American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-07-10
Record of Military Justice In 1855
How an Innocent Man Was
Treated.
Mrs. Surratl's Innocence Established.
Horrible Treatment Of Prisoners at
the Dry TOrtugas.
Iellish TOrtureS Inflicted by Federal
Army officers in the BEST
Government the World
Ever Saw"

ate President Lincoln, and pardoned
by President Johnson, PUBLISHES the
following statement:
OF EDMAN sPANGLER.
| have deemed it due to the truth
to prepare for publication the follow
ing statement--a Il time when |
| hope the temper Of the people will
give me patient hearing-of my ar
rest, trial and Imprisonment for al
legged completely in the plot to as
sassinate the late President Lincoln.
[ have suffered much but | solemn
" assert now, a. j always have since
| was arragned for trial at the
Washington Arsenal, that | am en-
tirely innocent of any fore or after
knowledge of the crime which John
Wilkes Booth commitied-save what
knew in common with everybody,
after it took place. | further sol
emily assert that John Wilkes
Booth, nor any other person, never
mentioned to me any plot, or intima-
lion of a plot, for the abduction or
assassination of President Lincoln I;
that | did not know when Booth
leaped from the box to the stage at
the theater that he had shot Mr..
Lincoln and that did not. in any
way, so held me God, assist in his
escape; and further declare that |
am entirely innocent of any and all
charges made against me i'll that con-
nection. l never knew either Sur
raft, Payne, Atzerodt, Arnold, or
Harold, or any of the socalled con-
spirators, nor did | ever see any of
them until they appeared in custody.
While imprisoned with Atzerodt,
Payne and Harold, and after their
trial was over, | was allowed a few
minutes exercise in the prison yard.
heard the three unite i'll asserting
Mrs. Surratt's entire innocence, and
acknowledge their own guilt, contin-
ing the crime, as they did, entirely
to themselves, but duplicating the
witness, Weichman, in knowledge OF
the original plot to abduct; and with
furnishing information from the
Commissary of Prisoners Depart
ment, where Weichman was clerk
was arrested on the morning oil
the 18th of April, 1865, and, with
Ritterspaugh, (also scene shifter,
taken to the police station on L
street, between Ninth and Tenth
The Sergeant, after questioning mt
closely, went with two policemen t.
search for Peanut John, 1.-THE name
of the boy who held Booths horse
the night before, and ma % him ac
company us to the headquarters o
the police OH Tenth street, wher,
john and l were locked up, and Rit
terspaugh was released. After fou
hours confinement, | was released
and brought before Judges Gin ant
Bingham, and told them of Boot
bringing his horse to the theater Oh
the afternt on of the 18th of April
QS65.) After this investigation,
l said: 4" What is to be done wit
me :" and they replied We kno
where to tind you when you are want
cd" and ordered my release. l nc
: turned to the theater, where | re
! manned until Saturday, when til
soldiers took possession of it; bu
1 as the officer of the guard gave a
1 attache aud myself pass to slice
1 there, we retired at 10 p. m, and a
t 1 IA III guard was placed over mt
who remained until 0 a. III. Sunday
when l was released did not leav
the theater until Sunday evening
and on our return, this attache (Cal
lond by name,) and myself were al
rested by detective Larner. Instea
, of taking us to the guard house,
: said he would accompany us HON
to sleep there, but we all went t.
police headquarters OH Tenth stree
and when Garland asked if we wer
wanted an officer sharply said mo.
, l returned to the theater that nigh
and remained the next day till
! went to dinner. corner Seventh an
G streets. That over I remained
few minutes when Ritterspaug
(whO worked at the theater wit
, me, came. and meeting me said {"
| have given my evidence, and woul
! like now to get some of the reward.
E / walked out with Rittelspaug
| for half an hour, and on returnin
\ to lie down left word that if any Oh
called Tor me to tell him that | was |,
4 ing down Two hours afterward
was called down stairs to see tw
gentlemen who had called for IN
A They said that | was wanted dow
@ the street. On reaching the sidewal
n they placed me in hack and droI
q rapidly tn Carroll Prison, where
n was confined a week. Three day
@ afterwards, Detective, or Colon
4 Baker came to my room, and que
n toned me about the sale of hOr,
and buggy (Which belonged
Booth and | told HIM all about
freely and readily. On the day fO
lowing | was called into the Office
t. the prison in order 10 he recognize
II by Sergeant Dye, who merely nod
y ed his head as | entered. and the
+ left. dye subsequently teSfitie
e that he was sitting on the steps
l., the theater Just before Booth FIRE
Il the shot, and to seeing mysteriou
persons about.) | was allowed {
the fourth day OF my imprlSonmei
u to walk the prison yard, but fro
It that evening | was closely conlne
II aud guarded until the next Saturda
e at midnight, when | was again take
II to the office to see the detective. wi
h said "Come, Spangler, I've son
st jewelry for you" lie handcullcd II
E. with my hands behind my back, an
e guarding me to a hack, | was placs
&c III 1t and driven to the Navy Var
o where my legs were manacled and
3, pair of Lille handouts placed on II
1t wrists. ! was put in n boat al
y rOwrd to a monitor, where | was {
D. ken on boaTdand thrown into IA Sma
10 dirty room between two water cl
II sets, and on to Il bed of filthy Il
ns preservcrs and blankets, with ty
soldiers guarding the door. I W
er kept there for three days. IN
he been thus confined three DAYS on &
I vessel, when Captain Monroe car
n to me and said "Spanglcr, /
~ something that must be told, but y