I forget what I was reading, but I became convinced that the assassination was the doing of the oligarchy because they didn't like Lincoln's plans about the money system.
Read great grandfather. He goes into long detail and it’s contemporary.
http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/burnett/lincoln.htm
On Mary Surratt and the stories that were already circulating:
“But as illustrating still further the malicious representations that followed this trial, let me recall to your minds the letter of Mrs Jane Swisshelm, published in the New York Tribune of September 16th, 1873. In this letter she gives the impression that Mrs Surratt was manacled in court during her trial, and vividly pictures how on one occasion she (Mrs Swisshelm) was present in the court, and gave public exhibition of her suffering and indignation at this outrage and cruelty. The Washington Chronicle, noticing this letter of Mrs Swisshelm, addressed a note to Mrs Surratt’s counsel, Mr Aiken, making inquiry as to the fact. He replied as follows:
“I have your letter of this date, inclosing the letter of Jane G. Swisshelm, published in the Tribune, the 16th inst. and asking me, ‘Is her statement true that Mrs Surratt was manacled during her trial?’ Without reference to any other fact, or to any of the details of the case of that most unfortunate lady, I have to say in reply that at no time during her unlawful trial was Mrs Surratt manacled, either on her wrists or her ankles, while in the presence of the court. I not only speak from my own absolute knowledge, but from recollections of Mrs Surratt’s oft-repeated statements to me that she was not manacled.”
“The Chronicle adds, “Now can any fair-minded person, however prejudiced, come to any other conclusion than that the garrulous lady had willfully and maliciously misrepresented the facts, for the mere purpose of glorifying herself?”
“I must agree with this conclusion because I know personally that Mrs Surratt was not manacled, and that no such scene as Mrs Swisshelm described ever took place in the courtroom. But this letter of Mrs Surratt’s counsel did not put underground the falsehood that she was manacled during her trial — periodically it reappears, fresh and vigorous.”
Interesting note. The trial was transcribed by the Pittman of Pittman Shorthand.