Take a moment to read about Samuel Mudd today. He was convicted as a co-conspirator to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He was convicted of this and sentenced to life in prison, but was later pardoned by Andrew Johnson.
I don’t know enough about the story to make a judgement one way or the other, but I do find it interesting.
What if he was guilty? Then he was convicted, sentenced to life, then pardoned. He escaped the death penalty and life in prison, even though he was part of the plan to murder the President. Why was he pardoned?!
What if he was innocent? Then he was in the wrong place at an unfortunate time, and made the wrong decisions about when to tell authorities. The poor guy was put in prison for hanging out with the wrong crowd and his name was forever sullied.
Either way, sad story.
Also, why in the world is this a National Celebration? It seems odd that he’d have a day if his innocence wasn’t pretty clear. (December 20th is Samuel Mudd’s Birthday.)
Samuel Mudd does come up when trying to locate the origins of the phrase “Dragged through the mud” or “Your name is Mudd.” If Dr. Mudd was innocent, his name was tarnished forever, which is the true meaning of those phrases.
Phrase Meanings – Your Name Is Mudd
Read about Samuel Mudd on Wikipedia.
What’s Tomorrow?
- National Flashlight Day Day of Winter Solstice
- National French Fried Shrimp Day
- National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day – First Day of Winter
- Crossword Puzzle Day
- Humbug Day
- Phileas Fogg Win A Wager Day
- Winter Solstice Day Between December 20 and 23
- Yule – Day of Winter Solstice