The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-11

and then left. dye subsequently, tes-
tilted that he was sitting on the steps
of the theatre just before Booth fred
THE shot, and to seeing mysterious per-
sons about.) l was allowed on the
fourth day of my Imprisonment to walk
the prison yard, but from that evening
WAS closely confined and guarded I'M
til the next Saturday night, wlieii I
was again taken to the Office to sec !.
detective, who said: ..Come, Spangler,
I've some jewelry for you.n He hand
cuifed me with my arms behind my
back, and guarding me to a hack was
plated in it and driven to the navy
yard, where my legs We're manacled
and u pair of Lille handouts placed on
my wrists. l was put on "A boat and
rowed to a monitor, where was tal1ei,
on board, and thrown into a small
dirty room, between two water closets
and on bed Of filthy life prescrvers
and blankets, with two soldiers guard
ing the door. | was kept there for
three days. / had been thus confined
three days on the vessel when Captain
Monroe came to me, and said: "Spang-
| Ter, I've something that must be told,
but You must not be frightened. We
have orders from the Secretary of War,
who must be obeyed, to put a bag OH
your head.n Then two men came in
and tied up my head so securely that
could not see daylight. / had plenty
of food but could not cat with my face
so mufffed up. True, there was n small
hole in the bag, near my mouth, but |
could not reach that, as my hands were
wedgc1 down by the iron. At>last,
two kind hearted soldiers took COM
passion on me, and while one watched
the other fed me. On Saturday night
man came to me, and after drawing
/ the bag so tight as nearly to srftOcatc
me, said to the guard: ''Don't let him
go to sleep, as we will carry him out to
hang him, directly" l heard them go
upon the deck, when there was great
rafting of chains and other noises
and while was trying to imagine
what was going on, and what they in
tended to do, was dragged out by two
men, who both pulled me at times in
opposite directions. We, however,
reached IL boat, in which was placed,
and were rowed short distance.
could not say then where we stopped,
for my face was still covered. After
leaving the boat was forced to walk
some distance with the heavy irons on
my legs. was then suddenly stepped
and made to ascend three or fOul
flights of stairs, and as stood at the
top waiting, some one struck me Sc
we're blow on the top Of the head, which
stunned and half threw me over, when
/ was pushed into small room, where
| remained in an unconscious condition
for several hours. The next morning
same one came with bread and coffee.
/ remained here several days, suffering
torture from the bag OF padded hood
over my face. tt was on Sunday when
| it was removed and l was shayen.-
Some hours after General Hartruffi
came and read to me several charges
that was engaged in plot to assassi-
nate the President, and the day follow
ing | was carried into Military Court
and still hooded, before all of its mem
bers. / remained here but short
time. when was returned to my cell
for another night and day, and then
again presented to this Court. Mr.
Bingham; Assistant Judge Advocate
read the charges against me, and asked
me if had any objection TO the Court
and replied ''No," and made my pie;
of ''Not Guilty" They then wished tc
know if l desired counsel, and, when
answered affirmatively, General Hun
ter, the President of the Court, insisted
that should not be allowed counsel
He was, however, overruled, but it was
several days before / was permitted
legal aid, the Court in the meantime
taking evidence with closed doors. Or
every adjournment of the Court, if on
ly for an hour, l was returned to IN!
cell and the closely fitting hood place.
over my head. This continued til
June 10, 1865, when 1 WAS relieved
from the fortunes of the bag, but my
hands and limbs remained heavily man
acied.
On one Sunday, while / was confined
at this place (the Washington Arse
nal,) was visited by. a gentleman o
middle stature, rather stout, with full
beard, and gold framed spectacles. Ht
noticed my manacles and padded head
| afterward learned that he was MIR
Stanton, the Secretary of War. Ii il
proper to state that, when the hoot
was placed on me, Captain Monroe
said it was by order of the Secretary o
| War. My first thought was that was
to he hung without trial, and the hoot
was preparatory to that act.
The first time ever saw Mrs. Sur
raft was in the Carroll Prison yard OF
| r,,;to, Hill din pof see her ,pai,