Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-07-02
Prison Like in the Dry TOrtugas-State-
ment OF Edman Spangler.

Edman Spangler, who was tried and
sentenced by military commission in
May, 1865, on a charge of being engaged
in the plot to assassinate President Lin
coin, and pardoned by President Johnson,
has prepared a statement, asserting his in
nocence of ali knowledge of the crime,
and detailing the cruelties practiced on
the prisoners before and after conviction.
Spangler, it will be recolIected, was
scene shifter at Ford's 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 fimsiest 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 for life. Spangler's state
ment is sworn and subscribed to, and ap-
pears among the Washington correspon-
dence in the New York World of yesterday.
He 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 patient hearing-of
my arrest, trial and imprisonment, for al
legged completely in the plot to assassinate
the late President Lincoln. I have
suffered much, but I solemnly as
sert now, as I always have since I was ar
raigned for trial at the Washing
ton arsenal, that l am entirely in
nocent 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. I further
solemnly assert that John Wilkes Booth,
or any other person, aaever mentioned to
me any plot, or intimation of plot, for
the abduction or assassination OF Presi-
dent Lincoln that did not know when
Booth leaped 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 further
declare, that I am entirely innocent of any
and all charges made against me in that
connection. / never knew either Surratt.
Payne, Atzerodt, Arnold or Harold, or
any CT the so-calIed conspirators, nor did
l ever see any of them until they ap-
pcared in custody. While imprisoned with
Atzerodt, Payne and Harold, and after
their trial was over, was allowed few
minutes exercise in the prison yard. I
heard the three unite in asserting Mrs.
Surratt's entire innocence, and acknowl-
edging their own guilt, confning the crime,
as they did, entirely to themselves.
The statement then details the particu-
lars of his arrest, which occurred On the
18th of April, 1865 how he was handcuffed
with his arms behind his back and con-
veyed to the navy yard, where his legs
were manacled and pair of Lille hand
cuffs placed on his wrists. He was next
conveyed to a monitor and thrown into a
small dirty room. Here he was kept for
three days, when he was told by Captain
Munroe 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
nearshis month two kind hearted soldiers
took compassion on him, and while one
watched, the other fed him. These tor
lures were continued until his trial com
menced before the military commission,
and even then he was carried before that
court with his head bagged and his limbs
heavily manacled.
THE FIRST TIME sPANGLER SAW MRS. sURRArT.
The first time L ever saw Mrs. Surratt
We in tho Carroll Prison yard, on Capitol
Hill. did not see her again until we were
taken into court the first day at the arse
nal. My cell was on the same corridor
with hers, and had to pass it every time
walked into court. / frequently looked
into her cell, a small room about four feet
wide by seven feet long. The only things
in her cell were an old mattress LAID on the
bricks and an army blanket. I could see
the irons on her feet, as she was generally
lying on the mattress, and was the last one
brought into court. She occupied seat
in the court near the prison door. The
seat was twelve inches high, and the chain
between the irons on her feet were SO short
that she always had to be assisted to hel
seat. She was so sick at one time that the
court was compelled to adjourn.
I The remainder of the statement is occu
| pied with his treatment on the Dry Tor