Manhunt
AfterManhuntepisode 6 sawSecretary of War Edwin Stanton ’s desperate interest of John Wilkes Booth come to an end , the show ’s focus shifted to the conspirator who fend for Booth , both on the nighttime of the assassination and the months pass up to it . Manhuntcreator Monica Beletsky blended fact and fictionin the show ’s depiction of the trial breed Stanton ’s charges of a grand conspiracy . As was the case for the intact show , the narration go from realism in a few places to put emphasis on particular character and raise the dramatic event .
More than any other chapter of the story , Manhuntepisode 7 focused on the long - term effect ofJohn Wilkes ' Booth ’s assassination of Abraham Lincoln . While the trial at the episode ’s center resulted in consequences for co - conspirators like David Herold and Dr. Samuel Mudd , the Confederate agents behind the larger conspiracy that Stanton strove to bring out never face a commensurate penalization for their actions . While the tragedy of the real - world effects highlighted in the show was depicted accurately , some of the detail were spay for the interest of the show ’s story .
Despite capturing John Wilkes Booth , the struggle for justice and for Reconstruction was only just beginning for Tobias Menzies ' Edwin Stanton .
9Stanton Never Questioned Jefferson Davis
There is no evidence Stanton ever visited Davis' cell.
Perhaps the individual most significant departure from reality thatManhunthas is the function that Edwin Stanton played in tracking down John Wilkes Booth . In the show , Stanton ’s portrayed as a doggedly compulsive detectivewho chases down tether and questions looker himself , even at the risk of his own wellness . While he maintains his role as Secretary of War , he takes a much more involved role in the forcible hobby of Booth and his co - conspirators .
In reality , Stanton coordinated the efforts required to hunt down Booth , but he did so largely via telegraphy and dispatching agents into the field . As a politician and attorney , the real Edwin Stanton only did n’t have the boots - on - the - primer coat rolethatManhuntgives him . As a issue , many of the scenes postulate him questioning the individuals involved in the conspiracy himself are fabricated . That include Mary Surratt , George N. Sanders , and inManhuntepisode 7 , the former prexy of the Confederacy , Jefferson Davis .
8Conover’s “Pet Letter” Never Existed
Conover’s most damning piece of evidence was fictional.
One of the most substantial pieces of evidence accede into the trial inManhuntepisode 7 is the so - yell " pet letter " from Sanford Conover , Agent Lafayette Baker ’s undercover agent grow double federal agent . In the alphabetic character , Jefferson Davis refers to his " ducky " , which Conover evidence is a reference to John Wilkes Booth , who is commonly cognise as Davis ' pet in Confederate circle . In the show , that letter is discover to be an detailed forgery by Conover , who is discover as a double agent , master forger and undercover agent . In reality , the letter never existed , asthere is no record of a letter like that ever survive .
7Conover Was Not Edwin Stanton’s Star Witness
The real Edwin Stanton did not place nearly as much importance on Conover’s testimony.
InManhuntepisode 7 , Conover was ab initio set up to be Edwin Stanton ’s " leading witness " , who could supply definitive testimonial like a shot connecting John Wilkes Booth to both Jefferson Davis and the " Confederate Clique " in Montreal , led by George N. Sanders . His reliability is shout out into doubt when he purportedly confuses the date of an important meeting that he referred to in his testimonial . Conover ’s discrepant testimonial and report as a forgeris depicted as one of the most of import reasons that the grand conspiracy charges resulted in an inconclusive verdict .
Conover ’s real name was Charles Durham , one of three false name that he frequently used in his capability of a spy .
PerUMKC School of Law , the real Sanford Conover testified similarly about the connection between the Confederate Secret Service in Montreal , Jefferson Davis and Booth . However , he was far from a " leading attestator " in the proceedings . Conover ’s testimony was widely considered to be perjuriousat the meter , and has since been attacked by historiographer as being delusive . He was far from the key witness that he is portray as inManhunt .
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
6Mary Simms Didn’t Play Such A Significant Role In The Trial
While she did testify, she was not a driving force behind Stanton’s conspiracy case.
The real Mary Simmsdid play a declamatory part in making indisputable that Dr. Samuel Mudd face justice for his function as a Confederate sympathizer and his connection to the Confederate Secret Service . While she was significant in the condemnation of Mudd , Mary Simms ' testimonial had little to do with the larger grand conspiracy tutelage . She was one of a number of freedwoman and freedwoman who testify against Mudd and the other conspirators over the course of the trial .
ThroughoutManhunt , Mary Simms was given a much larger purpose because she pretend as a representation of not only the many dauntless men and women who testify in the tribulation , but also asa histrionics of all former slave in post - Civil War America . Her experience in the show are important in providing the perspective of a mostly underrepresented portion of the population from contemporary discussions of Reconstruction , in particular in the meter catamenia immediately following Lincoln ’s assassination . Simms was very important to how creator Monica Beletsky examined the sociopolitical clime inManhunt , but she was n’t in reality that important to the trial .
5Louis Weichmann Didn’t Support Mary Simms’ Testimony
There is no evidence Weichman ever even spoke with Mary Simms.
Perhaps the most touching vista inManhuntepisode 7 come at the end of Louis Weichmann ’s testimony , during whichhe proclaim that he believes Mary Simms ' testimonial , as it aligns with the conversation that he discover himself in relation to the defendants . That was an important minute in the show ’s trial , as the defense lawyer had already been assault Mary ’s testimony based on her deficiency of education . Having the living of a clean soldier like Louis Weichmann was important in upgrade the impact of her testimony , as the words of an uneducated black char likely fell on many deaf ears in the class 1865 .
All episodes of Manhunt are now streaming on Apple TV+ .
In reality , neither Weichmann ’s funding of Mary on the witness stand northeir eye - to - heart before his testimony ever happened . Weichmann did play an important persona in the trial , as he was capable to provide a connexion between Booth and the Confederate Secret Service extremity John Surratt as a roomer at the Surratt boarding house in Surrattsville , which Booth frequented . It simply is unlikely that Stanton ’s witnesses ever interact in any meaningful capacity , as is shown inManhunt .
Craig Nigh as Jefferson Davis in Manhunt
4John Surratt Didn’t Brag About His Connection To The Assassination
Surratt did go on tour after returning to the States, but it was to proclaim his innocence.
In the epilog ofManhuntepisode 7 , it ’s let on that John Surratt eventually returned to the United States , where he was tried in civil court and get away any punishment . As the show ’s on - screen text states , Surratt tour around the South bragging about his office in the blackwash and his connection to Booth . In reality , John Surratt did make a language in Maryland where he revealed his link to a game with Booth to kidnap Lincoln , which never came to reach . However , the actor’s line was not boastful;Surratt wield his ingenuousness in the assassination plot , and called Weichmann a false witness .
3Stanton Never Suspected Andrew Johnson Was Connected To The Conspiracy
Stanton’s cryptic threat to Johnson likely never happened.
Andrew Johnson ’s Reconstruction planwas a curve , warped version of Lincoln ’s original vision , and now resulted in much of the hate and fury that contraband Americans endured in the next 100 . As a racialist , Confederate - sympathizing former slave owner , there were many who suspected thatJohnson had something to do with Lincoln ’s assassination , especially as his possible assassin and Booth co - conspirator , George Atzerodt , never really made an attempt on his lifetime . Agent Lafayette Baker promote Edwin Stanton to look into Johnson early in the investigating of the grand conspiracy , although Stanton barely entertains the whimsey .
His potential involvement is bring up again inManhuntepisode 7 when Johnson slay Stanton from the office of Secretary of War . Stanton remind Johnson that he does have his own suspicions , saying " I could have accused you . " Johnson ’s defiant reply almost implies that perhaps he should have : " But you did n’t . " In world , there is no record that Stanton ever believed that Johnson had anything to do with the assassination , although their enmity as political and idealogical opponents was very real .
2Thomas Eckert Didn’t Help Stanton Cover Up The Missing Diary Pages
The diary pages have been lost to history.
The content of the missing page of Booth ’s diary remains one of the most maddening mysteries in American history . At some level between the removal of the journal from Booth ’s body to the time the diary found its elbow room into the National Archives , at least 18 Page were removed , although there is some public debate as to how many meaningful pages were rip out . Manhuntcreator Monica Beletsky chose to directly address the conspiratorial notion thatEdwin Stanton himself removed the pages , and inManhuntepisode 6he is shown removing the pages and burn them .
Stanton ’s alleged attempted assassination of Jefferson Davis may have been the basal motivation for Booth killing Lincoln .
His supporter , Thomas Eckert , brings up the miss pages again in episode 7 , making sure to remark that he clean out Stanton ’s fireside the dark before , exit him with a little nod . The deduction is that both Stanton and Eckert were aware of what was in the page , and both wanted them to disappear . While it ’s been speculated that the diary revealed that Stanton ( and by annexe Eckert ) was involved in Lincoln ’s assassination , Beletsky posits that the pages might have let out Booth ’s need , and that Stanton ’s alleged attempted blackwash of Jefferson Davis was the reason he belt down Lincoln .
Craig Nigh as Jefferson Davis in Manhunt
In world , there is simplyno mode to ever make love what hap to the missing pagesunless they resurface . With no knowledge of who tear the pages out or what the pageboy revealed , it ’s unacceptable for any limning of their lot to be genuinely precise . The scene of Stanton burn the pages and Eckert admit care of the grounds elevates the intrigue ofManhunt , but there ’s no grounds it unfolded that means .
1Mary Simms Did Not Attend Howard University
There is no evidence Mary Simms ever attended college.
The courageous and impelled persona of Mary Simms is shew attending Howard University , which is now one of the most honored preponderantly smutty schools in the res publica . However , according toThe New Yorker , Mary Simms appeared on the 1900 U.S. nose count , still living in Bryantown ( near where Dr. Mudd ’s house was ) as a 60 - year - old cook who was still ineffective to take or save . Simms ' character ending once again present the experience of newly - freed bootleg Americans , but it seems almost certain thatthe tangible Mary Simms never pay heed college .
Source : UMKC School of Law , The New Yorker
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Cast
Mahunt is an AppleTV+ mini - serial publication focusing on the James Henry Leigh Hunt for John Wilkes Booth after he assassinates Abraham Lincoln . Anthony Boyle stars as John Wilkes Booth alongside Tobias Menzies , Lovie Simone , and Will Harrison in the series created by Monica Beletsky .
