The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-08
The Conspirators.
What they said on their arrival at The
Dry 7ortugds.

The Washington correspondent of the
Times says:
Brigadier General Dodd, who had
charge of the assassins Mudd, Arnold,
O'LaughHn and Spangler, and who de-
livered them to the prison-keeper at the
Dry Tortugas, made his report to-day to
the War Department. and was dis
charged from this special duty.
General Dodd reports that on the
trip DIR. Mudd acknowledged to Captain
Budd, General Dodd and Others,
that he knew Booth when he came
morning after the assassination, but
was afraid to tell of his having
been there, fearing the life of himself
and family would be endangered there
by. He knew that Booth would never
be taken alive. He also acknowledged
that he had been acquainted with Booth
for some time, and that he was with
Booth at the National Hotel on the even
ing referred to by Weichman; that he
met Booth in the street, and Booth said
he wanted him (Mudd) to introduce him
to John Surratt; that they started up
Seventh street, on their way to Mrs.
Surratt's house, and on their way they
met John Surratt and Weichman, and
returned to Booths room at the Nation
al, where he and John Surratt had some
conversation of private character. He
said that the Military Commission, in his
case, had done their duty, and as far as
they were concerned, the sentence in his
case was just, but some of the witnesses
had sworn falsely and maliciously.
"O'Laughlin acknowledged that the
court had done its duty, and said that he
was in the plot to capture the President,
but that, after the Intellectual attempt In
March, when the party hoped to have
captured the coach containing the Presi-
dent, he thought that the entire project
was given up, and it was, as far as he
was concerned. He denies positively
that he had part or knowledge in the
plot to assassinate the President, General
Grant, or any one else.
"Sam. Arnold made about the same
statement as he did before the trial-that
he was in the plot to capture, but not to
assassinate; that that had failed, and he
considered himself out of it, and never
knew anything about the assassination,
which he thought was gotten up by
Booth only a few hours before executing
1t. He thought the courtcould not have
done otherwise than itdid. He express
GU hlo cOIIOW UiluV hc Duti Dtcu leu lllO
the plot to capture by Booth and Others,
and expressed himselfthankfu that the
punishment was no worse.
"Spangler, on the voyage, expressed
some Impotence at his own stupidity in
| not having recollected while OH trial a
circumstance in connection with Booths
escape from the stage, that would have
told materially to his (Spangler's) ad-
vantage. Some Of the testimony went
to show that Spangler had slammed the
door to after Booths exit, in way to
hinder immediate pursuit. Spangler
says it quite escaped his recollection that
some time previous to the assassination
a patent spring had been put on the
| door for the purpose of closing it when
left carelessly open. He says, however,
| that he supposes the Court had done
right, and if they give him plenty of
work and plenty to eat hewas satisfied.
Although he was not guilty and knew
nothing of Booths intentions, he says
that he did say to Booth, will do all l
can for you, but that it was in reference
to selling his (Booth's) horse and buggy
and that it was three days before the as
sassination. He said that some of the
witnesses lied in their testimony, especi-
ally about his slapping any one in the
mouth and telling him to keep his
mouth shut"