What did Mary Surratt tell authorities upon questioning?

• A. She claimed she had seen that man before.
• B. She never saw that man before in her life and never hired him to clean the gutter.
• C. She provided a detailed description of Booth's movements.
• D. She helped investigators search the house.

Answer: (B)

During questioning, Mary Surratt attempted to distance herself from the events by denying any connection to the man in question. The statement that she had never seen him before in her life and never hired him to clean the gutter best reflects that stance. It aligns with her role as a boardinghouse keeper and her claim of ignorance about the conspirators, signaling she did not know or employ the person tied to the plot. The other possibilities would imply recognition, detailed knowledge of Booth’s movements, or helping with the investigation, all of which contradict what she asserted at the time.