The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-08-05

|of/n5ieri2ti0n, one dollar pr annma paid in ad-
vanee.
From THE WITNESS.
AT meeting of a large pumbrrof republicans
OF the town of LitchfieId and other towns adj
lacent, convened at the Inn of captain John
Phelps, i'll Litchheld, on the 4th day of July,
1906.
OzIAs LEWIS, Amounted e,5ai,-asr.
MOSES SEYMOUR. jun. Clerk.
The meeting having learut with extreme pain
and forrow the very alarming and diftreffing f.
tuation of Mr.. Se'leck Ofborn, editor of the
Wtnefs. now clofcly confined within the walls
OF Litchfeld prifon, and feeling anxious to pro-
cure full and accurate ftatement rcipeeing the
fame
Rstoive9, That John Welch, Jofcph L.
Smith and Seth p Rasrs Err.:-c. =
ed committee, and requefted in behalf of this
meeting, to repair to the prion and learn the
true fituation of MT Cfborn, the fituation of
the prifon, the prifoners confined with him, the
treatment he has received while there, and his
Prefent treatment, aud report the fame tn the
meeting
This meeting adjourned till the 18th of this
month";. =,
July l4h. Met agreeable to adjournment.
The committee appointed 20 yift Litchfield
prton agreeaby to the requrf of this meeting
made the following
sa. REPORT--
That they have waited on Mr. Ofborn. ard
having been admitted to the isil, find that he is
confined IN the fame room with two criminals.
both charged with capital crimes THAT in
this htuation the friends OF MIR. Ofborn are pe
morally denied adnittauce to his room. and can
have intercourfe with him only through a
crate, in the outer wall Of the prifon.
Your committee further report, that faid
roam is formed by heavy, damp and ragged
ftoue walls that it is nearly of a triangular
form, Tone corner cut off by a wide and pro-
jetfing chimney that it IS fifteen feet in lenp,b
twelve in breadth, and even in height That
the only entrance intofsid room, is through a
dark and narrow pafage formed in the wall of
the prifon, andhy wooden partitions without.
That this paf1age is fecured and the circulation
c! SStt;fs'':;y prevented, by three heavy
doors which are kept locked. That the only
aperture for the admifIion of air into fsid room.
is formed lay a'horiZontai crevce in the fouth
wall of the prifoU, which wall is two feet in
thickness, and the creSice but four inches in
width, and between two andthree feet in length ;
that another tmall aperture in the eat wall. n.
penng into the prifoner's neceffary, on that az
count NUT be kept clofed.
Your committee further report. th,, RI. -.
Of this dark aud gloomy dungeon, il extreme,v
impure, fragrant and offenfive, that 70 Iittis
light is admitted, that perfon ON bis fri en-
trance can with difficulty diftnguif, the co,,n.
tenances OF thoie within--that notwithh,nd;n,
dampncfs may at all times be perceived. We,
the air by reafon of its confinement. n fre,,,,.n,
ly 70 heated and exhaufted as to produce an al.
moR fuffocatiDg effect.
! Your committee further report, that N,
health of MIR. Oiborn, is evidently much i'm,
paired, that once fince his imprisonment he ha,
I been tubJeeted TO fevere and dangerous il,neG
| or febrile nature, and at ftveral other time,
I; oy nckneis seis alarming, has been confined tc
} his bed. That the injury to his health bas becr
( caufed by the impure air and damps of his drn
geen, by his ,clofe and rigorous continent an,
| Your committee have every reafon to believe
and they are ierioufly apprehenfive. that CON
i, t'nuance OF the fame courfc of treatment u;l
eventually deitroy his life.
! Your committee in further purf,ance o1 81.
( appointment, have gone into the enou;rv. who
Their the treatment to which Mr.. Ofborn ;s nov,
itunlected, has been the fame from his 6rG i'm
prifonment, and -" ~"
| REPORT
| That at the time of his commitment, he wa
showed 70 examine the feveral apartments If
/ =. t''A"', "'''' 'N'''"nS CbOlCe. OF room thai
a5drances were then given, and at the time he
lhesed to be iincere, that HE Gtustion f,onld =,
rendered as comfortable as the natnr. rs ,h,
cafe would admit. That accord;noI,, ,h,
friends of Mr.. Ofborn bad free accefs =, II
4 tunes to his room, that the doors were much .
the tune LETT open, which caufed toIershIe cir
c1atIon a air /; that he was freonenttv rsr,,;,
I'd to ttand in the outide doorway of liz 49,;
Ion room, where he could receive ffefb air . an,
at fevsral time: was invited, and Al Other tinre
by bis own requef, did go into the bar-roon
adjoining the prifon. 'o''
That lince the 9oth day of Nav. The dooro =
his Dungeon have been kept clofrd. and ,dm;I
hon OF his friends frequently denied.
That on the 27th day of June, AZ .v.r;o,
Mr.. Oisorn being then fick, an unfor,nn..,
young man, maniac, his hands inf embrned !;
tine blood of young lady, was tbruCf ;o,o =;
room This outrage was done by the e5er;,
OF the county; and your COMMITTEES ar. 49,
to lay, IN an apparently contempluous rn.nne,
For Notwithstanding the peculiar and d,cesro,,
character OF this new prifoner, he was tbt,,
into thereon of ick man, and wifho,t -
word being fad, the doors immediateI9 -. On
and barred. IL ~ cIoie
Your committee further te,,ot,- ,h., e..
, gentlemenin the vicinity, having b.en - 49,
Of the alarming fitustior, in yyhist' ~ ',Io n
10y this traniassioa was placed, waited on ~