The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-07-01

4
New York World. June 23d says: Edmnn
Spanrler. who was tried aud sentenced by n
military commission in May, 1868, on "A
cha re of being engaged in n plot TO assaS'
innate President Lincoln. and pardoued by
President johnson, has prepared the follow.
Ing statement asserting hts innocence ct all
q knowledge of the crime, and detailing the
crueltics practiced ON the prisoners before
and after conviction. Spangler was scene
shifter at Ford's Theatre, aud was on the
Stage when JOHN Wilkes Booth shot Mr..
81 Lincoln and jumped from the box. lie also
ut times took care of Booth horse. The
evidence against him was of the ilimsicst
character, not being even circumstantial, for
q il did not appear in that trial, or in the sub
sequent civil trial of Surratt, that Spangler
had any connection whatever with any Of
the oihcrso callcdconspirators. Most every
body believed him innocent then, and the
Military Commission doubted his guilt by
sentencing him to six years ut the Dry Tor
tugas, and giving the others life term.
The Military Commission was organized to
convict, and it convicted. Abundant test-
mony is now at hand to show the vast
\ amount Of perjury of that tral-perjury
exacted by fear and dictated by malice
Spangler's alnsion to the witness WEIGH
r man being in the abduction potisimportant
I Weichman's testimony, it will be remember
y cd, hung Mrs. Surratt The following is
the statement sworn and subscribed to-
STATEMENT OF EDNAS sPAyGLER.
have deemed it due to truth to prepare
for publication the following statemeut-at
time when Hope the temper the people
will give me patient hcaring-of my ar
rest, trial and Imprisonment, for alleged
completely in the plot TO assassinate the late
Presiden, Lincoln. have suffered much
but solemnly assert now, as always have
since was arraigned for trial at the Wash
ington Arsenal, that am entirely innocent
of any fore or after knowledge OF the crime
which John Wilkes Booth commi,ted-save
what knew in common with everybody
after it took place. further solemnly as
sert that John Wilkes Booth, or any other
person, never mentioned to me any plot,
or in,imation of plot, for the abduction or
assassination of President Lincoln that
did not know when Booth leaped from the
box to the stage at the theatre, that he had
shot Mr.. Lincoln; and that did not, in any
way, SO help me God, assist in his escape ;
and ! further declare that | am entirely
innocent Of any and all charges made
against me in that connection. ! never
al
mold, or Harold, or any of the so-cnlled
conspirators, 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 in as
serting Mrs. Surratt's entire innocence, and
acknowledge their own g'iilt. combining the
crime, as they did, entirely to themselves,
but duplicating the witness, Wechmau, in
knowledge of the original plot to abduc,,
and with furnishing information from the
Commissary Of Prisoners Department,
where Wechman was n clerk.
| was arrested on the morning of the 10Th
of April, 1865, and, with Riterspaugh,
(also a scene shifter,) taken TO the police
station on Il street, between Ninth and
Tenth. The Sergeant. after questioning me
closely, went with two policemen to search
for Peanut John, THE name of the boy who
held Booths horse the night before and
made to accompany us TO the headquarters
Of the police on Tenyn street, where John
aud were locked up, aud l,ilierspaugh was
released. After four hours confinement,
was released and brought before Judges
DIN and Bingham. and told them of Booth
bringing his horse to the theatre on the
afternoon ofthe 18th Of April, 1865. After
this investigation ! said: what is 10 be
done with me?'' aud they repind: "We
know where to find you when ypu are want.
ed" nnd ordered my release returned
TO the theatre, where | remained until Sat
nrday, when the soldiers took possession of
1t; but MS the officer Of the guard gave an
attache and myself pass to sleep there,
We retired at 10 =. NJ, and ut A. NJ. a
guard was placed over me. who remained
until A. N. Sunday morning, when was
released. did not leave the theatre until
Sunday evening, and on our seturn, this
attache Garland by name) aud myself were
arrested by detective Larnsr. Instead of
taking us TO the guard house, he said he
would accompany us home to sleep there,
but we all went to police headquarters on
Tenth street, and when Garland asked if we
were wanted, an officer sharply said Mo-
returned to the theatre that night, and re,
manned the next day till / went to dinner,
corner Seventh and G streets. That over,
remained n few minutes, when Ritters.
paugh (wbo worked at the theatre with mel
came, and meeting me, said; 81 have given
my evidence, and would like now to get
some ofthe reward
walked out with Ritterspaugh for half
nm hour, and on returning to lie down left
word that if any one called for me to tell
them that | was lying down. Two hours
after ! was called down stairs to sec TWO
gentlemen who had called for me. They
said that was wanted down street. On
reaching the sidewalk they placed me in n
hack and drove rapidly to Carroll Prison,
where was confined week Three days
afterwards Detective, or Colonel Baker came
tony room, andquestioned meabout the sale
Of a horse and buggy (which belonged to
Booth and told him all about it freely
and readily. On the day following was
called into the Office OF the prison in order
20 be recognized BY Sergeant Dye, who
merely nodded his head as / entered, and
then he left. Dye subsequently, testified
that he was sitting on the steps Of the the.
htre just before Booth sred the shot, and
to seeing mysterious persons about was
allowed on the fourth day of my irnprison.
ment to walk the prison yard, but from that
evening was closely confined and guarded
until the next Saturday at midnight, when
was again taken to the office TO see de.
fective, who said: s'Come, Spangler, I've
some jewelry for you' He bandcu fled me
with my arms behind my back, and guard
ing me to hack, was placed in it and
Driven to the Navy Yard, where my legs
were manacled and q pair Of Lille handouts
placed on my wrists, was put in a boat
ana rowed 10 monitor, where was taken
on board and thrown into small, dirty
focm' between two water closets, and on to
peu OF hithy life prescrvers aud blankets,
VIII Two soldiers guarding the door. I was
Kept there for three days, had been thus
confined three days Oh the vessel, when
Ssplmn hunroe came to me aud said -
Hspangler, I've someiing that must be told,
bu, yona must not be frightened. We have
prders IRON the Secretary Of War, who must
be Obeyed. to mt hay m ,.os,hi !. II 4,