6 Famous Assassins Killed Without Trial
A Brief History
On April 26, 1865, Union Army troopers of the US Cavalry shot the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth, dead on the spot in spite of orders to take the murderer alive. Booth is just one of many assassins that died without the benefit of being tried for their crime. Today we list several such assassins and welcome you to nominate others to this list. (See some of our other articles about assassinations.)
Digging Deeper
John Wilkes Booth, assassin of US President Abraham Lincoln (1865)
Boothe was the most famous American actor of his day, and thus was easily recognized after he shot President Abraham Lincoln in the head at a crowded theater. A massive manhunt was mounted, with troopers ordered to take Booth alive so authorities could learn the extent of the assassination plot. Trapped in a barn 12 days later, Booth did not want to be taken alive so the barn was set on fire and an obliging trooper