The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-07-01
From the New York World !

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Edman Spangler, who was tried aud SEN
fenced by military commission in May,
1865, on charge of being engaged in the
plot to assassinate President Lincoln, and
pardoned by President Johnson, has prepared
the following statement, asserting his inno-
cence of all knowledge of the crime, and de-
failing the crueltieS practised on the prison
ers before and after conviction. SpaDgler
was a scene shifter 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 fimsi-
est character, not being even circumstsntial,
for it did not appear in that trial, or in the
subsequent civil trial of Surratt, that Spang
Ter had any connection whatever with any
of the other so-ealled conspirators. Most
everybody believed him innocent then, and
the Military Commission doubted his guilt
by sentencing him to six years at the Dry
Tortugas, and giving the others \ life term.
The Military Commission was organized to
convict, and IL convicted. Abundant testimo-
ny is now at hand to show the vast amount
of perjury of that trial-perjury exacted by
fear and dictated by malice. Spanger'S al
lusion to the witness Weichman being in the
abduction plot is important, Weichman's
testimony. it will be remembered, hung Mrs.
Surratt. The following is the statement
sworn and subscribed to:
STATEMENT OF EDMAN sPANGLER.
have deemed it due to truth to prepare
for publication the following statement
at a time when 1 hope the temper of the
people will give me a patient heating-of
my arrest, trial and Imprisonment, for al
legged completely in the plot to assassinate
the late President Lincoln. | have suffered
much, but | solmnly assert now, as | al
ways have since | was arTaigned for trial
at the Washington Arsenal, that | am en-
tirely innocent of any fore or after know
ledge of the crime which John Wilkes
Booth committed-save what | knew in
common with everybody after it took place
| further so!emnly assert that John Wilkes
Booth, or any other person, neUer mentioned
to me any plot, or intimation of a 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.. Line In aud
that did not, in any way, 50 help me God,
assist in his escape and l further declare
that l am entirely innocent Of any and all
charges made against me in that connection.
| never knew either Surratt, Payne, Atzer-
odt, Arnold or Harold, or any Of The s-
y
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 lie the prison
ward. heard the three unite IN asserting
Mrs Sitrrdtt'S entire innocence, and Gck1loSU-
ledge their oton guilt, con tiuing the crime, as
they did, entirely to Themselves. but implicat-
ing the witness, Weichman. in knOuCledge
of The original plot to Gbdact! aud lOith fur
nishing information from the Commssary
Prisoners Department, where Weichman
was clerk.
| was arrested on the morning of the 18th
of April, 1865. and with Ritterspaugh (also
a scene shifter) taken to the police station
on Z street, between Ninth and Tenth
The sergeant. after questioning me closely,
went with two policemen to search for Pea
nut John ithe name of the hoy who held
Booths horse the night before) aud made to
accompany us to the headquarters Of the
police on Tenth street, where John and |
were locked up, and Ritterspaugh was re-
leased. After four hours )nfinement | was
released, and brought before Judge Olin and
Bingham, and told them of Booth bringing
his horse to the theatre on the afternoon Of
the 14sh of April (1865.) After this inves-
tigation / said "What is to be done with
me ?'' and they replied We know where to
find you when you are wanted, F" and ordered
my release. / returned to the theatre, where
l remained until Saturday, when the SOL
diers took possession of it but as the off
Ger of the guard gave an attache and my
self pass to sleep there, we retired at 10
P. M and at l A. NJ. guard was placed
over me, who remained until A. NJ Sun
day morning, when | was released. ! did
not leave the theatre until Sunday evening,
he hx,
name) and myself were arrested by Detec-
tive Larner. 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 "No." l returned to
the theatre that night, and remained the
next day till / went to dinner, corner of
Seventh and @ Streets That over | re-
NAMED few minutes, when Ritterspaugh
(who worked at the theatre with Ine) came,
meeting me, said 81 have given my evil
dence, and would like now to get some OF the
reward" l-4
/ walked out with Ritterspaugh for half
an 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 see two
gentlemen VINO had called Tor me. They
said that l was wanted down street. On
reaching the sidewalk they placed me in a
hack and drove rapidly to Carroll Prison,
where was confined a week. Three days
afterwards Detective, or Colonel, Baker
came to my room, and questioned me about
the sale of horse and buggy (Which be-
longed to Booth). and told him all about
it freely and readily. On the day following
l was called into the office of the prison in
order to 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 thea
tire Just before Booth fred the shot, and to
seeing mysterious persons about.) l was
allowed on the fourth day of my imprison-
ment to walk the prison yard, but from that
evening l was closely confined and guarded
until the next Saturday at midnight, when