Abraham Lincoln - American Memory

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of which could be readily inserted in the mortise and the other
pressed against the edge of the door on the inside so as to prevent its
being opened. Spangler had the skill and the opportunity to do that
work and all the additional work which was done.
It is in evidence that the screws in "the keepers" to the locks
on each of the inner doors of the box occupied by the President were
drawn. The attempt has been made, on behalf of the prisoner, to
show that this was done some time before, accidentally, and with no
bad design, and had not been repaired by reason of inadvertence;
but that attempt has utterly failed, because the testimony adduced
for that purpose relates exclusively to but one of the two inner doors,
while the fact is, that the screws were drawn in both, and the addi-
tional precaution taken to cut a small hole through one of these doors
through which the party approaching and while in the private pas-
sage would be enabled to look into the box and examine the exact
posture of the President before entering. It was also deemed essen-
tial, in the execution of this plot, that some one should watch at the
outer door, in the rear of the theatre, by which alone the assassin
could hope for escape. It was for this work Booth sought to employ
Chester in January, offering $3,000 down of the money of his em-
ployers, and the assurance that he should never want. What Ches-
ter refused to do Spangler undertook and promised to do. When
Booth brought his horse to the rear door of the theatre, on the even-
ing of the murder, he called for Spangler, who went to him, when
Booth was heard to say to him, "Ned, you'll help me all you can,
won't you." To which Spangler replied, "Oh, yes."
When Booth made his escape, it is testified by Colonel Stewart,
who pursued him across the stage and out through the same door,
that as he approached it some one slammed it shut. Ritterspaugh,
who was standing behind the scenes when Booth fired the pistol and
fled, saw Booth run down the passage toward the back door,and pur-
sued him; but Booth drew his knife upon him and passed out, slam-
ming the door after him. Ritterspaugh opened it and went through,
leaving it open behind him, leaving Spangler inside, and in a position
from which he readily could have reached the door. Ritterspaugh
also states that very quickly after he had passed through this door he
was followed by a large man, the first who followed him, and who
was, doubtless, Colonel Stewart. Stewart is very positive that he
saw this door slammed; that he himself was constrained to open it,
and had some difficulty in opening it. He also testifies that as he ap-
proached the door a man stood near enough to have thrown it to with