The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-07-15
THE LINCOLN ASSASSINATION.
OF EDMAN SPANGlER

STATEMENT OF EDMAN sPANGLER.
We copy the following from the New York
World of June oath:
Edman Spangler, who was tried and SEN
fenced by u military commission in May, 1865,
on a charge of being engaged in a plot to as
sasslnate President Lincoln, and pardoned by
President johnson, has prepared the following
statement asserting his innocence of all knowl-
edge of the crime, and detailing the crueltes
| practlSed on the prisoners before and after
conviction. Spangler was 4 scene-shtter at
Ford's Theatre, and was on the stage when
John Wilkes Booth shot Mr.. Lincoln and
jumped from the box. He also at times took
care of Booths horse. The evidence against
him was of the tmsiest character not being
even circumstantlal, for it did not appear in
that trial, or i'll the subsequent civil trial OF
Surratt, that Spangler had any connection
whatever with any of the other sO-called con
sprators. Most everybody believed him nno-
cent then, and the Military Commission doubt
ed his guilt by sentencing him to six years in
the Dry Iortugas, and giving the others a life
term. The Military Commission was organ
lZrd 10 convict, ard II c0nrcted. Abundant
testimony is now at hand to show the vast
amount of perjury of that trial-perury ex-
acted by fear and dictated by malice Span
glcrS a.luSlon to the WltucSs We. Gilman being
III the abduction plot is Important. WEIGH
mans testimony. ii will be remembered, hung
Mrs. Snrratt. The following is the statement
sworn aud subscribed to:
STATEMENT OF EDMAN spANGLER
| have deemed it due to truth To prepare for
publication the following statrntnt-at IA time
u han | ham. fhn fat .t tb,I n,,t,i
me Il patient hcarlng-"i my arrest. trial and
mprsunmrut for alleged completely in the
plot To aSsaSsnate the late President Lincoln
| have suffered much, but | solrlnnly assert
now, rs | always have since was arruignrd
for trial III the Washington Arsenal that | am
entirely innocent of any fore or after knoWl-
edge OF the crime which John Wilkes Booth
coulnlttrd-s1yc what knew IN common with
every body after ii took place | further sol
rnuly assert that John Wilkes Booth, or any
other person. Htrp' mentioned Ia me any plot.
or IUtIma'i"u nf Il plot. Tor the abduction or
assassination II President Lincoln; that did
not hu"w when Booth lcaped from the tox 10
the stage At Tie theatre that hc had shot Mr
Lincoln; and that | did not, in any way So
help me God, assist IN his escape; and | fur
thrr declare that am entirely innocent If any
and all charges made against me in that cou-
nrct,ou. never kucw either Snrratt Payne.
Atzrrodt. Arnold. ar Harold, or any Of the So
called c"u>plrator>, nor dill ever see any Of
them until they appeared IN custody. While
Imprisoned with Aizcrodt. Halnr. and Harold,
aud after their trial was over. ! was allow cd Il
few minutes exercise in the prison yard. 4
hcard thr t1rte uuitc ia asserting Yrs. NHrrdtfs
cntje iDnoccncc. and acknowIrdgc thcir own
quiH coBfHjnq the crime. rs M,y did, enfir,Iy
= i..,.
Wcichman. IN LHoWl,dgc of the oridinoL plot
10 dbducH ami wih FURNISHING information
from tie Commssary of Prisoners Depart
mcut. where Wrichnan was a clerk.
was arrested on the morning Of the 18th
of April, l~,5. and with Rtter~pauGh (a!>o a
scene shiittr) taken tn the police station on i.
street, between Ninth and Tenth. The ser
grant, after questioning me closely. went with
two policemen 10 search for Peanut John (the ,
nalnc OF the boy who held Booths horse the
night bctorr) and made 10 accompany lis to
the headquarters OF the police on Tenth street. |
where john and ! were locked up, and Ritter
spaugh was released After four hours con
hnrmcut was released, and brought before |
Judges Olln and bingham, and told them of
Booth bringing his horse to the theatre on the
afternoon of the lith of April (l-65). After
this investigation ! said; "What is tn be done
with me- and they replied: 1--WE know /
where to find YOU when you are wantcd,' and
ordered my release. | returned TO the thea
tire, where remained until Saturday, when
the soldiers took possession ot 1t; but as the
officer of the guard gave an attache aud myself
a pass to sleep there. we retired at 10 p NJ,
and at A. NJ, a guard was placed over me.
who remained until 9 A. NJ, Sunday morning,
when | was released. ! did not lcaveIhc thea
tre until Sunday evening, and on our return
this attache (Carland by nanc) and myself
were arrested by Detective Larner Instead
of taking US to the guard-housc 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 NO" l re-
turned to the theatre that nig ght and remained
the next day till went to dinner, corner sew
enth and q streets That over | remained a
few minutes. when Rltterspaugh (who worked
at the theatre with me) came. and meeting me,
said: Il have given my evidence, and would
ike now to get some of the reward"
l walked out with Rittcrspaugh for half an
hour, and on returning to lie down left word
that it any one called for me to tell them that
was lying down. Two hours after | was
called down stairs to see two gentlemen who
had called for me. They said that was want
ed down street. On reaching the sidewalk
they placed me in "A hack and drove rapidly to
Carroll Prison, where | was confined n week