I took pictures of these restraints during a recent visit to the museum across the street from Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. These are rigid handcuffs and ankle shackles used on Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was the doctor who treated the fugitive John Wilkes Booth.
And here is a reproduction of the type of canvas hood they used on the conspirators in the Lincoln assassination — including Lewis Powell.
I made a visit to this museum while on a business trip recently. I was with a female co-worker, who no doubt was wondering why I was so interested in these particular items.
To learn a bit more about these types of historical restraints, see this previous posting.
I have had the rare experience (pleasure?) of being put in a pair of genuine Lilly Irons and they are the most intense cuffs I have ever endured. The rigid bar holds your arms in such a uncomfortable position that only a few minutes in they start to be torture. Imagine wearing them for days/weeks at a time like poor Dr. Mudd! By the way, the inventor, John Horace Lilly, died wearing a set of these – his own restraints!!