Cameron Miranda
On July 7, 1865, Mary Surratt became the first woman to be executed by the US federal government. Surratt was convicted of taking part in the conspiracy that led to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. She was hanged, along with Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt, who were also involved in the plot. The US public's reaction to Surratt's hanging was one of shock, as it was inconceivable to many that a woman could commit such a crime.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | July 7, 1865 |
| Name | Mary (Elizabeth) Surratt |
| Crime | Conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Age | 42 |
| Verdict | Guilty on all charges but two |
| Executioner's Hesitation | Yes |
| Last Words | "I wish to say to the people that I am innocent." |
| Post-Execution Public Opinion | Sympathy, outrage, and a shift towards viewing her as a victim |
| Legacy | First woman executed by the US federal government |
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What You'll Learn
Mary Surratt: the first woman executed by the US government
On July 7, 1865, at 1:22 pm, Mary Surratt became the first woman to be executed by the US government. Surratt was an American boarding house owner in Washington, D.C., who was convicted of taking part in the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. She was hanged, along with Lewis Powell (aka Lewis Payne), David Herold, and George Atzerodt, who were all involved in John Wilkes Booth's plot to kill President Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward.
Surratt was the mother of John Surratt, a member of the Confederate Secret Service, and her house was frequently visited by Booth, a famous actor and staunch supporter of the South. On the night of Lincoln's assassination, Surratt's boarding house was visited by the police, who were seeking both Booth and her son, who was suspected of helping to attack Secretary of State Seward. Despite her protestations of innocence, Surratt was convicted primarily due to the testimonies of Lloyd, who said that she had told him to have the "shooting irons" ready, and Louis J. Weichmann, who testified about Surratt's relationships with Booth.
The sentence was handed down on June 30, 1865, and Surratt was sentenced to death, along with the other alleged co-conspirators. The decision shocked the country, and there were last-minute attempts to gain clemency and commute her sentence to life in prison. Five of the nine judges at her trial asked that Surratt be granted clemency by President Andrew Johnson because of her age and sex, but Johnson did not grant it, although accounts differ as to whether he ever received the request.
On the day of her execution, Surratt wore a black bombazine dress, a black bonnet, and a black veil. More than 1,000 people watched as the prisoners were escorted to the gallows, including government officials, members of the US armed forces, friends and family of the accused, official witnesses, and reporters. Before she was hanged, Surratt asked the guard near her not to let her fall and maintained her innocence until the end.
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Controversy surrounding Surratt's execution
On July 7, 1865, Mary Surratt became the first woman to be executed by the US federal government. Surratt was convicted of taking part in the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. She was sentenced to death by hanging and, despite maintaining her innocence until her death, she was executed.
Surratt's execution was controversial for several reasons. Firstly, there were issues with evidence and witness reliability during the trial. Surratt's conviction was based primarily on testimonies, and some modern historians have questioned the true nature of her role in the conspiracy, suggesting that she may not have been entirely guilty. In addition, five of the nine judges at her trial requested clemency for Surratt from President Andrew Johnson due to her age and sex, but Johnson did not grant it. Accounts differ as to whether he ever received the clemency request.
Secondly, the execution of a woman was unprecedented, and the hangman was unsure of how to proceed with binding her legs due to her dress. The crowd became visibly unsettled when Surratt's veil was removed, and public opinion shifted after her death, with some feeling that it was inconceivable a woman could commit such a crime.
Finally, there were also concerns about the fairness of Surratt's trial. Her lawyers argued that the military trial was illegal and filed a writ of habeas corpus to get her a civil trial. The media learned about the verdict before it was officially announced, and even the military judges who issued the guilty verdict were surprised that the government would execute a woman.
Overall, the case against Surratt and her execution remain controversial, with questions surrounding the strength of the evidence, the fairness of the trial, and the unprecedented nature of executing a woman.
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Other women executed in the US
On July 7, 1865, Mary Elizabeth Surratt became the first woman to be executed by the US government. Surratt was convicted of taking part in a conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. She was sentenced to death by hanging.
Rebecca Chamblett
On September 27, 1733, 27-year-old Rebecca Chamblett was hanged in Massachusetts for concealing the birth/death of her baby. It is important to note that Chamblett may not have murdered her baby, as it could have been stillborn. However, concealing the birth or death of a child was considered a capital crime at the time.
Alice Riley
On January 19, 1735, Alice Riley became the first woman to be hanged in Savannah for the murder of her master, William Wise. She was assisted in the crime by her boyfriend, Richard White, who was hanged the day after Riley's execution.
Patience Sampson
On July 31, 1735, 23-year-old Patience Sampson, a Native American, was hanged in Maine for the murder of 8-year-old Benjamin Trot, whom she had drowned in a well. Sampson was the second woman to be executed in this state.
Frankie Stewart Silver
On July 12, 1833, Frankie Stewart Silver was hanged in North Carolina for the ax murder of her husband. She claimed self-defence, arguing that her husband was drunk and intending to shoot her. She was 18 years old at the time of the crime and was the first woman to be hanged in North Carolina.
Elizabeth Reed
On May 23, 1845, Elizabeth Reed, a 40-year-old white woman, was publicly hanged in Illinois for the murder of her husband by poisoning. She was also suspected of drowning her two children. To spare her the sight of the gallows, the execution took place through a hole in the floor, with the rope passing through to the office below where she was seated, tied to a chair.
Since 1632, there have been approximately 576 documented executions of women in the United States, with 18 of those occurring since 1976.
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Public opinion of women facing execution
Women facing execution has long been a contentious issue in the United States, with public opinion varying over time. One of the earliest recorded instances of a woman being hanged in the country dates back to 1608, with the first federal execution occurring in 1865 when Mary Surratt was put to death. Surratt, convicted of conspiring to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln, became a pivotal case that highlighted the complexities of public sentiment towards women facing capital punishment.
Public opinion surrounding Mary Surratt's execution was multifaceted and underwent a notable shift after her death. Initially, Surratt's conviction and death sentence were met with disbelief and hesitation, especially among those involved in the legal process. Five out of nine judges who found her guilty petitioned for her sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment, citing her sex and age as mitigating factors. This request, however, was not granted. The public's perception of Surratt changed dramatically after her execution, with many suddenly viewing her as a victim. Southerners, in particular, felt that an injustice had been done, and this sentiment influenced the trial of John Surratt, Mary's son and a fellow conspirator, who benefited from a civil trial despite the gravity of his alleged crimes.
The reaction to Mary Surratt's case exemplifies the complex dynamics at play when women are faced with execution. Even in modern times, the issue remains contentious and subject to gender-based biases. Reports and studies have shed light on the harsh living conditions experienced by women on death row, the challenges of inadequate defence counsel, and the heightened risk of developing mental illnesses due to isolation. Additionally, the selection process for juries in death penalty cases has been criticised for systematically excluding women, undermining the constitutional right to a trial by a jury of one's peers.
Public opinion towards women facing execution cannot be easily generalised due to the multifaceted nature of societal attitudes and the evolving legal landscape. However, it is evident that gender has played a significant role in shaping perceptions and outcomes in capital punishment cases involving female offenders. While the actual execution of female offenders remains relatively rare compared to men, the impact of public sentiment on individual cases and broader discussions around capital punishment cannot be understated.
In conclusion, public opinion of women facing execution has been influenced by a range of factors, including societal attitudes towards gender, the specifics of individual cases, and evolving legal frameworks. While the execution of Mary Surratt sparked a shift in public sentiment towards female offenders, the broader context of capital punishment and its intersection with gender dynamics continue to shape public opinion in complex ways.
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The ethics of executing women
Executing women has always been a contentious issue, and the ethical implications are complex. The idea of executing women has long been a shocking notion, and the practice has been relatively rare in the US, with the country cooling off on the concept after the execution of Mary Surratt in 1865. Surratt was convicted of taking part in a conspiracy that led to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. She was the first woman to be executed by the US federal government, and her execution was a highly controversial event.
The ethical implications of executing women are multifaceted. On the one hand, some argue that executing women specifically can be seen as a violation of their rights, as it treats them differently from men based on their gender. This argument is based on the idea that women are inherently less culpable than men due to their gender, and therefore should not be subject to the same harsh punishments. This notion can be seen as a form of gender bias and a reinforcement of traditional gender roles, which can have broader societal implications.
On the other hand, some argue that executing women can be ethical in certain circumstances, particularly in cases of self-defence or when the woman in question has been a victim of abuse or trauma. In these situations, it could be argued that the woman's actions were a result of their circumstances, and therefore they should be treated with leniency or offered alternative forms of punishment or rehabilitation. This perspective acknowledges the complex social and cultural factors that can influence a woman's actions and seeks to address the root causes of their behaviour.
Additionally, the ethics of executing women must consider the impact on families and communities. Executing a woman can have a significant impact on her children, family, and community, particularly if she is a primary caregiver. The emotional and practical consequences of such an action can be far-reaching and are often overlooked in the legal process.
Furthermore, the ethics of executing women are closely tied to issues of representation and diversity. It is important to consider whether women who are facing execution have had fair and equal access to legal representation and whether their specific needs and circumstances have been adequately addressed throughout the legal process. This is particularly relevant for women from marginalised communities, who may face additional barriers and challenges within the legal system.
Lastly, cultural and societal attitudes towards women must be considered when examining the ethics of executing women. In many societies, women are still held to different standards and expectations than men, and these biases can influence legal processes and outcomes. It is important to recognise and address these biases to ensure that women are treated fairly and ethically within the legal system, particularly when the stakes are as high as they are in capital punishment cases.
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Frequently asked questions
Mary Elizabeth Surratt was the first woman to be executed by the US government.
Mary Surratt was accused of taking part in a conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln.
Mary Surratt was executed on July 7, 1865.
She was hanged.
