“Prehaps she couldn’t be convicted nowadays.”
Precisely my point. Certainly not of a capital offense.
But even today heinous traitors and terrorists are tried,convicted, and executed such as Timothy McVeigh. I have no problem with this. I am a strong and forceful advocate of the death penalty. There isn’t a freaking liberal bone in my body. This doesn’t mean I think every person executed deserved it. I would like to add Mary Surratt of the Lincoln conspiracy to this list.
BTW IMHO Sen. Joseph McCarthy go the biggest bum rap in U.S. History. Our government was crawling with traitors, spies, and espionage agents working for the USSR during the FDR and HST administrations.
Second point. Are we better off that so few executions take place today? Not in my opinion. There are plenty who should be executed that aren't. Murderers are commonly sentenced to a few years or even probation. Rapists aren't executed at all.
So, if you want to argue that she was innocent of spying, or knowledge of spying, be my guest. If you want to argue that her trial was unfair by the laws of the time, be my guest.
Mary Surrat is another matter entirely. While I am not overly knowledgeable about the subject, from what I've read, she was most probably innocent of knowledge of the conspiracy. May be wrong on that point, though.
Treason is a Capital offense. She willingly participated. She got exactly what she deserved. That the Court gave others lesser sentences has absolutely no relevance whatsoever.
I say dig the bi*** up and fry her ass again.
L
McVeigh wasn't convicted of Treason. He was convicted of Federal Captial Murder.
L