Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-08-02

the inquiry without giving them the privilege OF
| a hearing, as the greatest part of our witnesses
were yet unexamined, and their evidence they
| conceived 10 be ofthe utmost importance to the
investigation. No reply was made to this note !;
but, in few moments, we were told, that the
! commissioners had left the depot. How far they
| are justfiable in saying they examined all the ev-
licences that offered themselves, we think is suf
hciently shown
The commissioners next go on to mention the
Insurrection of the prisoners about the bread on
the fourth, two days previous to the events, the
! subject of that inquiry. Although the report
correctly states, the prisoners quietly returned to
their own yards after their demands having been
complied with, vet Mr.. King forgot to mention,
thatit was clearly represented to him, had the
prisoners been so disposed on that night, they
could have easily made their escape. Although
that transaction had nothing to do, as relates to
the prisoners, with the events of the 9th, we
merely represent this circumstance 60 show, that
there was no intention whatever on their part 10
break out Of the prison, as Shorthand and his adj
herents have attempted to prove.
The report now goes on to mention, that on
the evening of the 9th of April, about six O'Clock
IN the evening, hole was made in ore Of the pri-
son walls sufficient for full-sized man to pass,
and others had been commenced but never COM
pieted, and that number ofprisonera were over
the railing erected TO prevent them from com
Will on Tie Walls ana
that they were tearing mp pieces of turf and wan
tonly Peltng each other in a noisy manner.
AS the hole made in the wall we believe the
causes and reasons have been already sufficiently
explained by the afidavits laid before the public
With respect TO the prisoners being between thc
iron pailmg and the wall, could have been, if it
was not, easily explained to Mr. King, had he
given an opportunity. 1t seems, that or the nf-
ternoon of Che 9th, some OF ne prisoners having
obtained leave of the centines on the walls 10 go
over and lay upon the grass others seeing them
laying so much IT their ease, went over to enjoy
the same privilege and as the centnels made no
objection to tins proceeding, tie number was
soon increased to such degree that il became
no longer an enjoyment 60 those who first obtain
cd the privilege some scuff'iag then ensued a.
mc1S themselves, and they began to pelt each
other with turf and old shoes, principally in play.
and among so many, no doubt, there must have
been considerable noise ; but how they can pos
siD'y connect this circumstance with the hole
made in the wall, is entirely out Of my power to
conceive, as the iron railing separated them from
the pretended breach in the wall, and distant
from it more than half the length of the ward OF
course, had the hole been intended as a breach,
the ron pailng would have become barrier in
stead offaclitating the means of an escape.
As to that part of the report which mentions
the guard barracks being the repository for the
arms ofthe guard off duty, and of its standing
in he yard to which the hole in the wall would
serve as a communication, and Of its beng fur
ther cause OF suspicion and alarm to capt. Short.
land 10 one acquainted with the situation Of The
prison, such an idea would be rid culous, but 10
those who are not acquainted with it, it will be
only necessary for US TO mention, that IF the pr.
soners had the intention Of breaking ont through
this passage and had actually got into the bar.
rack yard, the faculties they would then have
10 encounter would bemuch greaterthan TO break
passage through the market square, or the back
part Of tie ward As to the idea of their posses.
sing themselves of the muskets standing in the
racks in the guard barracks (even lfthey knew Of
any being there) IS childish for how easy would
1t have been for the commanding officer, on the
shortest intimat;on of such an at enpt, with one
blast ofhis hugle, to have called all bis guards 10
the spot before hundredtb part of the prisoners
could have got into the yard, and by that means
instantly put stoPto any further proceedings on
| their part.
We cannot conceive how Mr.. z ng can posi-.
| bly, come forward, and say, on the grounds, ii
| aoTeared TO HIM that capt. Shorthand was jusii
| fed in giving the order to sound the alarm bell
when, ifhe found the prisoners were conducting
| themselves improperly, had he sent for the com.
mittec Gas always had been his custom hereto
! fore, when lie had any charge aga ust the prison.
! ers for improper conductl and told than that the
| prisoners were breaking The wall (Which circum.
|
known toone tenth of the prisoners) AID request
| ed them to have represented TO those engaged in
| it the consequence that must nSue IT they pc.
sisted in such conduct, we have not moments
| hesitation in saying, they would have put stop
70 any further proceed ngs Of that kind.
| That part which relates 20 the breaking Of Che
iron chain which fastened No gate, and follows
next in the report, says, there was no evidence 10
show whether it was done before or after the
alarm bell rang. AS this was a material ioint on
which they grounded Shortland's justification
we have to regret that the evidence had 10 lay
before the commissioners, and which would, "
orr opinion have sulicl emily cleared up that point
| was not examined.
ca the ringing Of the alarm bell, the rush to
wards the gates leading into the matket-squart
was so great attracted has been before stated
by curiosity that those IN front we're irresisibly
pushed forward by those in the rear, and IT th,
cham had not broke, the lock must have gver
way to the pressure. | by this opening, IT IS bu
natural 20 suppose, that a number must have beer
showed n!othe square in front Of the soldiers, WHIT
were drawn up in a line across the square, viii
Shorthand at their head.
II, as the report now goes on to state, there
was no direct proof before them Of n prevlOu.
concert or preparation on the part Of the prison
ers, and no evidence Of their intention or DISPOSE
ton TO effect their escape on this occasion, eV
cepting that which arose by inference from th'
whole of the detailed circumstances connected &
gethcr, had Mr.. King exam ned the evidence !
the part of the prisoners, as Tnnutey as it seems