man of your talents,

I'm sure we could find
something better to do

then the clapping lot of
harmless citizens in jail.

Your pardon, Mr. President,
scarcely harmless

with rebel spies everywhere
plotting in Montreal,

trying to burn New York City
planning God knows what crimes.

Who can afford the risks, sir?

Every course has its own risks, Colonel.

Mr. President.

(gentle upbeat music)

I take it you agree
with the colonel's views?

Most certainly.

I wouldn't trust half
the people in this room,

beginning with Colonel Baker himself.

You've got as many enemies
as friends here tonight.

Adversaries, perhaps not enemies, Lamon.

Trust doesn't require agreement,

but the heavens of democracy

is the most disagreeable
form of government there is.

The best.

I don't care what you call 'em,

I wouldn't turn my back on one of 'em.

(gentle upbeat music)

[Narrator] Ward Lamon
has reason to be worried.

For even on this night of
Lincoln's reelection celebration,

treachery raises its ugly head.

(dramatic music)

One of the president�s
most trusted associates,

Senator John Conness from California,

has chosen not to attend the party.

Instead, he has a business
meeting with an actor

named John Wilkes Booth.

I've heard that in your repertoire,

you sometimes play roles not on the stage.

Or am I speaking too boldly?

I would say that smuggling
and blockade running

are the biggest business in
Maryland as of this moment.

Then I assume you might
be interested in a proposal.

I haven't heard it yet.

What do you have to offer?

The passwords and the post
roads are changed daily.

Anew list is issued every six weeks

by my Senate committee.

I imagine such a list would
have great importance,

particularly in bulk shipments.

How much?

$3,000 per list.

You shall have an answer in two days.

Excellent.

After all time is of the essence.

Indeed it is if the
South is yet to be saved.

(John laughing})

Well, I don't care who wins this war,

but the war will end and
before too long I think,

and with it will end these
golden opportunities.

That is your only interest?

Hmm, I'm simply a
man with a small pocket

and a large need.

And you, I take it you consider
yourself a rebel patriot.

I shall serve the
South to my dying breath.

(John laughing})

Right.

I should hate to see you die so young.

The South is passing to Booth.

Soon it'll be gone like
last night's dream.

I do not accept your cynicism, sir.

The South is far from lost.

I tell you Conness, great
and unexpected events

may yet happen.

Events that overnight can change

the entire course of the war.

In fact, I'll wager on it.

(dramatic music)

[Narrator] it is just three days

after Booth's meeting with Conness.

And the reason for Booth's
confidence becomes clear.

For tonight with the help
of a Southern sympathizer

named Lewis Paine, Booth
plans to kidnap the president,

All right, Lewis, I'll
take the rider on the left.

Yours is the one on the right.

But remember I'll grab the president.

(gun cocking)

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves clopping}

(horse hooves clopping}

(dramatic music)

Wait, who's there?

(horse neighing)

They've seen us.

Watch out Mr. President.

(guns firing}

(dramatic music)

(horse neighing)

(guns firing}

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves clopping}

Come on.

Look out.

Are you all right?

(dramatic music)

All right, Lewis, we'll
meet again tomorrow.

(dramatic music)

(door knocking})

Mr. Booth.

Colonel Baker, National
Detective Police, may I come in?

Well, yes, of course.

Come in, come in.

(footsteps tapping)

I see you've spent the
night in hard travel.

No, not at all.

I occasionally enjoy an
early morning stroll.

Excellent hotel service here.

The bed's already been made.

I requested it.

For a man of your profession,
isn't that rather unusual?

I thought all you theater
people slept late.

I am not presently
engaged in playing a role.

Planning a trip?

No.

Colonel Baker, may I inquire

as to the purpose of this visit?

Yes.

I have messages from your friends.

Friends?

I don't understand.

Perhaps this will make things clear.

Letters from Confederate leaders,

Jefferson Davis, Judea Benjamin.

From Richmond?

Read them.

I expect you'll have an answer.

I'm prepared to transmit it for you.

Yes, yes, of course.

Of course.

Now this must reach Richmond in all haste.

Oh it shall.

And this,

this is for you.

I was instructed to give you money.

Mr. Booth, I'm sure you must find

the circumstances of
my visit most unusual.

May I simply say that the times we live in

are extraordinary, aren't they?

Until we meet again.

(dramatic music)

[Narrator] Unknown to Booth,

Colonel Baker's visit was more

than the delivery of a few letters

his elaborate spy network had intercepted.

Based on information given
him by Senator Conness,

Baker's real mission
was to verify suspicions

held by Conness and Secretary of War,

Edwin McMasters Stanton.

Bad news from the front?

(birds chirping)

Excellent news.

Good.

That should help reduce your problems.

On the contrary.

Victory at this moment would
be the greatest calamity

that could befall the nation.

The problem at this moment,
Colonel, is not the South.

The problem is the president.

All right, what's the latest news

on your wayward actor Booth?

I don't know.

He is still holding onto that scheme

a few of those Maryland planters
have been dreaming about.

Seize the president

and make the North release
all rebel prisoners of war.

He is bitten off more than he can chew.

One thing to smuggle a
few bottles of quinine

across the border,

but it's quite another
to kidnap a president.

Mm.

Insanity.

With Booth in there it certainly is.

He's already failed in several attempts

and he is just gonna keep on failing time

after time, after time,

but with someone else.

What do you mean?

Well, it would solve our
problem with the president,

with the right man, eh, it could be done.

With Lincoln removed from office,

you'd be free to deal with
the South as you saw fit.

No presidential interference
as you said, Mr. Secretary,

victory would be a calamity.

(birds chirping)

Well, what would you like me to do?

Sit down.

(dramatic music)

Sorry to interrupt your
schedules, gentlemen,

to ask you to come to this
meeting, but it's important.

What's the matter?

I just left Secretary Stanton,

he's asked me to speak to you.

At this point, it appears we're only weeks

from the end of the war,

but unless something happens
to change Lincoln's mind,

the defeat of the South

could have serious consequences for us.

I don't understand.

Senator Chandler to begin with,

the president is about to ask congress

to pay the South $400 million

as compensation for freeing the slaves.

Wouldn't be surprised
if next he didn't ask us

to pay the South debts for running a war.

But that's just the beginning, Colonel.

If we can't stop Lincoln,

he's gonna be giving the right
to vote back to the rebels.

You realize what that means?

It means there'll be 22
Southern Democratic Senators

and 39 Democratic congressmen
back on Capitol Hill.

Now you take all those votes,

add them to the Northern Democrats

and gentlemen, our ability

to control the destiny of
this country will be over.

To have spent untold wealth
and lives to win the war

and then surrender the victory.

It's madness.

That's what the president is proposing.

You can speculate all you want, Colonel,

but there's nothing we can do.

The secretary thinks there is.

You see, we've uncovered a plot
to kidnap President Lincoln,

Kidnap the president?

Exactly.

However, the man planning
it is not capable

of carrying it out.

Who is he?

John Wilkes Booth.

The actor, he could never pull it off.

I agree.

Someone else could.

It's an intriguing idea.

If President Lincoln were to be kidnapped,

we could lay the entire blame

on the shoulders of Jefferson
Davis, entire Confederacy.

The American people, they'd be outraged

at such a heinous act, they
would support you 100%.

Then you could deal with
the South on your own terms,

Congress would remain in friendly hands.

So instead of giving
them money and the vote,

we'd take what we please.

Can it be done?

Oh, I can find a man for the job.

What are you going to do about Booth?

Leave him to me.

You can't be serious.

Do you have a better idea?

But what if something goes wrong?

Nothing will go wrong.

(dramatic music)

So?

(dramatic music)

Representative Jillian?

All right.

But I don't like it.

Secretary Stanton does.

(dramatic music)

[Narrator]Meanwhile, in
another part of Washington,

Booth is preparing a new plan.

Knowing that he needs more manpower,

Booth enlists the help of John Surratt

and quickly hires a group of conspirators.

Michael O'Laughlen and Sam
Arnold are boyhood friends

from Baltimore.

George Atzerodt, a
German-born carriage maker

at Port Tobacco, has a thriving business

rowing Southern spies
across the lower Potomac.

(door hinge creaking)

Thank you Edward.

[Narrator] Edward Spangler

is a stage hand at Ford's Theater.

(horse neighing)

Let's go, Henson.

[Narrator] Edward
Henson, a trusted member

of Booth's smuggling group.

From David Herold, a pharmacist clerk,

will come some of the items
essential to the plot.

(dramatic music)

Booth will spend the next few weeks

waiting for an opportunity
to kidnap the president,

(dramatic music)

(lock clanking)

(dramatic music)

Captain, thank you for
the use of your robbers.

That'll be all.

Captain James William Boyd.

Yes sir.

I'm Colonel Baker.

Come in, please, sit down.

Why are you limping?

A bullet wound in my right leg.

It bothers me from time to time.

Nothing serious.

You've been quite a letter writer.

When you're a prisoner.

It helps to pass the time.

In December, you wrote
the prison superintendent.

Last month you sent a letter

to the Assistant Secretary
of War, Mr. Dana.

This morning you wrote
to Secretary Stanton.

He's referred the matter to me.

Well, I'm grateful for
your promptness, sir.

Well, the fact is we'd
already done some checking

before your letter to the secretary.

Wartime seems to suit
your talents, Captain.

Let's see, you served as
a Confederate secret agent

in the border states,
mainly Kentucky, Tennessee.

You were captured in 1863 in
the company of two other spies.

Both of the others were executed,

but you were given a prison term.

Huh?

A little luck there, huh?

What I want to know,

you've been fighting the
Union for four years,

now you wanna work for us,

why?

I'll speak plainly.

Only a fool goes on fighting

after he's had his brains knocked out.

Anybody can see that the
South has lost the war.

But on one point, Captain Boyd,

I want you to be absolutely clear.

If ever you play false
with me, you're a dead man.

(dramatic music)

If I hadn't known the odds,

I wouldn't have written that letter.

Yeah.

(dramatic music)

Well now that leaves the oath.

Please stand.

Raise your right hand, repeat after me.

I, James William Boyd.

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves clopping}

Over the years, Thomas,

we've done a great deal
of business together

and I've grown to become
what I consider friends.

I'm proud to consider you
among my friends as well.

Oh yes.

Yeah.

Well, that's what makes this visit

somewhat uncomfortable for me, Thomas.

1, I don't understand.

You have a deal in the
works, I know nothing about,

involving that actor John Wilkes Booth.

Well, Mr. Booth and I
have many business dealings.

Involving the president.

I don't think I quite follow you.

(Baker laughing)

Oddly enough, I don't
think you do either.

Thomas, you are making a big mistake,

but I'm not going to arrest you.

I'm gonna help you.

You see, I don't think
that Booth is capable

of the task you've given him.

I want to suggest a replacement.

(door opening)

(door closing)

Is Mr. Paine in?

(footsteps tapping)

Who are you?

My name is Eckert.

I work with Colonel Baker.

(door opening)

It's all right Lewis.

Very well. Mr. Eckert,

what is it you want?

I was asked to have a
quiet talk with both of you.

The fact is you and your partner here

have been stirring up
quite a lot of dust lately

and not much else.

Shooting at people in the dark.

Acting like fools at a circus.

Fools, sir?

I think that was the right word, yes.

All your reckless attacks and loose talk

are creating a very dangerous situation.

Attracting attention without results.

Stay out of the matter from now on.

I'll not tolerate your insults.

It was I who devised the
plan to abduct the president

and I intend to carry it through.

You'll do nothing of the kind.

Now listen carefully.

You make one move toward the
president or anybody else,

you and your friend will be
found floating in the Potomac.

(dramatic music)

[Narrator] Angry at Eckert's threats,

enraged at being replaced,
Booth will ignore the warning

and proceed with his
plan to kidnap Lincoln,

(dramatic music)

Mr. President.

Ward, come in, come in.

You look tired, Mr. President,

you need to get away for
a few days, get some rest,

a change of air.

I am going to Ward, I'm going to.

General Grant has invited
me to visit his camp

outside Richmond for a few days.

Chairman will be coming up too

and we'll be able to
talk over peace terms.

Maybe with a little luck I'll
be there for fall of Richmond.

But how soon are you leaving, sir?

We sail Thursday on the River Queen.

Barry and Ted are going along.

Well, I don't see much rest
in what you're felling me,

but at least it will be a change.

So Grant thinks we're
coming to the end at last.

Oh, I guess the rebels
can still dodge and run.

Still can throw away a few more lives,

but running out of time,

running outta space,

running out of everything.

Hard to imagine imagine, isn't it Ward.

Imagine what, Mr. President?

Peace, no war.

It's been war from the beginning for me.

Not sure now I'll know
how to handle peace.

Here.

Well I tell you Mr. President,

I wouldn't worry too much about
that problem if I were you.

The way things are going,

you're gonna find out
there isn't much difference

between war and peace.

Not while you've got men
like Ben Wade, Thad Stevens,

Stanton, George Julian,

some of the other radical
Republicans after your scalp.

If you don't go along with the way

they want to trim the South,

why sir, you just might have
to fortify the White House,

put out patrols to guard
against raids from the Congress.

Come on now Ward.

That's the one kind of war

where I know more than the Generals.

(Lincoln laughing)

Did you come here for
anything in particular?

Only to try to get you out
for a ride this afternoon,

- but you're booked.
- Mr. President,

Yes.

I've just received an urgent request

from the 140th Indiana Regiment.

They're moving through Washington today.

That's one of the
greatest regiments we have.

Oh, what do they want?

Oh, they'd like to present
a captured rebel flag to you

at a formal review this afternoon.

This afternoon?

Well, no, I've got to be
at the soldier's home.

Couldn't they do it another day?

They're moving on at once.

I'll tell you what, take
the matter up with Paul,

see if he can't get one
of the cabinet members

to serve as my proxy at
one place or the other.

You see the trick of authority Ward,

you make the decision, let
someone else solve the problem.

[Narrator] Having
heard that the president

will be traveling to the
soldier's home this afternoon,

Booth has quickly
gathered his conspirators.

They assemble near a
deserted stretch of road

and prepare for action.

(dramatic music)

The minute the carriage rounds the bend

Surratt and I will ride out ahead of it.

When it passes here, the rest of you

will ride out behind it.

Now you four will handle the
escort such as there may be.

And remember when we start
South, if we're stopped,

I'll do the answering.

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves clopping}

(horse neighing)

(horse neighing)

(dramatic music)

All right Surratt, let's go.

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves clopping}

Where are those horse hands.

(gun cocking)

Come on.

Ya, ya, ya, ya, this way.

Come on this way.

(dramatic music)

Stop the president.

Stop the president.

(dramatic music)

You didn't leave
your horse in the street.

In her stable.

Good.

You're alone?

Yes, I am alone.

Where are the others?

Gone, the craven cowards.

What do you mean gone?

Backed out, quit.

Atzerodt ran for home and Port Tobacco.

I just left Arnold and
O'Laughlen in the street,

they're headed back to Baltimore.

I should have shot them both.

I hardly see what
good that would've done.

John, would you and
Mr. Booth have a brandy?

Ah madam, I would be
most grateful for it.

Thank you, Mother.

[Narrator] And as
Booth desperately tried

to implement his plan to abduct
the president in the North,

men died in the South.

Sherman's troops burned city after city.

Thousands of fives were lost

during the final weeks of the war

until finally the inevitable happened.

(soldier screaming)

(guns firing}

On April 9th, Lee
surrenders at Appomattox.

Now Booth's plans will
no longer save the South.

(fireworks exploding)

(upbeat music)

The war is over.

And though most Northerners are eager

that harsh retributions be
demanded from the South.

President Lincoln's first concern
is to reunite the country.

To do this, he intends to offer the South

friendship not hatred.

Some 12,000 voters from
the heretofore slave state

of Louisiana, have sworn
allegiance to the Union.

And they have asked the
nation's recognition.

(people speaking indistinctly}

Now, if we reject and spurn them,

we do our utmost to
disorganize and disperse them.

If on the contrary we
recognize and sustain

the new government of Louisiana,

we encourage the hearts of the 12,000

to adhere to their work
and to argue for it

and to fight for it and to feed it.

(all applauding)

(insects chirping)

(people speaking indistinctly}

(insects chirping)

Well, Mr. Secretary,

I hardly need to ask
your views on my speech.

I already see the comment on your face.

Indeed, Mr. President, I'm astounded.

You're giving away the
fruits of our victory.

And there many of us
are beginning to believe

that Grant surrendered to
Lee, instead of Lee to Grant.

I implore you, Mr.
President, to reconsider

before it's too late.

Of course you seem to have taken.

Now with your leave, I must say goodnight.

Goodnight, Mr. Secretary.

Senator Conness.

Good night, Mr. President.

(gentle music}

I'd better be shoving
along too, Mr. President.

Ward, can you stay a minute?

(dramatic music)

Didn't go down very well, did it?

I sure thought Stanton
was going to have a fit.

Oh, Stanton.

I know where he stands.

"Hang 'em by the thumbs,
let the blood flow."

He's a great believer in
punishment that Mr. Stanton.

No Ward, I was thinking
about the crowd up there.

It seemed to me they were might
lukewarm, wouldn't you say?

Well, I don't think the folks out there

were very interested in hearing

about the problems of reconstruction.

They wanted to hear
that they had won a war,

a victory speech,

full of promises to hang Jeff Davis,

reign down fire and
brimstone all over the South.

(Lemon laughing)

That would've brought out cheers.

And hardened the hate
for another hundred years,

200 years.

(gentle music}

Now all that ended, day before
yesterday at Appomattox.

We fought a war to hold
the country together,

now we've got to do it.

We've got to stop thinking
of the South as an enemy.

(gentle music}

Just what do you propose for Jeff Davis?

(gentle music}

Well, that's a problem
I'm not eager to face.

It's time for me to go, sir.

Good night, Mr. President.

(gentle music}

(footsteps tapping)

(door closing)

(dramatic music)

(horse neighing)

(dramatic music)

[Baker] Morning, Captain Boyd.

Good morning, Colonel.

Ford's Theater?

The President and Mrs. Lincoln

are planning to see our American cousin,

some evening this week.

Mr. Lincoln will be going to
the theater with his wife,

but he'll leave it with you.

(birds chirping)

Once the play is over,

you and two other men will be
waiting outside the theater.

When the president comes out,

you will force him into
a waiting carriage.

(birds chirping)

And you will chloroform him.

You'll escape south across
the Navy Yard Bridge

to Benedict's Landing on the Potomac.

From there, the Chaffee
company will have a ship

waiting to transport you and
your prisoner to a safe port.

You make it sound awfully easy, Colonel.

There's sure to be guards to contend with.

And assuming I was able to
get Lincoln in the carriage,

an alarm will certainly be telegraphed

to all military checkpoints,

including the Navy Yard Bridge.

This isn't a kidnap plan, it's suicide.

(birds chirping)

You underestimate us, Captain.

There will be no guard.

He will leave his post
during the performance,

never ref um.

True, every road out of
Washington will be sealed

except the Navy Yard Bridge.

And due to unforeseen circumstances,

the telegraph will break
down at 10 o'clock.

(birds chirping)

Does that satisfy you?

Good.

I'll let you know what night

as soon as the president
makes his reservations.

Oh, and Captain, don't forget,

we want Lincoln kidnapped not killed.

(dramatic music)

Many thanks.

[Waiter] Thank you, sir.

Have another go?

No, not now, Eddie.

I've got to check for mail at Ford's.

See you later.

All right, sir, there are your tickets.

Thank you very much and I hope
you enjoy the show tonight.

(footsteps tapping)

Well Wilkes.

I just came by to see if
you were holding mail for me.

Oh yes, there are a
couple here for you, Wilkes.

Your lady friends are still writing.

[Wilkes] So the old scoundrel's
coming to see the play.

Yes, but if I were you Wilkes,

I wouldn't call the
president an old scoundrel.

(Wilkes laughing)

Come now, it's a free
country, so I'm told.

I should have as much
right to speak my views

as any black slave that Lincoln freed.

(dramatic music)

(throat clearing)

[Baker] Mr. President.

Oh yes, Colonel, this matter
will only take a moment.

Oh, that's quite all right.

We finished our talk.

Excuse me.

- Mr. President.
- Yes.

Well,

first of all, I regret
that you and Mrs. Stanton

were unable to accept Ms. Lincoln's

invitation to the theater.

Well, I have many duties
to keep me here this evening.

I'm sure you understand.

Oh, of course, of course.

However, my advisors informed me

that I shouldn't go to
the theater unescorted.

And I have somewhat of
a problem on that score,

as yet my guard John Parker
hasn't arrived for duty.

Matter of fact, he's almost
two hours late right now.

You couldn't by chance
spare your Major Eckert?

I'm sorry, I'm afraid that's
impossible Mr. President.

I've already assigned him
numerous duties for this evening.

Ah well, nothing is
gone as it should today.

Parker's late, Eckert's unavailable.

Mrs. Lincoln is having trouble
getting her guests together.

Ah, you can't come,

General and Mrs. Grant canceled,

several others have declined.

1 tell you the truth,

I just as soon stay home
as go to the theater.

But where Mrs. Lincoln is concerned,

I'm the one guest who can't refuse.

(both laughing)

(dramatic music)

Well, Captain Boyd.

Good day to you, Colonel.

To what do I owe the pleasure?

Have you heard the president

will be at Ford's Theater tonight.

It will be a performance
he'll never forget.

Make sure it is.

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves clopping}

(door knocking})

Lewis.

Where are the others?

They haven't come.

Then it's hopeless, we can do nothing.

Plan's been changed.

How?

The kidnapping plan can't work.

We're too few.

Besides the Secretary of State, Seward,

was hurt in an accident.

He's at home in bed.

Then what can we do?

Kill them.

Actually, George, it's much safer,

quickly over and done, no
captives to worry about.

I'll take the president,

Lewis is going to handle Seward

and you'll take the vice president,

Johnson at Kirkwood House.

Vice president.

And afterward?

Well then we'll all separately take

the route we've covered a hundred times.

You have your weapons.

Then we must strike together between 10

and the quarter hour.

Agreed?

Yes.

(door opening)

(door closing)

(dramatic music)

(clock ticking)

(dramatic music)

Another.

Yeah.

(dramatic music)

Well, Mr. Booth, will
you join me in a drink?

Just one, I think, Eddie, I
have an appointment very soon.

Brandy.

Is that the president's carriage

waiting outside the theater?

That's it all right.

He got here in the
middle of the first act.

He made it though.

Tell me, Eddie,

how serious were you this morning,

all that talk about
wanting some excitement?

I never said anything to you, Mr. Booth,

that I didn't mean.

I have a bit of business to do.

Can you meet me at Good
Hope Hill about midnight?

There'll be some money in it for you.

I'll be there.

Good man.

Well 'til later then.

That Wilkes is good.

But he's not half the
actor his father was.

When I leave the stage,

I'll be the most famous man in America.

(door opening)

(insects chirping)

[Narrator] As Booth leaves, John Parker,

the president's bodyguard enters.

Not only has Parker reported
for duty three hours late,

but he has left his post at the
theater and come to the bar.

Whiskey.

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves clopping}

(people speaking indistinctly}

(people speaking indistinctly}

(audience laughing)

(dramatic music)

[Actor] You're not used to
the manners of good society.

(audience applauding)

(people speaking indistinctly}

(dramatic music)

(gun firing)

(dramatic music)

[Spectator] My God,
they shot the president.

(people speaking indistinctly}

(horse hooves clopping}

(dramatic music)

Stop that man.

(people speaking indistinctly}

(gun firing)

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves clopping}

(dramatic music)

(people speaking indistinctly}

(dramatic music)

How is he?

(dramatic music)

Waiting to die.

(insects chirping)

Henson, I thought I'd missed you.

You've been traveling fast.

You saw no other travel on the road.

None.

Then they've been caught.

Who?

Eddie, we've killed the president

and some of his cursed cabinet too.

So that's what the row at
the theater was all about.

Well done Mr. Booth, well done.

Then you're with me, Eddie.

Oh, you know I am
Mr. Booth, all the way.

When we cross the Potomac,
it'll all be free and clear.

Friends, all the money we
need, we'll be heroes my lad.

Now if only the horses
hold up, and my leg.

What happened?

Oh, when I jumped to the stage,

I must have sprained my ankle.

At first, didn't bother me,

but now it's beginning to
hurt like the very devil.

Well, no use talking.

Let's go.

I've got some weapons to pick up.

[Narrator] So far,
luck has been with Booth.

Unknowingly, he was
able to escape the city

by using the Navy Yard Bridge,

which was left open for Captain Boyd.

But his accomplices have been less lucky.

Both Paine and Atzerodt
failed in their attempts

to kill Secretary Seward
and Vice President Johnson,

and they go into hiding.

However, Booths left ankle
is broken, not sprained.

And as the pain grows more intense,

he is forced to veer
off his planned course

and seek medical care
from Dr. Samuel Mudd,

a Southern sympathizer.

How much longer will it take, Doctor?

So you in a hurry to get on Mr. Henson?

I promised 10 be in the city by morning?

I'll tell you, you're
not going very far tonight.

Wait, what are you saying?

I'm saying that you're both
fools to try to go on tonight.

Why don't you rest yourself
for a while in the parlor.

(birds chirping)

(dramatic music)

(Booth screaming)

(horse hooves clopping}

(dramatic music)

(door opening)

(dramatic music)

For God sake, where have you been?

I just wrote into Bryantown
to try to find a carriage

0 you could travel.

There's none to be had.

This town's filled with soldiers.

They came in last night.

The president died this morning.

In no time at all, the whole
countryside will be talking.

We've got to ride Mr.
Booth, we've got to ride.

You shaved it clean.

Do you think it'll help?

If a man doesn't look too closely.

Mr. Booth, we don't have much time.

Yes, I'm ready, saddle the mare

and ask Dr. Mudd if he
could get me a crutch

50 I can move about.

(dramatic music)

(birds chirping)

[Narrator]in torment
from the broken left ankle,

Booth rides on with Henson.

But the delay at Dr. Mudd's
house has been dangerous.

By Saturday night, April 15th,

the whole countryside knows
of the president's murder.

(dramatic music)

But Booth has prepared well

(fire crackling)

He knows the secret pathways
of the back country,

has set up connections
with Rebel sympathizers

who will give sanctuary.

From Maryland, a planter,
Colonel Samuel Cox

and his brother-in-Law, Thomas Jones,

they are given a hiding
place in a remote thicket,

There, provided with a new
boot, food and even newspapers,

Booth and Henson will remain
for the next six days.

Meanwhile, Colonel Lafayette Baker

has had thousands of people arrested

to create confusion and give him a chance

to locate Booth before anyone else does.

Prison Superintendent
says he's run outta room.

Tell him to make room.

Major Richards of
the Metropolitan Police

has made an urgent
request for fresh mounts.

Impossible.

We have no mounts to spare.

They have barely enough for
the search parties we have out.

Andrew and Luther Potter, are they here?

They're waiting outside.

Bring them in.

Also that Indian tracker
fellow, Whippet Senalgie,

bring him in too.

(footsteps tapping)

Andrew, Luther, Senalgie

I have reason 10 believe
that this is the area

we should concentrate on,

Port Tobacco, up and down
the Potomac from there.

Now I want you all down there in a hurry.

Senalgie you'll travel alone.

You two boys will stick together.

And you'll report directly to me.

Now understand that clearly, nobody else.

I want Booth dead or alive.

Colonel Conger is here.

Ah?

I thought you might
be interested in that.

Rewards total nearly 300,000.

My, Booth is gonna be

the most valuable carcass in the country.

Yeah, and if we don't get
him, somebody else is sure to.

I sure hate to see some
ignorant country boy,

get all that money and
not know how to spend it.

I've got my best people
on his trail, Everton.

I think we'll see our
share of the reward money.

But I want Booth dead.

If he lives long enough to talk,

his won't be the only head in the noose.

They've caught David Herold,

they just brought him in.

Where was he caught?

Underneath a tree in
Prince George County.

He's in the gallery
now being photographed.

So we finally have a
prisoner that counts.

Oh no, no, Everton, not just
a prisoner, we have a guide,

someone who can take
us where we want to go.

Have Captain Boyd meet us in the gallery.

(dramatic music)

You missed your chance the other night,

but now you got the
opportunity to capture Booth.

You will.

Unless you want to spend
your next few years

back in your old cell.

That terrifying excuse for a man

is gonna give you that opportunity.

(dramatic music)

Davy Herold, I'm Colonel Lafayette Baker.

I don't have much time.

I want you to answer me quick,

I want you to answer me straight.

How much is your life worth to you?

Everything, sir, everything.

Well right now, your life is forfeit,

you don't own it, I do.

To me, it doesn't make a
penny's worth a difference

whether I give it to the hangman or not.

(dramatic music)

But I tell you what I'm gonna do, Davy.

I'm gonna give you a chance
to earn back your life.

One chance, one life.

Fair enough?

I'm gonna release you to Captain Boyd

and you're gonna lead him to Booth.

You know what he looks like,

you were part of the plot,

you knew the plans,

you know where he is.

Davy, Davy,

I want Booth.

You're a brave man, you're a smart man

and you're going to give him to me,

you're gonna give me his life for yours.

(dramatic music)

Let's go, son.

(dramatic music)

[Narrator] it is Sunday
afternoon, April 16th,

two days after the
president's assassination

and Baker has his first pawn
in the search for Booth.

Slowly in the coming days,
others are rounded up.

Samuel Arnold is arrested
at Fortress Monroe,

Monday, April 17th.

Michael O'Laughlen in
Baltimore on the same day.

And later that evening, Mary Surratt,

Lewis Paine and Edward Spangler

are apprehended in Washington.

George Atzerodt is caught on April 20th.

Dr. Samuel Mudd on April 21st,

But the main figure is still at large.

A week later than he had planned,

in a boat provided by Thomas Jones,

Booth prepares to cross the
Potomac to the Virginia Shore.

(dramatic music)

And so passed from friendly
hand to friendly hand,

the fugitives crossed the
Potomac and head south.

He is warned by Jones
to avoid the gunboats

which patrol the river.

(dramatic music)

But they are never far
from their pursuers.

(dramatic music)

Tonight they will stay in
the shanty of William Lucas,

but as they go, they will leave behind

one crucial belonging,

Booth's jacket caught on
a bush near Gambo Creek.

(dramatic music)

Meanwhile, Colonel Baker
has sent the Potter brothers

along with Captain Boyd and
Davy Herald to find Booth.

(horse hooves clopping}

Loyal or secess?

Secess.

We'll wait.

You coming Mr. Herold?

Why him?

Well, he's acquainted there too.

If we go together, they might
be a little more trustful.

All right.

(horse hooves clopping}

So they made you a Judas
goat for the Yankees.

What about you?

(horse hooves clopping}

The same.

Then you should know this
family up here is Union.

If I'd said that you'd think they'd have

sent us up here alone?

Listen to me, Herold, you
game to make a run for it?

Look, if you trust Baker, you're crazy.

He wants us to find Booth

then he'll tum us over to the hangman.

We couldn't make a run for it now.

We wouldn't have a chance.

No, not now.

Tonight.

(dramatic music)

(insects chirping)

[Narrator] it is Sunday, April 23rd,

10 days after the assassination

and Whippet Nalgie

the Indian scout and tracker

makes the crucial discovery of Booth's

lost jacket and diary.

He immediately turns
back toward Washington.

On Monday morning, Booth and Henson

are driven to the Port
Conway Ferry Crossing

by William Lucas.

They plan to cross the
Rappahannock River to Port Royal

and continue south.

(dramatic music)

Excuse me, do you know of a
driver and buggy we could hire

across the river in Port Royal?

I reckon.

Where do you figure on going?

Up Fredericksburg way.

I'm ready to pay somebody $10 to take us.

Union money?

Union money.

As soon as the ferry gets back,

I reckon I can take it myself.

You know the woods
around here pretty good?

Like the back of my hand.

Why?

Well, I tell you the truth,

we just as soon not travel the main road.

We're not too anxious to
run into any Union soldiers.

Now why would the Union soldiers

give you anything to worry about?

You wouldn't be having a guilty
conscience, now would you?

And what business is it of yours?

Easy gentleman, easy.

Partner, give me a hand.

We we have no quarrel with
any one of your uniforms, sir.

May I ask your unit?

Mosby's Irregulars, sir.

And yours?

We wore no uniform.

Spies, eh?

Well, let us say simply that

we were in Confederate service.

We were on an errand in
Baltimore when the war ended

and now we're just trying to get home.

My name's Jet.

You, you look familiar.

We haven't met before, have we?

Oh, I'm sure not.

(dramatic music)

(birds chirping)

I don't know who you are
and I don't want to know.

If you're the man I think
you are, I want to help.

Now my men and I are at your service

and we'll make sure you don't
run into any Union soldiers.

I'm most grateful to you, sir.

See you ashore.

(birds chirping)

I feel as though at last

we've been delivered out of a nightmare.

We're among friends, Eddie.

We're safe.

(dramatic music)

(door knocking})

(dramatic music)

Well, Stanton, what's this all about?

Zachariah has Booth's diary

For heavens sakes,
Chandler, lemme have it.

"Conness said he could
supply the new passwords

"every six weeks as they
changed for as long as I wished,

"providing each time $3,000
would be forthcoming."

Oh Lord.

"He said he was not a patriot
for either North or South,

"rather, a man with a small
pocket and a large need.

"Thompson gave me 50,000 in bank notes

"with instructions to take
15,000 to Senator Conness

"and to leave in a sealed
envelope 20,000 in notes

"at the home of Senator Wade.

"Baker comes and brings letters,

"but no matter who speaks of Baker,

"do not like him and will not trust him.

"I believe that Baker and
Eckert and the secretary

"are in control of our activities,

"and this frightens me."

Oh Lord,

this ever gets out, I'm ruined.

We'll all be ruined.

Here.

George, don't you want to read it?

I never met Booth and
apparently I'm not mentioned.

I think I'm better off not reading it.

Still, it does concern you.

Tom, here, put this in the safe.

You may lock up Booth's diary,

but how are you going to silence him

when you bring him into open court?

Good day, gentlemen.

(dramatic music)

So you're the man General
Hancock is lending me

for the special mission?

- At your service, sir.
- Very good.

Now these gentlemen are from my agency,

they'll accompany you.

This is Lieutenant Colonel Conger.

- How do you do?
- Colonel.

My cousin, Lieutenant Baker.

Lieutenant.

Colonel Conger will
have courtesy command

by virtue of his rank.

But you Lieutenant will
have direct charge.

And may I tell you that this mission

may be the most important
one you'll ever have.

Recognize this man?

[Hancock] Booth, sir.

[Baker] Yeah, that's he.

But I take it you've never seen
him before on stage or off?

Never sir.

Very good.

Now hold onto that
picture and make certain

that all of your men are
familiar with Booth's, features.

Your duty and theirs is
to find him, catch him

and bring him back.

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves clopping}

[Narrator] For two days,

Lieutenant Doherty's troops
scoured the countryside.

Before dawn on April 26th,

their investigation takes them

to the farm of Richard Garrett.

(footsteps hastening)

(dramatic music)

(door knocking})

(dramatic music)

(insects chirping)

Who is it?

What do you want?

We're federal troops.

Open that door at once
or we'll break it down.

(door hinge creaking)

Where are they?

Who?

The two men, we know they're here.

They've gone.

Where?

I don't know.

Back in the woods, I think.

You lying rib.

Take him to the nearest tree
and stretch his neck a little.

Maybe we'll get the truth out of him.

(dramatic music)

Search the house.

The barn.

Look in the barn.

Surround the barn.

(people speaking indistinctly}

(dramatic music)

Come on out.

We have 22 armed men around this barn.

You don't stand a chance.

[Herold] Wait, don't shoot.

I'm coming out.

[Soldier] Get him.

Booth, it's your last chance
to come out and surrender.

He's not going anywhere.

We'll fire the barn.

(dramatic music)

(fire crackling)

(dramatic music)

(fire raging)

(dramatic music)

[Soldier] Here he comes.

Look out.

(gun firing)

(fire raging)

(dramatic music)

Fall back men, fall back.

(fire raging)

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves clopping}

(dramatic music)

Gotta admit, we were sure surprised.

We got to Fredericksburg,

we were sure he was just
ahead of us moving west.

But as soon as you shot Booth

word must have spread like lightning.

The whole country must know by now.

Come on, take a look at him.

(birds chirping)

What's the matter?

Well, he sure grew
a mustache in a hurry.

Red too.

Everybody knows that
Booth had a mustache.

Yeah.

Booth shaved off his mustache

the night he stopped at Dr. Mudd's.

(dramatic music)

But how could they have shot Boyd?

Because he escaped.

Gave my detectives the slip.

But Doherty unknowingly
picked up his trail

and followed him to Garrett's farm.

It was dark.

None of the men knew
what Booth looked like.

This is a disaster.

You've already announced the
death of Booth to the press.

We'll be a laughing stock.

And that's not all Davy
Herold was with Boyd,

and he's going on about
the corpse not being Booth.

If we let the country
believe Booth is dead,

he'll be forgotten.

But if we admit that we
killed Boyd by mistake

and continue the hunt for Booth,

he's liable to be captured alive.

And testify.

Congratulations Colonel Baker

on the killing of John Wilkes Booth.

(dramatic music)

[Narrator] The government
has announced the capture

and death of John Wilkes Booth.

The body on deck has a damaged right leg.

Booth's injury was to his left ankle.

The corpse had a reddish mustache.

Booth shaved his black mustache off,

hardly more than a week ago at Dr. Mudd's.

The man killed at Garrett's
farm is in his mid 40s.

Booth is much younger.

Though he goes through

the necessary steps of identification,

Colonel Baker will ensure

that no contrary evidence is released.

(dramatic music)

Under a new and more generous policy,

bribes are issued secretly,

not only to those most directly involved

in the supposed death of Booth,

but to many who merely
participated in the search.

In return, however, each
must sign a quitclaim

sealing his lips on any
questions he may have

regarding the identity of the corpse.

Now for the defendants in
custody, the trial begins.

The mood of the nation demands vengeance

and Stanton is eager to supply it.

The government has an
array of dubious witnesses,

many of them rehearsed in their testimony

at the prosecution's
so-called school for perjury

at the National Hotel.

(dramatic music)

By whatever means Stanton
is determined to prove

that the conspirators were
tools of Jefferson Davis

and the Confederate leaders.

In January of this year,

I saw Jacob Thompson,
the Confederate envoy

in Canada several times.

He said he'd received a proposition

to rid the world of
Lincoln and several others.

He told me that the persons
involved were bold, daring men

capable of executing
any plan they undertook.

But he was still awaiting
approval from Richmond.

(dramatic music)

[Narrator] The witness
is Richard Montgomery,

alias James Thompson,

wartime double agent and
former New York burglar

with a long police record.

Later exposed as an unscrupulous perjurer.

And I heard Sanders say
there was any amount of money

to accomplish this assassination.

And that Booth was heart
and soul of the project.

Later he read a letter
from Jefferson Davis

expressing his approval
for whatever measures

[Narrator] Dr. James E. Merritt,

later pronounced a fraud

after investigation by
the Canadian government,

received $6,000 for his day in court.

I had previously talked with Thompson

regarding the assassination
of Lincoln and his cabinet

and had been invited to participate.

When Surratt brought the
dispatches, Thompson said,

"This makes the thing right.�

Referring to the ascent
of the rebel authorities.

He said, "Killing a tyrant was no murder."

[Narrator] Sanford Conover
alias James Watson Wallace,

whose right name is Charles Dunham,

is the government's star witness.

He has secretly coached

some of the other government witnesses

on the fictitious testimony
for which they have been paid.

In 1867, he will be sent
to prison for perjury.

Amid all the accumulating testimony,

fraudulent or valid, much
other evidence is suppressed.

The Booth diary will never
be mentioned in court

and the defendants are not
even permitted to testify

in their own defense.

The issue is never really in doubt.

The verdict on all the
defendants is guilty.

Dr. Mudd, Arnold, O'Laughlen and Spangler

receive life prison terms.

The rest, Mary Surratt, Paine,

Atzerodt and Herold must hang.

Stanton acts quickly.

He orders the execution
for the next morning.

(dramatic music)

Mary Surratt will be the first woman

in the history of the
United States to be hanged.

(dramatic music)

And four of the conspirators
are forever silenced.

But the questions could not be silenced.

And in 1868, the
existence of Booth's diary

finally became known.

A congressional investigation followed.

And who were these frauds,

these trained liars bought and
paid for by the government?

Sanford Conover, Richard
Montgomery, Dr. James Merritt,

and how many dozen
others, criminal perjures

in the employ of government officials.

No less criminal than they.

(gavel banging)

Congressman Rogers,
you are out of order.

And when I asked to
see documents and papers,

they are locked away, hidden in boxes.

And I'm told that I can't see them

because it's incompatible
with a public interest.

Tell me, since when is
the truth incompatible

with the public interest?

The people have every right
to know every bit of evidence

50 they can find who all were
the accomplices of Booth.

And to find out who
changed Booth's purpose

from capture to assassination.

- And to find out.
- Gentlemen, I believe

the speculation on the death
of our beloved president

has gone far enough.

We all know the fact.

Do we, Mr. Secretary, do we really?

Then, can you explain to me

the sudden appearance of Booth's diary

and why the diary was
not submitted in evidence

during the trial.

And Mr. Secretary, what became
of the 18 missing pages?

I testified earlier,

those pages were missing
when I received the diary.

Furthermore, gentlemen, I
believe Congressman Rogers

is trying to direct attention to himself

by referring to issues that
are irrelevant and immaterial,

And I think you're hiding something.

(people speaking indistinctly}

Order.

Order.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman,
if you ask me,

Mr. Rogers is making a
mountain out of a molehill.

The whole matter is really very simple.

John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln

and a few Southern rebels helped him.

Nobody else.

As far as I'm concerned,
the case should be closed.

And I'm afraid Mr. Rogers,
I agree with Senator Conness.

It appears that nothing
more can be accomplished

in this meeting, gentlemen.

The majority are in agreement.

This meeting is adjourned.

(gavel banging)

(dramatic music)

[Narrator] So the
coverup would continue.

The truth would be concealed
for more than a century

after Lincoln's death.

And what of the people so
involved in the coverup?

For reasons unclear, Stanton
and Baker will become enemies.

Baker retires but will be murdered

by arsenic poisoning on July 3rd, 1868.

Stanton will soon leave the White House.

He too will die a year after Baker,

but not before being nominated

to the highest judicial
seat in the country,

The Supreme Court,

(dramatic music)

John Wilkes Booth,

the actor who has played so many roles

will now vanish in a new one.

After the trial, the Potter brothers

follow Booth's trail to his
farm near Harper's Ferry,

then to Philadelphia and finally
lose the trail in New York.

There are rumors that he
reached Canada, England

and finally, India.

Booth, so eager to play
his role in history

is lost in hearsay.

(gentle music}

These events took place 111 years ago.

Despite the plotting and deception

of men like Secretary of War, Stanton,

certain radical Republicans
and greedy Northern financiers,

President Lincoln's dream
of a reunited nation

did come to pass.

Today, America is the symbol
of freedom and equality

to the rest of the world.

[Lincoln Voiceover] The
world will little note,

nor long remember what we say here,

but it can never forget
what they did here.

That we here highly
resolve that these dead

shall not have died in vain.

That the nation shall have
a new birth of freedom

and that government of the people,

by the people and for the people,

shall not perish from the earth.

(gentle upbeat music)