The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-07-07
WAsHNaroN. June 29. 1se9.

WAszNeTON, june %, 1869.
sPANGLKR's CASE.
Edmund Spangler, one of the alleged
conspirators in the plot to assassinate Pres
ideut Lincoln, who was sentenced by mill
tary commission, In 1865, to six years inn
prlsonment at the Dry Tortugas, was par
doned by President johnson, in March
last, has made full statement under oath
of his trial and imprisonment n which he
asserts his entire innocence; this will be
published here, to morrow. Spangler, 1t
will be remembered, was carpenter or
seene-shifter at Ford's Theater, and was
on the stage when Booth jumped from the
box after shooting the PresidsAt. he also
took care of his horse, and brought the let
ter to the theater on the afternoon q few
hours preceding the assassination; the ev-
idence against Spangler was circumstan-
tial, one witness intimating that he at
tempted 70 obstfGct the pursuit of Booth
across the stage. The Military COmmis-
sion seemed to have some doubt of Spang-
ler's guilt, as he was sentenced to six years
imprisonment, while Mudd, O'Laughlln
and Arnold were sentenced for life. In
the opening of his statement Spangler says
that he heard Payne, Harold and AtzerOdt,
who were executed, implicate the famous
witness Weichman-in that part of the
plot to abduct the President.
Weichman's evidence caused the cOnYic-
ton of Mrs. Surraft. Spangler opens his
statement as follows : He EayB 81 have
deemed it due to truth to prepare for pubs
lication the following statement, ct time
when hope the temper of the people VIII
give me a patient hearing, of my arrest,
trial and imprisonment for alleged CONF
plieity in the plot to assassinate President
Lincoln. / have suffered much, but / sol
emnly assert now. as I always have since
was arraigned for trial at the Washing.
ton Arsenal, that am entirely Innocent of
any fore or after knowledge Of the crime
which John Wilkes Booth committed,
save what knew, in common with every
body, after it took place. --
81 further solemnly assert that ]. Wilkes
Booth, or any other person, never mem
toned to me any plot or any intimation of
any plot for the abduction or assassination of
President Lincoln; that did not know
when Booth leaped down TO the stage from
the box at the theater that he shot Mr..
Lincoln. and that I 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 knew either
Payne, Surratt, Atzerodt, Arnold or Hars
old, or any of the 50 called conspirators,
nor did I ever see any of them until they
appeared In custody while imprisoned with
Ltzerodt Payne and Harold; and aftel
the trial was over / was allowed few
minutes exercise in the prison yard. J
heard the three unite in asserting Mrs. Sur
rats entire innocence and acknoWledgt
their own guilt combining the crime, a
| thew did, entirely TO themselves, but I'M
plicat1ng the witness Weichman IN 3
knowledge of the Original plan 70 abduct,
and with furnishing information from the
liofaee of the Commissary General of pris-
i oners where he was q clerk. Spangiel
then goes on to detail his imprisonment
how he was arrested, released and resrres
ted; the suffering he endured from th'
padded hood, drawn over his head during
his incarceration, and the punishment IN
iicted on prisoners at the Dry Tortugas.-
He mentions that the punishment was t.
load a prisoner with irons, then tie ropl
round his body and throw him into tn
water and let him sink, but before drown
ing to draw him out again. He then give
names and dates to support those asser
i tiOn9