Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-03-03
news from Columbus.

Daring Rebel Plot Frustrated- The Nor
gan Trnoners in the Pepitentidrg Ptdn-
ming 10 XII Their Guards and Escdpe on
iSunddp-D Detoils Of The Conspiracy and
It's FMtue-J Important Legal Points TO
Come Before the Supreme Court. ~.
Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette.
,,... "A. itsi CoLUNBUs, February %.
A few days since Basil Duke, who has
been at Camp Chase on parol tor the past
two or three weeks, expressed,a a desire to be
taken buck to the Penitentiary. He urged
this with SO much persistency as to lead
Governor Brough and General Heintzelman
to suspect that he had some other object in
view, than simply return to his old quar-
ters in the prison. Precautionary measures
we're Immediately adopted, aud the Cover
nor very soon had the satisfaction of know
ing that his plans were successful. They
unmaskcd deep laid scheme, on the part
of the rebel prisoners, to attemptan escape.
The rebels plan was briefly to overpower
the guard when they were in the hall, as
they have been permitted to be, and force
their way through at whatever cost. They
had armed themselves with knives, which
they had stolen from the bes from time to
time, and sharpened for the work. These
knives have stout blades, four or 6ve inches
long, thick backs and heavy wood handles,
and when ground down to sharp point and
edge, as these were, make ugly and formid-
able, weapons. They had provided them
selves with files, one Of which was ground
so as to serve as q screw-driyer, and one of
the men had nearly completed wooden
key, which could be used, if necessary but
their plans were for a short and bloody work.
Yesterday was the day set apart for the
attempt, but to the surprise of the prisoners
they. we're not permitted their usual free
dom. At breakfast they were taken to and
from their cells NTH double guard. In the
afternoon they were taken out singly and
searched in the presence Of the Warden and
Governor. All bore the search with toler
able composure except one of the Morgan
brothers, who lost his temper The guard.
observing that Morgan stood lightly upon
one foot suddenly jerked it up and pulled
off the boot, when out dropped file. This
caused the Kentucky horse-thief to indulge
in profane language. The knives which
were thus collected are preserved by the
Warden as trophies 1t is not proper to
state how the rebels came into possession OF
some of the tools, nor how their plot was
discovered and frustrated. The result is,
that hereafter they will be more closely
watched than before. Governor Brough
has ordered that the ordinary prisoners be
removed entirely from the west wing of the
building, and the rebels placed in posses
sion. -.tf., ....,..I ..........,.
The rebels sharpened the knives by rub
bing them between the stones in their cells.
Hereafter their meals will be served them
there, and they will not see anybody but
thsir guards. As rising among the pris-
oners at Camp Chase was also in the pro-
gramme, General Heintzelmen stationed q
double guard there last night. ,c.... r...
l,o Governor Brough received dispatch
from Judge Bowen, of Marion, to-day, le-
questing him not to issue commissions to
the Corperhead officers claiming election in
Wyandotte county, as exceptions had been
taken to the decision OF the Common Pleas
Court in all the cases, which are to be heard
on, error before the Supreme Court. This
is very important, as the Copperhead Judge
Of that county decided the soldiers voting
law Unconstitutional aud his political friends
entitled to the offices. The bringing the
question before the Supreme Court will
compel that body to decide at once on the
eonstitutionality of that law. Their decis
ion will ofcourse end litigation in other Ca
ses ..