8/7/1893: Dr. Mudd and Samuel Cox, Jr.
Source: J. Wilkes Booth, An Account of His Sojourn in Southern Maryland after the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, His Passage Across the Potomac, and His Death in Virginia, including handwritten personal notes by Samuel Cox, Jr., Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Maryland.
Following is the text of the notes written by Samuel Cox, Jr. on August 7, 1893, recording his recollection of a conversation between himself and Dr. Mudd in 1877, eight years after Dr. Mudd was released from prison at Fort Jefferson. The conversation took place while Cox and Dr. Mudd were campaigning together for election to separate seats in the Maryland Legislature. Cox won, but Dr. Mudd lost.
Cox wrote these notes to himself 16 years after his conversation with Dr. Mudd took place, but assuming his recollection was accurate after all those years, the notes tend to confirm that Dr. Mudd had no knowledge of Lincoln's assassination until he learned of it in Bryantown after treating Booth, and that he then returned home, upbraided Booth for his treachery, and told Booth to leave his farm. If Dr. Mudd had followed his initial impulse to surrender Booth to the authorities, he wouldn't have gotten into trouble later on, and would have shared in the reward money offered for Booth's capture.
Samuel Cox, Jr. was the adopted son of Samuel Cox, the farmer who arranged for Thomas A. Jones to help Booth and Herold get across the Potomac River.
Port Tobacco Times, Nov. 2, 1877, showing Dr. Mudd & Samuel Cox, Jr. running for office.
In 1877, after Samuel A. Mudd’s return from Dry Tortugas and when he & myself were canvassing this County as the Democratic candidates for the Legislature, he told me he knew Booth but casually, that Booth had at one time sought an introduction to him through John H. Surratt on Penn. Ave, Washington. This was some time prior to the assassination, but he had refused and that Booth had forced himself on him shortly afterward and that subsequently Booth attended church at Bryantown where he spoke to him but he was particular in not inviting him to his house, but that Booth came that evening uninvited.
He told me he was not favorably impressed with Booth, and that when Booth and Herold came to his house the night after the assassination, they told him they were just from Virginia & that Booth’s horse had fallen soon after leaving the river & had broken his leg, that he had rendered him medical assistance while in utter ignorance of the assassination.
That after he had set the broken leg, he, Dr. Mudd, took letters he had but a short time gotten through the contraband mail for distribution, and that in going to Bryantown to mail them he was surprised to find the village surrounded by soldiers, and upon being stopped by a sentry he was horrified when told the President had been shot the night before, and, upon asking who had shot him the fellow had answered Booth.
He then told me his first impulse was to surrender Booth, that he had imposed upon him, twice forced himself upon him, and now the third time, had come with a lie upon his tongue and received medical assistance which would be certain to have him serious trouble. But he determined to go back and upbraid him for his treachery, which he did. And that Booth had appealed to him in the name of his mother whom he professed to love so devotedly and that he acted and spoke so tragically that he told them they must leave his house which they then did and after getting in with Oswald Swan they were piloted to Rich Hill.
He told me he was not favorably impressed with Booth, and that when Booth and Herold came to his house the night after the assassination, they told him they were just from Virginia & that Booth’s horse had fallen soon after leaving the river & had broken his leg, that he had rendered him medical assistance while in utter ignorance of the assassination.
That after he had set the broken leg, he, Dr. Mudd, took letters he had but a short time gotten through the contraband mail for distribution, and that in going to Bryantown to mail them he was surprised to find the village surrounded by soldiers, and upon being stopped by a sentry he was horrified when told the President had been shot the night before, and, upon asking who had shot him the fellow had answered Booth.
He then told me his first impulse was to surrender Booth, that he had imposed upon him, twice forced himself upon him, and now the third time, had come with a lie upon his tongue and received medical assistance which would be certain to have him serious trouble. But he determined to go back and upbraid him for his treachery, which he did. And that Booth had appealed to him in the name of his mother whom he professed to love so devotedly and that he acted and spoke so tragically that he told them they must leave his house which they then did and after getting in with Oswald Swan they were piloted to Rich Hill.
