1865

John Wilkes Booth was shot and killed by a Union soldier.

Following Wilkes’ assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Booth fled on horseback to southern Maryland, eventually making his way to a farm in rural northern Virginia.

Twelve days later, he was tracked down and shot after the barn in which he was hiding was set on fire.

Eight other conspirators were tried and convicted, and four were hanged shortly thereafter.

1859

Dan Sickles was acquitted of murder on grounds of temporary insanity. This was the first time the defense was used successfully in the U.S.

Sickles murdered his wife’s lover, Philip Barton Key II, the district attorney of District of Columbia and the son of Francis Scott Key.