Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-06-29
Prison Life in the Dry Tortngas-State-
ment of Edman Spangler.

fenced by military commlAHlnh ;" "'.Ii
on charge of being engaged IN lhe pi1i 70 u |
sassiuate president Lincoln, mud pardoned by
President johnson, has prepared statement
asserting his innocence OF all knowledee OF 'he
crime, and detailing the cruelties praellced on
the prieonera before and after coANlc"on,
spangler, it will be recolleeted, was a soono
shifter at Ford's Theatre, and was OH inc sung
in that capacity when Wilkea Booth shoi hr,
Lincoln, and jumped from the box he h'5u "'
times cared for Booths horse The eV'nehe'
| against him was of the hmsicat chnrae'er,
Nearly everybody believed him innocent, ahu
the military commission only sentenced nun ~
siz years at the Dry Tortugas, while the oihe's
4 xare sent for life. Spanglcr's statement IL sm","
/ nsf snbscribed to, aud appears among the Mtsn-
| Ing ton corr esp0ndensc IA tho New 1afk H9ft@
| of Thursday. He says;
| have deemed il due to truth To prepare ieI
publication the following statement--at tiine
When hone the temper Of the people will gave
me o patient hearing-of my arrest, triai' anu
Imprisonment for alleged completely IN the Piot
TO assassnaie the late President Lincoln hhSe
suffered much, but solemnly assert now, MS !
always have since was nrraigned ior hlnl ''
the Washington Arsenal. that am entirely M
noCent of any fore or after knowledge oil 'h'
crime which John Wilkes Booth cominluel
save what knew 10 common with eVetyp'"y
after il took place. further e0lemnly assert
neser mentioned 10 me any plot, or lh'ii'a''p',
of q plot, for the abduction OF assassination OF
President Lincoln; that l did not know when
Rnoih leaned from the box 10 the stage al the
theatre that he had shot MIR. Lincoln; anu ma
| did not, in any way, 80 help ne Hod, assist l"
bia escape; and further declare that am en-
lirely innocent of any and all charges ,nHn.
aeainst me in that connection. ! never khe"
either surratt, Payne, Atzerodi, Arnold OF
Harold, or any of the sO-called conspiralOrs, hu'
did ever see any Of them until they apeared II
cnstodv While imprisoned with Atzgrodt
PaJne aud Harold, and after their iflal wa
over, was allowed a few minutes exercise II
the prison yard heard the three unite ~ as
serting Mrs. Surratts entire Innocence, ana He
knowledge their own guilt, oontining The crime
as they did, entirely to themselves
Tho statement then letaila tho particulars @
his arrest, which occurred on the loih ci Aftl
1866; how he was handeuiied with his arms Ut
hind his buck, and conveyed to the navy yale
where his legs were manaeled aud pair oi hi
lie handcuIs placed on his wrists lie was ntH
conveyed to monitor and thrown into slna
ditty room. Here he was kept for three day
when he was told by Captain Munroe that IL
Secretary OF War had ordered hag to be p'
on his head, which WAS done. lie coulh lh'
then neither see nor cat, but through u noe o
into the bag near his mouth two KIND hear''
soldiers took compassion on him, aud WINE ol
watched, the other fed him. These ,ot'ui
we're continued until his trial commenced beio
the military commission, and even then nc
carried before that court with his head hats
and his limbs heavily manacled.
mn FIRST TINE 1PAsaLRR SAW MRS, suRnAl
"Tbe first time ever saw Mrs. Surrali "
in the Carroll Prison yard, on Capitol I'M,
did not see her ngain until we were taken u
conrt the first day at the arsenal My cell "
on the came corridor with here, and had
nasa il every time was taken into court II
auently looked into her cell, small room nb'
four feet wide by seven feet long. me o.
. ,binqs in her cell were an old mattress lald
the bricks and an army blanket could see
ul- irons on her feet, as she was gehefauy Sins
nus the mattress, and was the last one blenyls /,
81 rn,rrt. sue occupied seat in the court IL
TIE ,he nrison door fhe seat was twelve Inc
ace higb and the chains between the irons on
NO feet we're so short that she always had to De
Ing aiated To her seat. She was 80 slek at one y
nd that the court was compelled TO adj0nrn'
sdy The remainder of the statement IS oceur
ln- with his treatment of the Dry Tortugas'
nus what he Witnessed of the cruel punishment
OF aicted on other prisoners. and especlaHy
us ST. George Leger GIenfel. Inc lteh'nleht
% this officer he describes as hruthl III 'hu
lnd and worse than death, the colonel frequently
tlul cioring his intention Of running any risk to
cane. rather than "be tortured to death thef
the which he finally carried into effect SPAN
Iiou says: iii.
non lone very stormy night Greeuiol, with
lair others. escaped in a small boat, and was
the IDENTIFY drowned near the fort. His escape
'een discovered, but the storm was so severe tina
'ery was deemed too dangerous TO pursue them
lru. though steamer was at the wharf,
wlls spanpler mentions that one punishment
ana to load prisoner with irons, then tic
lley around his body and throw him into the "
ihu- let him sink, but before drowning to draw
70 ont again lie gives names and dates to sup
MI MI these assertions
pe9 The statement closes as follows; "pnrlnG
ana imnrisonment at Fort Jefferson worked
the hard at carpenteriug and wood ornamental
mes, making great many fancy boxes, Nc, OF
elIey the neeuliar wood found on the adjacent sli
inc the greater portion of this work was mad
IS II of6oers. By my industry in that direction
,rlng some favor in their eyes. was release
uni March of the present year by Executive
ey. W ency"