James P Ferguson, witness to the assassination

[Jim Garrett]

Too many Fergusons! In addition, the Maryland Historical Society has a wallpaper fragment from the Presidential Box. Like many of the other pieces of wallpaper in other collections, it is glued to a manila card. On it is written, a statement of provenance and signed by Thomas Fergusen (sp). William Ferguson's family were from Baltimore and had been friends of the Fords and possibly the Booths.er if Thomas and William were related. What make this piece all the more interesting, is that it is in the small collection of documents that belonged to Mary Ann Booth.

[J. Beckert]

Is that testimony in The Evidence?

I don't have that book, Rich. Wm. Ferguson wrote a book in 1930 called I Saw Booth Shoot Lincoln. I don't have that one either. I'm glad Christmas is coming.

[Jim Garrett]

I have Ferguson's book. It's a real quick read. I don't know if it's been re-printed. It's interesting, but like many account written well after the incident, there are some memory differences.

[Rsmyth]

Joe, I will get the book from the Garrett free lending library and let you borrow it.

[J. Beckert]

Thanks, Rich! Most of my collection came from libraries. Always happy to have another!

[Jim Garrett]

Joe, I will get the book from the Garrett free lending library and let you borrow it.

Waaaaiiiiit a minute.................

[RJNorton]

In the link Christine posted it says Ferguson "gave important evidence in regard to & about Edward Spangler."

Does anyone know what Ferguson had on Spangler?

[JB Banning]

In the link Christine posted it says Ferguson "gave important evidence in regard to & about Edward Spangler."

Does anyone know what Ferguson had on Spangler?

Roger,
In a statement that Ferguson gave on April 18th ( The Evidence pages 487-488 ) Ferguson said "Yesterday morning the boy, Sleickman, who works the property there come to me an says "Jim, I want to tell you something and I don't want to tell Mr.Gifford"(he has charge of the theater, the chief carpenter). Said he,"I think it is my duty to tell you". I took him in my house and locked the door after him. He says I was standing in the alley that night when Mr. Booth rode up and called Ned Spangler, the carpenter and said to him , "Now Ned you will give me all the assisstance you can?" and Ned says, "Yes you can depend on that".

This morning he comes to me again and says, "Jim, there is something else I forgot to tell you". I then brought the boy down to Judge Olin and I understand that they have since had Ned arrested. He said a man they call Jake, a carpenter, who says that they were decorating a box with this Ned and Ned remarked,"Well, I hope the d****d old son of a B***h will be killed here tonight," or words to that effect.


Joe

[RJNorton]

Many thanks, Joe!

I admit to being one of those who feel Spangler was unjustly convicted. I wonder if the "help" Spangler was to provide was a reference to holding Booth's horse.

Those who feel Spangler was involved will interpret it differently...that Spangler was either supposed to turn out the gas lamps or help with the escape in some other manner or both.

I have always felt the altercation Spangler had with Ritterspaugh was due to Spangler not knowing (at that moment in time) who the assassin was. Also, years later, Harry Hawk admitted in an interview that he actually said some of the words Ritterspaugh attributed to Spangler.

[Rsmyth]

I have a question about where Spangler lived. I believe the testimony says he was arrested and the 81' length of rope found at his house. Didn't he have a room at Fords? If so, where would that have been?

[RJNorton]

Rich, in my notes I have that Spangler ate his meals at Mrs. Scott's boardinghouse and also had a room there. Ritterspaugh also had a room at Mrs. Scott's. But I think Splangler slept at Ford's. The rope was found in his bag at Mrs. Scott's.

[JB Banning]

Roger,
I think that Ferguson's statement is either a total fabrication or it is the best evidence that Spangler had no idea that Lincoln was going to be assassinated at Ford's. Who is his right mind would say something like that if they knew what Booth was planning.

Joe

[Rsmyth]

Thanks Roger!

[Jim Garrett]

In the link Christine posted it says Ferguson "gave important evidence in regard to & about Edward Spangler."

Does anyone know what Ferguson had on Spangler?

Roger,
In a statement that Ferguson gave on April 18th ( The Evidence pages 487-488 ) Ferguson said "Yesterday morning the boy, Sleickman, who works the property there come to me an says "Jim, I want to tell you something and I don't want to tell Mr.Gifford"(he has charge of the theater, the chief carpenter). Said he,"I think it is my duty to tell you". I took him in my house and locked the door after him. He says I was standing in the alley that night when Mr. Booth rode up and called Ned Spangler, the carpenter and said to him , "Now Ned you will give me all the assisstance you can?" and Ned says, "Yes you can depend on that".

This morning he comes to me again and says, "Jim, there is something else I forgot to tell you". I then brought the boy down to Judge Olin and I understand that they have since had Ned arrested. He said a man they call Jake, a carpenter, who says that they were decorating a box with this Ned and Ned remarked,"Well, I hope the d****d old son of a B***h will be killed here tonight," or words to that effect.


Joe

Interesting quote. I find it very interesting. It sounds like from the quote that Jake Rittenspaugh and our boy Ned were the ones decorating the box. I don't think that either were involved in that activity.