The National tribune., 1885-10-29

assisted Booth in arranging the details Of the
plan On the trial Spangler claimed-and 1T
must be said that this was not fairly disproved-
that he knew nothing of the plot to kill Mr..
Lincoln. He said he had no personal acquaint-
ance with Booth, but the latter told him that
the arrangements he was makng in the theater
were for the production of new play. Know
ing him to be a celebrated actor, he supposed
this to he true. The Commission, however,
deemed the evidence sufficient to convict him
as an accessory, and he was sentenced for six
years
Arnold was an obscure wagon maker living
near Surrattsville. He provided vehicles for the
use of the chief conspirators at different times
when perfecting the plot. He disclaimed any
knowledge of their purpose, but the evidence
against him was strong and he was sentenced
TO confinement for life.
0'Ioughlin was the youngest Of the prison.
erS with the exception of Herold. 1t Is not clear
what part he had in the scheme He was of n
good family. 1t was, and still is, urged by his
friends in his behalf, that he was innocent OF any
share in the crime, but by reason of his assocla-
ton with some of the participants ne was made
the victim of circumstantial evidence, which,
in the opinion of the Commission, justified a
Verde Of guilty. He was sentenced Tor life.
Ali these findings and sentences were ap-
proved by the President, who designated the
DRY T0RTUGAs. FLA,
were sent there early in July, 1863.
O'LoUghlin's health gave way under the
fright and excitement of the trial. He died IN
hospital at Fort jefferson, Fla, in September
1867, after a confinement of a little more than
two years. In February, 1869, the President
ordered that his remains be delivered to his
mother and they were brought to his old home
and buried.
The three other prisoners were pardoned by
proclamation of President johnson, Just before
his retirement-Mudd on Feb s, 1862 and Ar
mold and Spangler March latter three years
and nine months of confinement The official
records show that these pardons, by proclama-
ton Of the President, were full and uncondi-
tional." and 81 for good and sufficient reasons"
The latter will be understood by the following:
In 1865 Florida was scourgcd with yellow
fever. Ii WAS III malignant form and was fatal
to MANY Dr. Mudd had experience years be-
fore in treating this disease. During its con-
tinuance at the Dry Tortugas he was untiring
and efficient in his lahors. Among those who
died was the United States medical officer at
that place. Dr. Mudd took charge of the hos
pitfalls. and ahated none of his efforts until the
plague had disappeared. Arnold and Spangler
volunteered as nurses and served faithfully to
the end. Not one of the three took the fever.
The President rewarded them by full pardon.
Whether or not the hope of release may have
influenced them III their labOrs for the cause OF
humanity, the fact remains that their services
were most valuable and praiseworthy. The
softening influence Of time had scarcely yet
been felt, and there were many who severely
criticised the President for pardoning these
men. But 10 years have passed, and there are
probably few who would now question the leni-
ent official act that set them free.
Dr. Mudd returned to his old home and re-
sumed the practice of his profession He died
about three years ago. Spangler and Arnold
how Iico of
be found.
MEMENTOES OF TIE TRAGEDY.
In the Office of the Judge-Advocate General
of the Army are kept few mementoes of the
great tragedy. They are not publicly eXhlb-
tied, but may be seen by those curiously in
clined, on application. The pistol with which
President Lincoln was shot is a small, old
fashioned Derringer. Its whole length is but
a tritle more than six inches, and the barrel Is
but two and half inches long. The caliber IS
larger than that of similar weapons of the
present day. The bullet taken from the head
of the President is also there. 1t was much
fiattened against the skull, which the doctors
said was of unusual thickness. In a small
glass case are fragments of the fractured skull,
and the silver probe that was used on that &C.
casion.
There is large, villainous double-edged
knife, or dirk that was taken from the person
of Booth The handle is of horn. and the blade
seven inches in length. 1t is of the kind COM
monty spoken of as Bowie" though the lat
ter, strictly speaking, has but one edge. One
side of the blade is neatly ornamented, and
bears the inscription America, the Land of
the Free and the Home Of the Brave; Liberty
and Independence" Booth had this knife IN
his hand when he leaped TO the stage of the
theater shouting "Sic Semper tyrGaniS!" Booths
hat, which was picked up in the Presidents
box is of dark cloth, finely quilted" in
the style much worn at that time. There is
also a very high cavalry boot, reaching nearly
to the hip, that was removed by DR.. Mudd from
the broken limb. At the instep is a slit, 10
inches long, made by Mudd for the purpose of
an examination. In the collection is pine
stick, three feet long and two inches square,
which Booth had provided beforehand, and
used to fasten the door after he entered
THE PRESIDENTS BOX,
that no one might follow him. The stick lay
upon the floor as Mr.. Lincoln was carried out,
and drops of blood fell upon it, the stains of
which are distinctly seen. There are also
light-colored " SLOUGH" hat worn by Payne
when he entered Secretary Stewards room,
which he lost in the struggle, and two eight
shooting Spencer rifles, which were concealed
at tavern in Surrattsville before the murder
for the use of Booth and Herold in their
flight. Their route of attempted escape had
been carefully laid out. Herold took one of
the weapons, but Booth did not, owing to his
suffering condition.
In August, 1864, the country was startled by
a rumor that President Lincoln had died by
poison. That day Booth was guest of the
MciIenry House, Meadville, Pa. With da-
mond he scratched the following upon pane
of glass in one of the windows of his room:
Abe Lincoln
Departed this life
Aug. Is, 1864,
By the effect of poison.
After Mr.. Lincoln's death by the hand Of this
man the pane of glass became an object of in
terest. 1t was taken from the window, for
warded TO Washington by Miss McHenry, and
placed in this collection of relics.
The most interesting article is the pocket
diary, old, worn and stained, taken from Booths
person. All the leaves previous to April IL
the day of the murder-were cut out by Booth.
1t is supposed that these leaves contained the
details of the arrangement of the conspiracy,
and were probably destroyed by him. In the
pocket" of the diary were five photographs of
young women, presumably actresses, small
silver horseshoe charm, and Roman Catholic
medal amulet. Many pages written after
the tragedy, while the murderer was hunted
fugitive, were fully identified by the friends of
Booth as being in his handwriting. Our re-
porter copied the following, which will be read
with interest:
EXTRACTS FROM BOOTHS DIARY.
april il, Friday, the Ides.-Until to-day
nothing was ever thought of sacrificing TO our
country's wrongs. For six months we had
work ed Ia caDture Int pauCa beino almost