Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-09-11
The Facts About John Morgan and his
Men In the Ohio Penitentiary--Card
FROM the Chaplain Of the Penitentiary.

l
From the Baltimore American, August 81 1868.
IN your last issue you copy from daily
paper an article In relation to the noted
highway robber aud murderer. John Nor
gan, and the gang confined with him in the
Ohio Penitentiary, in which there are some
errors. 1t may not be matter Of much
consequence to the public to know any FUR
Their Of the status of Morgan, except that
he is in safe custody. in the care of our vig
liant and infexibe warden, n. Merton,
Esq, where he will remain in all security
| till removed BY proper authority.
There are sixty eight Of Morgan's off
GERS IN the p ison / They occupy the
Southside Of new hall, each end of which
is temporarily closed. They are locked up
| separately in cells at seven 0 clock in tue
evening, and are unlocked at about seven
in the morning. They enjoy the privilege
|of walking the hall through the day which
is, perhaps, one hundred and fifty feet long
and twelve feet wide. At eight A. NJ !,
and three P. NJ , they are conducted to
the common dining ball, and have prison
fare, with, / believe, the addition of coffee
and sugar, and some few articles furnished
by themselves
Morgan had no belt filled with gold.
green backs and Confederate notes" His
valuables amounted to twenty three dollars
and a butternut brcastpia. The amount of
our Government and postal currency found
on the persons Of the other officers, was not
large They had considerable sums of
Confederate money
Morgan and his men are all shaved and
trimmed. in accordance with the rules Of
the institution. This is the custom, | sup.
pose, for two reasons; first, to procure per-
sonal cleanliness; second. to give a uni
| form appearance to the prisoners, SO that
detection would be more easy in case Of an
attempt to escape.
They do not intend our chapel services
| The reason is obvious. It would bring a
crowd Of visitors, attracted by curiosity I;
and, besides, our service are too loyal to
suit traitors. All who desire bibles are
supplied from the prison library; by per-
mission ofthe warden, sent down for dis
tribution among them, large number Of
the volumes of the christian Library"
In appearance Morgan looks like man
addicted to worldly pleasure. He is full
six feet high, straight. and well built, out
with an elastic step. and something Of a
commanding presence. His upper lip is
short, and somewhat sunken. SO that bis
front teeth are slightly exposed His com
plexion is sandy, and the hair quite thin
on the top Of his head He looks to be an
ordinary man, intellectually. He has,
however, one Of the qualifications OF good
commander: he knows how to obey /! He
conforms strictly to the rules Of the estab-
4 lishment, and enjoincs obedience on the
part of his fellow prisoners
Col. Cluke is two or three inches taller
than Morgan. very slender. with thin,
sharp face and resolute eye. ] suppose,
from his appearance, he has more dash and
daring than Morgan himself.
BAIL Duke is a small man, firmly bulls
4 aud muscular. His complexion is dark
and his eye and head indicate some mind
and bad heart He is much the most in
telligent looking man Of the crowd
| only speak Of them as they appear.
have no intercourse with any Of them, ex-
cept as have met three or four in the hos
pital. see and talk with them there, as
/ [ do with the other sick
j. L. GROVER
Chaplain 0. P.
COLUMBUS, O., Aug. Is, 1868.