The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-28

Confinement at the S1PAs"A
PrAson-Life 1t tho Dry TortsSas-
OutraSes ON Prisoners, &c.
Edman spaneler, who was tried and sentenc-
Cd nv a military commission in May, 1855, on
charge of being engaged in the plot to assas-
s;n.te President Lincoln, and who was pardon
ed BY President johnson at the Gloss OF his
administration, has prepared statement, as
serting his innocence Of all knowledge OF the
crime. and detailing the cruelties practiced on
The prisoners before and after conviction.
spaneler, it win be recollected, was scene
Shif;er at Ford's Theatre, and was on the
stage in that capacity when J. Wilkes
Booth shot Mr.. Lincoln and jumped from
fhe box. Es also at times cared tor Booth's
horse. The evidence against him was OF
she flimsiest character. Nearly everybody be-
Beyed him innocent, and the military commits
sion only sentenced HIM to six years at the Dry
Tortugas, while the others were sent for life.
The commission was organized to convict, and
Il convicted. Abundant testimony is now ct
hind to show the vast, amount Of perjury OF
that trial-perjury enacted by fear and dictated
BY malice. spsngler's a]iusion to tbs witness
Heichman being In the abduction plot is i'm
portant. Weichman's testimony, it will be
remembered, hung Mrs. Surratt. The follow
i.s in the abatement sworn and subscribed to !:
.'9'r srArKxENr on EpMAN sPANaIER.
Ib,ye detmedit due to truth to oprepare tor
publes tion the following statepept-at time
When I hope the temper OF the people Will
!. give me 4 paIipnt hearipRAof my arrest, tIlsl
sHs u III to .sss ss;nste the late President
Tncoin. have tufered much, but solemn
y assert now, ss Always nasa shUe .rsan.i We
fsnea M aor sn,,pe. = innocent OF any fore on after
TnG,eooa of the crime which John Wilkes
Roo,h * mmitftd-ssye what knew in com.
mon xith everybody after it took place.
fariher solenly aseert that John Wilkes Booth,
OF sby other refscn, never mentioned to me
apy blot, OF intim 'tion OF plot. tor the adb9c-
Hon on ASS sslnaiion Of Precedent Lincoln;
Hhst did not know when Booth lesped rom
The lex 10 the stsge at the theatre, t6at
Ae-h had ehot-, nr. lincoln; and thst, did
not in any way. 30 help me God, ASSIST IN ms
escape; and ] further declare ihst am entire-
q innocent Of any and. all c9afRes maze maze
either. surntt, PsyIe, AtzeTodt. ArDoid, or
Harold: or any OF the so,caNeo consPustols.
nor did I ever see any OF them until they sp-
feared in custody. While lmprsoe co WIN Az
1eRodt, Payne and Harold, and after t1eir uasI
was over, was allowed few minutes a eaeIc'se @ e
in the prison yard. Iheard me three u'.ste "
asserting Mrs.. StrTdfPs entire Innocence, ana
0cknesnedge Their o,on qsth, conpnsng ts shs
crime, az hey did sntrGy 70 Memseges, 0~
fmpRodting the toitnesa Wetchnon. IN knoMt
edge Of the original plot to a6ductl anu Wlln
furnishing information rom the C9mmissary
Of Prisoners Department "nefe "e''ninsn
x1s ARREsr AID BARbARous TREATMENT.
m,. .t.,a~,.,. than tafaila the spsrticuiars
-'ane stSsemen' '.on uo.e' A.. "a
1f his arrest, which occurred on Inc iotn W
April, 1856. He continues:
rvas .llo yed on the fourth day OF myim-
pfisonment to WAX the prison yard, but from
~ ,,nt;S neSt Ss,mrdsy at midnight. when
~, We nSsln ~ aones ~ e Sn.neier I've sorne
s.,, W. ~. ~, Ha hs, denfed me with INV
Samds +. hind nv hack. and guarding me to q
bsaS s.. n,scsd IN Il and driven to the NAVY
Yard where my lees sass ~ ssI; NY T1;.ts p
;t " ne ~ ho.. Sa. sUd ,pw~ed 10 a nonitor. where
put u poes epN tSHeo ~ 49,, Z ~ !. srneM
rs taken On D3ata U sna 'U"n 1ro vster-cinse,s
IVY tovms S,sh, NE Nnreserv-
and on 70 ,oo 2 IDso u .a;,h h" va1' so,5;srs
EaaTdpg toe G09i: Z - ~. Aups ssareT ea 9hra
me- dsfs. lso Ie.n rs,,s+n Wry,Tna same
e5son lhe Fes.st MSsa IL - sn,,,Sth;ns,
20 ne anG es!G: SpsSSir PIE ranst not Sa S;ohts
tnat m9st Do ,oo. pas syr .1n .r tSa SecrstarS n
Isy ~ Ho' %nst maj he obeyeds To- mt, BAG ON
-aourhesd. d.ssThen tuomen came and lied up my
keId oisecWeIy that 7 could not see dsJhsht.
IH ap,enty q. .food; ;bnt could not eat with my
nee 40 q 1fjed up. .sirue, there was small
hrtS n, ,!itbe bar near ny mouth, but ] could
noEfeash thai. ismy hands we're Redged down
In fha irrn. lsst tYo kind. heayted soldisrs
10ok compae sIon On me, and while one watched
ihe other fed nd Oh Eaturday pight 9 man
came to me. and after drawing the bag so tight
~ 10 nearly sufIocate me, SAID TO the Guard,
sDon't let him 60 to sleep, as We will carry
him out 10 hang him. DIRECTLY" ] heard
tbem on mn nFethA &ecke 6hen there