Lincoln Discussion Symposium
Booth's comments on Spangler ? - Printable Version

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Booth's comments on Spangler ? - John E. - 10-19-2012 05:03 PM

Does anyone recall the source of Booth's sympathetic comments regarding Spangler's arrest ? I'd like to review them. I looked in the Evidence as well as Jones' book but didn't see them. It had to have come from Herold or one of his attorney's or ministers right ?

Thanks in advance,

John

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - John E. - 10-19-2012 10:37 PM

(10-19-2012 05:03 PM)John E. Wrote:  Does anyone recall the source of Booth's sympathetic comments regarding Spangler's arrest ? I'd like to review them. I looked in the Evidence as well as Jones' book but didn't see them. It had to have come from Herold or one of his attorney's or ministers right ?

Thanks in advance,

John

Looks like I'm not the only one. Huh

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - RJNorton - 10-20-2012 04:55 AM

John, are you referring to p. 274 of American Brutus where Mike Kauffman writes, "According to Herold, Booth was horrified by the bloodbath at Seward’s, and he said he was 'very sorry for the sons' though he 'wished to God that Seward was killed.' He was especially pained to hear that he had caused so much trouble for Ford’s employee Ned Spangler."

Apparently Booth said this during the time they were hiding in the pine thicket.

There is no footnote for that paragraph.

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - John E. - 10-20-2012 09:05 AM

(10-20-2012 04:55 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  John, are you referring to p. 274 of American Brutus where Mike Kauffman writes, "According to Herold, Booth was horrified by the bloodbath at Seward’s, and he said he was 'very sorry for the sons' though he 'wished to God that Seward was killed.' He was especially pained to hear that he had caused so much trouble for Ford’s employee Ned Spangler."

Apparently Booth said this during the time they were hiding in the pine thicket.

There is no footnote for that paragraph.

Thanks Roger. Yes, that is the reference to which I am referring. However, I could have sworn that I saw it someplace else as well. I've checked Doster's book but it's not in there either.

Doster has Herold claiming "that old lady (Mrs. Surratt) is as deep in as any of us.". That alone is a pretty remarkable statement.

I also checked the statements of two confederates that were with Willie Jett and they made no mention of Booth's comments.

??

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - John E. - 10-20-2012 10:38 AM

Eureka ! I knew I wasn't crazy. I went back and checked the Evidence book and found the source of Booth's comments.

They are located in Herold's statement toward the end. Page 681. He says he recalled Booth being sorry for the man who held his horse at the Theater. -- I wonder if this was in reference to Spangler or Peanut John ? Its not clear. He did kick the guy after all.

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - J. Beckert - 10-20-2012 01:02 PM

Not only did he kick Peanut, he smashed the butt of his knife off his head. If I remember right, Peanut was napping and held the reigns back when Booth grabbed them, maybe not initially realizing who was grabbing for them.

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - RJNorton - 10-20-2012 01:58 PM

(10-20-2012 10:38 AM)John E. Wrote:  I wonder if this was in reference to Spangler or Peanut John ? Its not clear. He did kick the guy after all.

Did Booth even know that Spangler handed the horse off to Peanut John? Was JWB expecting to see Spangler with the horse when he got to the alley?

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - Jim Garrett - 10-20-2012 03:50 PM

I doubt that knew that Johnny Burroughs was holding the horse. He had handed over the horse to Ned, and unless JWB saw Ned working in the theater while he was surveying the situation. William Ferguson refers to Neds high pitched voice. Ferguson also states that JWB had visited with John Mathews when he rented the back bedroom in the Petersen house. I think Ferguson also refers to Johnny Burroughs as a bit of a dull bulb.

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - John E. - 10-20-2012 06:19 PM

(10-20-2012 01:58 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  
(10-20-2012 10:38 AM)John E. Wrote:  I wonder if this was in reference to Spangler or Peanut John ? Its not clear. He did kick the guy after all.

Did Booth even know that Spangler handed the horse off to Peanut John? Was JWB expecting to see Spangler with the horse when he got to the alley?


I suspect he didn't know until he ran out of the theater. Upon further review, I'm certain he was referring to Spangler. Before Herold made his comments regarding Booth's sympathy for the man who held his horse, he was asked about the Carpenter.

I'll see if I can cross reference the dates Booth and Herold were in the Pine Thickets with the newspaper accounts of suspects being arrested.

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - Craig Hipkins - 10-26-2012 09:54 PM

I can imagine that it was quite a surprise when Booth bolted out the back door and saw Peanut Burroughs holding his horse. Imagine how history could have changed if Spangler had tied the horse to a hitching rail rather than pass it off to Peanut. Would this have given Major Stewart the time to have possibly stopped Booth? We will never know, but it is tantalizing to speculate. Also, Does anyone know if there was a hitching rail in the alley in back of Ford's?

Craig

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - BettyO - 10-27-2012 07:30 AM

I've never seen a period photo of the rear of Ford's Theatre and Baptist Alley - but engravings in both Harpers and Frank Leslie's show what appears to be an anvil or bollard in the back - both of which could be utilized to tie a horse; which makes me wonder therefore since two separate sketch artists for two separate papers drew these images if there wasn't something of the sort actually there!

[Image: 87136405.jpg]

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Frank Leslie's

[Image: sflightfromfords.jpg]

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Harper's


RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - Gene C - 10-27-2012 08:31 AM

There is a photo of Baptist Alley in "Looking For Lincoln" on p44

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - BettyO - 10-27-2012 02:27 PM

I, believe it or not, don't have that book -- is it a period (circa 1865-1890s) photo, Gene?

RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - RJNorton - 10-27-2012 02:50 PM

Betty, I made a scan of it. No date is given.

[Image: baptistalley.jpg]


RE: Booth's comments on Spangler ? - Jim Garrett - 10-27-2012 03:48 PM

Looks like there are power lines in the picture. I'm not sure, but I thought the windows were put in after the collapse in 1893.