The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-11-19
Reasonable Plot I'm Ohio.

A special dispatch from Cincinnati to
the Philadelphia EUening Bulletin contains
the following respecting reasonable plot
discovered there:
ed An extraordinary case OF treason has
recently come to light, duplicating several
persons in .his city, Columbus, Covington
and Newport, in &C Inspiring to release the
prisoners at Camp Chase, and overthrow
the State Government. The conspiracy
was brought to light by U. S. detectives,
who were supposed by the parties impllca-
ted to be spies from the rebel army, and
were treated with full confidence. The
plot, as disclosed to the detectives, was,
that an attack was to be made on Camp
Chase, release the prisoners confined,
$500 in number, to seize the arsenal at
Columbus, take possession OF the penlten-
t1ary, release John Morgan, and other
officers confined there, and then to COM
mence the rebel campaign in Ohio.
United States Marshal Sands and Pro
vost Marshal Major Reaney arrested the
following persons implicated In the plot: !:
Charles W. III. Cathcart, of Columbus,
formerly School Commissioner of Ohio ;
T. D. Cressop, of Columbus, formerly
sutler in the 18th Regulars, who were to
lead in the attack on Camp Chase; James
D. Patton, of Covington, regular agent of
the rebel Government, who furnished the
detectives with money under the impress
sion that they were spies, and, according
to agreement, were to meet Cathcart and
others at Camp Chase, and expected to
mature the p1ep OF attack on Camp Chase !;
Ruth MDonid, of Covington, who acted
as mail carrier through the rebel lines,
and whose home was the headquarters of
the rebels; Samuel Z. Thomas, a merchant
tailor of Cincinnati, and his wife, and
Catharine Parmenter, OF Cincinnati, and a
DIR. Lazelle, who stands high among the
Copperheads. Lazelle was put in the
penitentiary, and the others were brought
in irons to this city, and transferred to the
county Jail.
Mrs. Parmenter, was washerwoman at
the United States barracks in Newport,
and go-between of the prisoners and
outside emmissaries. The detectives
gained her confidence and that of Mrs
MDonald, and became parties to their
plans. They all met frequently at Thom-
ass house. Thomas furnished money to
buy axes and chloroform to release the
prisoners, and furnished disguise to the
detective who travelled between the Colum-
bus and Cincinnati confederates He
visited Columbus frequently, and conferred
with Cathcart and others there, and was
in conference with him wheE arrested.
The plan of release at Camp Chase was
as follows: When the prisoners saw a
beacon light at certain point, they should
be ready. The guard would be shot hv
their outside friends, and axes would be
thrown over to them. Once out, with
axes and arms provided, they were to storm
the penitentiary, release Morgan and the
other officers, and start for the Ohio river
and cross near Maysville. Cathcart was
to 60 along, receiving commission In the
rebel army for his reward.
Cathcart was arrested at Rev. Sabin
Hough's house. Hough is the secession
lst to whom Fallandigham wrote in 1861
that 'sthe Union was hopelessly divided"
Cathcart was from Dayton, and is one of
Vallandigham's particular friends and
admirers.
Wild as was the scheme, there seems to
be abundant evidence that it was to have
been tried week ago, but the plans mis-
carried then. Other arrests are to be |
made. 1t is not known how extensive the |
organization for this Internal business was. |
Information has been obtained that an |
organization exists in Illinois, awaiting
the outbreak in Ohio, to produce similar
results in that State. Other particulars
are known to the authorities, but not yet |
made public.