Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1884 — Booth’s Confederates. [ARTICLE]

Booth’s Confederates.

Dr. Samuel A. Mudd was the most prominent of the four. He was the one who set Booth’s leg and furnished what was believed to be false information to throw Booth’s pursuers off the trail. Samuel B. Arnold, a wagon-maker, provided certain vehicles that were to be used in carrying out the plot. Edward Spangler, a stage carpenter, bored a hole in the box occupied by President Lincoln, through which Booth could observe the President’s position. Michael O’Laughlin was the youngest of the four, being a mere boy. His exact connection with the conspiracy does not appear, but from certain very conspicuous circumstances he was convicted of complicity. They were all sentenced June 30, 1865, to imprisonment at Dry Tortugas, Mudd and Arnold for life, and Spangler and O’Laughlin for six years. O’Laughlin was made ill by the fright and excitement of his arrest and trial, and never rallied. He died at Port Jefferson, Fla., in September, 1867, two years and three months after being convicted. On Feb. 13, 1869, the President issued an order that his remains be delivered to his mother, and they were brought North and interred. Just before his retirement President Johnson pardoned the rest, Dr. Mudd on the Bth of February, 1869, and Arnold and Spangler on the Ist of March, 1869. President Johnson, in his proclamation of pardon, sets forth the reasons why it was granted. While at Dry Tortugas that part of Florida was visited by the scourge of yellow fever. Dr. Mudd was a successful physician. He had had long experience in treating the disease and had been very successful all through the plague; he was most untiring and efficient m his efforts to relieve the victims of the disease. The post medical officer was stricken and died. Dr. Mudd immediately took charge of the hospital and served faithfully, until the plague had abated. Arnold and Spangler served faithfully as nurses. They worked night and day, and, strangely enough, none of them took the fever. Their conduct during the epidemic was considered as a good and sufficient reason for their pardon. Dr. Mudd returned to his home near Surrattsville, where he resumed his practice, and died a year or two ago. Arnold and Spangler disappeared and have never been heard from since.— Exchange.