Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-07-01
Prison Life in the Dry Tortugas--
Statement of Edman Spangler.

Prison Life in the Dry Tortugas---
Statement of Edman Spangler.
Edman Spansler, who was tried and SEN
fenced by military commission in May, 1865,
on a charge Of being engaged in the plot to as
sassinate President Lincoln, and pardoned by
President Johnson, has prepared statement,
asserting his innocence Of all knowledge Of the
crime, and detailing the cruelties practiced on
the prisoners before and after conviction
Spangler, II will be recollected, was a scene
shilter at Fords Theatre, and was on the stage
in that capacity when Wilkes Booth shot Mr..
Lincoln, and jumped from the box. He also at
times cared for Booths horse. The evidence
against him was Of the flimsiest character
Nearly everybody believed him innocent, and
the military commission only sentenced him
to six years at the Dry Tortugas, while the
others were sent forl life. Spangler's statement
is sworn and subscribed to, and appears among
the Washington correspondence in the New
York World of Friday. lie says:
have deemed it due to truth to prepare for
publication the following statement-at time
when hope the temper of the people will give
me a patient hearing-of my arrest, trial and
imprisonment, for alleged completely in the
plot to aSsaSsinate the late President Lincoln.
have suffered much, but / solemnly assert
now, as | always have since was arraigned
for trial at the Washington arsenal, that am
entirely innocent of any fore or after knowledge
of the crime which John Wilkes Booth COM
mitted-save what knew in common with
everybody after it took place. / further SOL
emily assert that John Wilkes Booth, or any
other person, Rerer mentioned to me any plot,
or intimation of plot, for the abduction or as
sassiuation of President Lincoln that | did
not know when Booth eaped from the box to
the stage at the theatre that he had shot Mr..
Lincoln: and that did not, IN any way, so
help me God. assist IN his escape and fur
Their declare that am entirely innocent of any
aud all charges made against me in that con-
nection. | never knew either Suratt, Payne
Atzerodt, Arnold, or Harold, or any of the So
called conSpiratorS, nor did ever see any of
them until they appeared IN custody. While
imprisoned with Atzcrodt Payne and Harold,
and after their trial was over, was allowed
few minutes exercise in the prison yard.
heard the three Unite H asserting Mrs.. SuTTafs
entire Innocence, and acknowledge their oica
g,al, con timing DE crime, as they did, entirely
z, fhGulseierS.
The statement then details the particulars of
his arrest which occurred on the 18th Of April,
1865; how he was handcuhed with his arms
behind his back, and conveyed to the navy
yard, where his legs were manacled and pair
Of Lille handouts placed on his wrists. He
was next conveyed to a monitor and thrown
into a small dirty room. Here be was kept for
three days when he Nastod by Captain Mum
roc that the Secretary Of War had ordered
bag to be put on his head, which was DONE
He could then neither see nor eat, but through
a hole cut into the bag near his mouth two
kind-heartcl soldiers took compassion on him.
and while one watched, the other fed him.
These fortunes were continued, until his trial
commenced before the military commission,
aud even then he was carried before that court
with his head baggcd aud his limbs heavily
manaClcd.
THE FIRST TIME SPANGLER SAW MRS sURRATT.
"The first time ever saw Mrs. Surratt was
in the Carroll Prison yard, on Capitol Hill.
did not see her again until we were taken into
court the first day at the arsenal. My cell was
on the same corridor with hers, and | had to
pass it every time | was taken into court.
frequently looked into her cell, small room.
about four fGec wide by seven feet long. The
only things in her cell were an old mattress laid
on the bricks and an army blanket could
see the irons on her fees, as she was generally
lying on the mattress, and was the last one
brought into court. She occupied scat in
the court near the prison door. The seat was
twelve inches high, and the chains between the
irons on her feet were so short that she always
had to be assisted to her seat. She was so
sick at one time that the court was compelled
to adjourn"
The remainder Of the statement is occupied
with his treatment on the Dry TortugaS, and
what he witnessed of the cruel punishment in
lcted on other prisoners, and especially Col
St. George Leger Grenfel. The treatment of
this officer he describes as brutal in the ex-
IRENE, and worse than death, the Colonel fire.
Quently declaring his intention of running any
risk to escape rather than be tortured to
death there" which he finally carried into eff
feet. Spangler says.
Ohe very stormy night Orentel, with lour
Others, escaped in a small boat, and was evil
IDENTIFY drowned near the fort. His escape was
discovered, but the storm was so severe that it
was deemed too dangerous to pursue them, al
though steamer was at the wharf"
Spangler mentions that one punishment was
to load prisoner with irons, then tie rope
around bis body and throw him into the water
and let him sink, hut before drowning TO draw
him out again. lie gives names and dates to
support these assertions.
The statement closes as follows: During
my imprisonment at Fort Jefferson worked
very hard at carpentering and wood ornamen-
tai work making great many fancy boxes,
&c, out Of the peculiar wood found on the add
ncent islands; the greater portion Of this work
was made for officers. BY my industry in that
direction, won some favor in their eyes. |
was released in March Of the present year by
Executive clemency."
RADICAL CONVENTIONAL second radical