Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-03-20
THE OIIIO;LEGIsLATURE
summary OF ro.ssrday's Proceeding.


| tSENAlEs
In the Senate ON Saturday there was a
| very slim attendance and the day was de-
| voted to routine business.
/ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
In the House, Mr. Thornhill offered the
| following preamble and resolution, which
were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, 1t has pleased Almighty God
to remove from our midst the Hon. James
Gamble, a member of the Board of Public
Works of the State of Ohio, and. .ex-mem-
Der of the House Of Representatives
Resolrea bv tae General Assemoiy Or The
4 State of Ohio, That there be appointed q
committee Of five on the part OF the House
and three on the part of the Senate, to nc-
company the remains of the deceased to the
town Of Coshocton, In Coshocton county,
for interment.
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Thornhill,
| Putnam. Uhl, Osborne and johnson OF
Athens that committee. The Senate adopt
ed the resolution and appointed Messrs.
Stanton, Mckenzie and -- said COM
| mittee. 3lH8'1 VIZ
Mr.. Bradbury, from the committee on the
Penitentiary, made a voluminous rel 9 t
upon the subject Of the escape Of John
Morgan from the State Prison on the 18th
of November, accompanied by about two
hundred pages of testimony taken by the
committee "A motion to print 5000 copies
Of the report and evidence was laid on the
table for discussion. ~, ~ ). 49,, Iy y,
The committee blame Lieut.. Judkins,
Of Gen. Mason's staff, now in California, for
allowing Morgan and his men tools such as
case knives and d saw, with which they
made their escape, and for this the commit
tee recommend the discharge Of JudkinB.
The committee submit the following COL
clusiens: ~ 4yAv 80
I 1. That the rebel prisoners had no assist
ance in effecting their escape either from
the Penitentiary or military authorities, or
from any one connected Herewith, unless
the non-examination Of the cells may be
considered such. l" w y
2. That it was not necessary for them to
have had any assistance; all they required
was that there be no examination for a SUI
ficient length of time to allow them to per-
form the necessary labor. 'l
3. That said escape could not have been
effected had it not been for the air chamber
under the cells.
4. That they might have known and prob
ably did know of the existence of said cham
ber by the sound made by stamping upon
the cell floors. "'tf
5. That If the cells had been examined as
often, even, as once week, the escape could
not have been effected.
G. That there was neglect of duty in not
making such examination.
z. That this neglect of duty rests with
the military authorities.
s. That the work of cutting Into the air
chamber and tunncling from there to the
prison yard was performed between the 3d
day of November and the time Of escape,
the 2Sth.
o. That from the said Sd to the 2Sth Of
November, the prisoners of war were, to
all intents and purposes, under the control
of the military authorities, with the excep-
ton of the night watch. For this the War
den was responsible.
TO- That in view of the testimony and
all circumstances. bearing on the case, the
State authorities are not responsible for the
escape of John Morgan and his six captains.
IL. That as long as rebel prisoners are.
confined in the Ohio Penitentiary, they
should be under the entire control of the
Warden, subject to the advice and counsel
of the Governor.
The House then transacted some routine
business and devoted the rest of the morn
ing to the antics of the economical members
who wanted to prevent an adjournment -
The gentlemen generally vote against the
adjournment. but are first to leave the
House withouta quorum. The adjournment
finally prevailed, and the House stands ad-
jOurned until Monday.