The Spangler Connection

[Craig Hipkins]

Hello folks, I am about half way through Tom Bogar's book Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination. A great read! While I have been reading it a question has come up regarding Spangler's involvement. Although this has almost certainly been talked about before I would like to hear peoples thoughts on the hole that was bored through the door of Lincoln's box.

In Backstage on page 98 it talks about stagehand Jacob Rittersbach seeing a man standing in the dress circle smoking a cigar. When Rittersbach pointed this out to Spangler he was told to let it go. This would have been a perfect time for someone to tamper with the door as most of the stagehands and actors had gone to supper. I wonder if it is possible that Spangler (a carpenter) could have bored the peephole and cut the groove for the wedge Booth later used to block the door? Perhaps Booth was merely checking on Spangler's handiwork? I would think that it would have taken a considerable amount of time to do this during the day, especially not knowing who might walk in.

Didn't Spangler often times sleep at the theatre?

Just something that has aroused my curiosity

Craig