Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-11-27
[l'rom the Pittsburg Penn Post. ]

mcnt Of Released Prisoncrs--.
Extraordinary ExpOsurcs---.
Khey are NOT Allowed Know
OF what Thcy Are Accused.
RELEASED POLITICAL PRISONERS.
A number of ofgentlemcn from the West
passed through our city yesterday, on
their way home, having recently been re.
leased from the Old Capitol Prison,
Washington City, where they have been
confined for nearly three months as State
prisoners. Their names are: Hon. An.
drew d. Duff, of Benton Illinois, Judge
of the Circuit Court in his district, arres
ted while holding Court; Hon. John II.
Mulkcy, Of Cairo, Illinois, Judge of the
Court Of Common Pleas; DR.. Marcus
L. Ross, of Tamarao, Illinois; ID. A.
Mahoney, Esq, of Dubuque, Iowa, editor
of the Dubuque Herald, and D. Sherwood,
Esq, of Fairfield, Iowa, editor Of week.
ly paper there. The two gentlemen last
named have been kept in the Old Capitol
Prison since the 2lst Of August, and the
others since the 5th of September, pre.
vious to which they had been kept for
some time at Cairo.
They were arrested on warrants signed
6y the Secretary of War, but in which
no charge was set forth During the
whole term Of their imprisonment they
vainly endcavored to learn of what they
were accused-but not only did the Assis-
tant Judge Advocate General, the Assis.
tant Secretary of War, and Secretary
Stanton himself, deny their very reason
able request, but actually desired them to
make statements in their own vndication
without a knowledge of their alleged Of
fence. Furthermore, their counsel were
not permitted to see the papers in their
ease and the accusation against them-if
such documents existed They were
twice taken before the Judge Advocate
for hearing, but remanded without any
light thrown upon the case Of their mys-
terious incarceration, or being heard in
their own defense. When, at length.
they were discharged "honcrably," as the
certificates, signed by some subordinate
officer, read, they were required not only
to take the oath of allegiance, but also to
swear that they would not institute, or
cause to be instituted, any suits against
any authorities Of the United States or orI
any loyal State, for their imprisonment.
The fact that some parties in the West
had brought suits for false imprisonment,
delayed their discharge for some time,
as the Judge Advocate said nothing could !
be done until the Secretary of War was
consulted The result of the consulta-
ton was, apparently, the incorporation
of the above new clause in the oath.
When asked to sign this document
some of the prisoners grew indignant,
and refused to take such an oath, but as
some were in failing health, and did not
know how long they might be held in
durance, finally, by a1tice OF their conu-
sci, complied, and were released, but are
yet ignorant of the charges upon which
they were arrested. if any there were.
Their treatment in prison was not bad,
but they were obliged to furnish their
own provisions, and were not permitted
to hold private converse with those visit
ing them-an officer always being pres
ent. Their correspondence was watched,
and it was only by stratagem that they
could communicate with their friends at
home, as their letters were, after being
read, destroyed, returned or confscated.
One Of the guards was imprisoned for al.
lowing some of the prisoners some triHng
liberty. The lives of the prisoners were
constantly endangered by the careless
ness OF the guard in the barracks below,
several balls having cameup into the prs-
oners' apartment, discharged fro m mus.
kets below. Mr.. Mahony exhibited to us his
shawl, perforate by twelve bullet holes;
and ball, which had passed through it
while used by him as pillow, and lodged
in the ceiling above. He charges no in
tentional firing, but gross careessness,
from which the prisoners might at any
moment, lose their lives. They suffered
other serious inconveniencies, and the
health of all was more or less impaired
by their close confinement.
These gentlemen inform us that since
the elections all Of the political prisoners
in the Old Capitol Prison have been dis
.r