The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-25
Special Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette
CoLUBUs, March le.


Special Correspondents Of the Cincinnati Gazette.
CoLUMBUs, March l9
THE ESCAPE or JOIN MORGAN
twill be remembered by the read
ers of the Gazette that at an early day
Of the present session Of the Legisla-
ture, a resolution was adopted by
the House instructing its Committee on
the PeIitentiary to investigate and re
port to that body all the facts pertain
ing to the escape of John Nor
gan and six Of his gang. The COM
mittee promptly entered upon the dis
charge of that duty, which has been a
tedious and laboriOus one, and this
morning the result of its inquiry was
laid before the House III the shape Of a
report consisting Of fourteen pages Of
manuscript, accompanied by the testi-
mony, which covers 'eighty-three pages
OF cap paper.
The following Is the concluding and
most material portion of the report
One of the first objects Of the Com
mittee was TO ascertain in what man
ner the various officers who had charge
of the rebel prisoners, confined in the
Penitentiary had performed their res
pective duties. Beginning with the
warden, every officer OF the Peniten-
tiary and also all the military officers,
were closely examined under oath, a.
will be seen in the testimony accom-
paning this report
Upon a careful examination Of the
testimony, the committee do not feel
justified in rejecting upon the moral
intentions of any one, but it is evident
Lieut. Judkins was guilty Of gross care
lessness and improperly in furnishing
the rebel prisoners with saws, files and
vices; although it Is evident they did not
make use of these tools in effecting
their escape, there can be no doubt it
was for this purpose they wished to OBJ
tain them.
Lieut. Judkins was on Gen. Mason5
staff, and went with him to San Fran
cisco From the 4th to the 2jth of No
vember he appears to have had the care
and disbursement of the funds belong
ing to said prisoners, also the care and
inspection Of all letters, articles and
packages going into or coming from
these prisoners. He had access to them
at all hours in the day He took or
sent packages TO them at his pleasure
He, in fact, seems to have beel the
standing officer of the day for said
prisoners, and in the view of the Commit
tee, it was his duty to have seen that
the cells were not only kept in order,
but closely inspected every day. We
think he must have been destitute of
that sense, discretion and lirmness,
which constitute the good soldier; or
wanting in that moral integrity, with
out which no man can perform true
soldier duty. While we are of the
former opinion, we think he should be
discharged from the military service Of
the United States.
The Committee will here state. in
+ connection with the above, that the
Chairman saw at the headquarters OF
/ Colonel Richardson Camp Chase) four
/ different orders signed by rebel prison
/ ers, on General Mason, requesting him
7 to deliver to Lieut. Judkins sundry ar
( ticles, such as medicines, gutta percha
buttons, wire, vice, files, and two doz-
en- Watchmaker's or diamond saws
Z The saws were on two separate orders
One of these orders was signed by Basil
Duke. On the back Of said orders was
written the names or initials of the
drawers, with different amounts in fig
ures, supposed to be the cost Of the ar
ticles therein ordered
Captain Lamb, in tho absence Of
Colonel Richardson, did not feel authO-
riZed to give copies of these orders,
consequently a subpoena was left com
handing Col Richardson to appear
with said orders at the State House on
the 18th inst. or send certified copies
Of the same, neither Of which orders
has as yet been complied with. The
reason. your Committee are unable to
give.
SAT the time Of the transfer Of the
rebel prisoners to the military authori-
ties which was made on the Sd day Of
November, there appears TO have been
want Of specific understanding, or, 10
say the least, want Of due care and
caution in not committing that under
standing to writing. Ii Is evident, how
ever, that the Warden and Directors
supposed themselves relieved from all
care and responsibility other than keep
ing on the night watch II is also evil
dent that Gen Mason understood that
the said prisoners were, from that day,
10 be under his care and keeping, as on
the following day he sent q United
States surgeon TO take charge of their
rat ons and mail, 10 carry packages 10
and from them, commissioned officer
to take charge Of the guards. He also
appointed q commissioned officer
Lieut. Judkins) to take charge Of their
funds, to inspect at his (Gen. Mason >
headquarters, all letters and packages
going to or coming from the said pris-
oners, and 10 purchase such articles as
the prisoners wanted or were allowed
These packages, as well as their mail
were taken in and out Of the prison
without going through the hands Of the
Warden, and without his knowledge
and in some cases against his express
orders.
in conclusion, your Committee sub
NIT the following propositions deduced
from their examination and investiga-
ton
81 That the rebel prisoners had no
assistance in efiecting their escape
either from the Penitentiary or mill
tary authorities or from any one con-
nocted Herewith. unless the non-exam-
ination Of the cells may be considered
such
- That il was not necessary for them
10 have had any assistance. All they
required was that there be no examina-
ton for sufficient length Of time %
allow them TO perform the neces AIRY Ia
Dor
g. That said escape could not have
been effected had il not been for the
cir. chamber under the cells.
Il That they might have land pro-
badly did) know Of the existence Of
said air chamber by the sound made by
stamping upon the cell floors.
.. That If the cells had been exam
ined IS often, even as once o week, the
escape could not have been effected
70. That there was a neglect Of duty
in not making such examination
a. That this neglect Of duty rests
with the military authorities.
q. That the work Of cutting into the .
air chamber, and tunneling from there .
10 the prison yard, was performed be I.
tween the Sd Of November and the .
time Of escape.
g That from the said Sd TO the 18th .
Of November, the prisoners Of war .
were. to all intents and purposes, under
military authority, with the exception .
Of the night watch For this the War f