The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-04-01
Report of the Penitentiary Committee
on the Escape of John Morgan.


on the Escape of John Morgan.
AT an carly day of tho present scssion of
tho Legislature, y resolution was adopted
by the House, iDstructing its Committee on
the Penitontiary TO investigate and report to
that body all the facts pertaining to the os.
cape OF John Morgan aud six of bis gang.
Tho Committee promptly entered upon the
discharge of that duty, which has beon q
tedious and laborious one, and, on tho 10Th
inst, tho result of It's inquiry was laid before
tho ilouse. in the shape of a report consist.
ing OF fourteen pages Of manuscript. ac.
compancd by tho testimony, which covers
e'ghty-three pages of cap paper.
Tho following is tho conclu uding and most
material portion of the report:
"One of tho first objects of tho Commit.
tee was to ascertain in what manner tho
various officers who had had charge of tho
rebel prisoners, confined in tho Peniteu.
tiary, had performed their respective duties.
beginning with the Warden, overy officer of
tho Poniiontiary aud also all the military off.
GERS, wore closely examined under oath, as
will bo seen 10 tho testimony accompan ing
this report.
upon careful examination of the ties.
timony. tho Committee do not feel justified
in rejecting upon the moral intentions of
any one, but it is evident Lieut.. Judkins
was guilty of gross carelesssuess aud impro.
prioty in furnishing the rebel prisoners with
saws, files and vices although it is evident
they did not make use of these tools in Of
fecting their escape, thero can bo no doubt
it was for this purpose they wished to OBJ
tain them.
Lieut.. Judkins was on Gen, Mason's
staff, and won't with him to San Francisco.
From tho 4th to the 25th of November he
appears to have had tho caro- and disburse.
ment OF the funds belonging to said prison.
crs, also the care and inspection of all let
tcrs, articles and packages going into or
coming from these prisoners. lie had ac-
cess to them at all hours In the day. He
took or sent packages to them at his pleas
ure. He, in fact, seems to have been the
standing officer of the day for said prison.
ers, and, in viow of the Committee, it was
his duty to have seon that tho cells were
not only kept in order, but closely inspected
every day. We think ho must have been
destitute of that sense, discretion and firm
ness. which constitute the good soldier or
wanting in that moral integrity. without
which no man can perform a true soldiers
duty. While we arc of tho former opinion.
wo think he should DO discharged from the
military service Of the United States.
"The Committee will hero state, in
connection with the above, that the
Chairman saw at the headquarters OF
Colopel Richardson Camp Chase) four
different orders signed by rebel prisoners,
on General Mason, requesting him to do.
liver to Lieut.. Judkins sundry nrticles, such
as medicines, gutta percha buttons, wire, a
vice, files, and two dozen watcbmakers' or
diamond saws. The saws were on two sop
arate orders. One of these orders was
signed by Basil Duke. On tho back of said
orders were written the names or initials OF
tho drawers, with different amounts in fig
ures, supposed to DO tho cost of the articles
therein ordered.
"Captain Lamb, in the absence of Colonel
Richardson, did not feel authorized to give
copies of these orders, equently subpe.
ma was left commanding Col. Richardson to
appear with said orders at the State House
on the 18th inst, or sond certified copies OF
the same, neither of which orders has as
yet boen complied with. Tho reason your
Committee are unable to give.
"At tho time the transfer of the rebel
prisoners to the military authorities was
made, on the third day of November, there
appears to have been want of specific un-
derst anding, or, to say the least, want of
due care and caution in not committing
that understanding to writing. 1t is .evi.
dent, however, tha: the Warden and Di-
rec!ors supposed themselves relieved from
all care aud responsibility other than keep
ing on the night watch. 1t is also evident
that Gen. Mason understood that the said
prisoners were from that day, to be under
his care and keeping, as on the following
day he sent United States surgeon to take
charge oftheir sanitary condition, a steward
to tako charge of their ratons and mail, to
carry packages to and from them, COM
missioned officer to take charge of tho
guards. lie also appointed commissioned
officer Qieut. Judkins) to take charge of
their funds, to inspect at bis (Gon. Mason's)
headquarters, all letters and packages going
to or coming frcm the said prisoners, and
to purchase such articles as the prisoners
wanted or were allowed. These packages, ,as
we'll as their mail, were taken.in out of the
prison without going through the hands of
tho Warden, and without his knowledge,
and in some cases agains, his express or
ders.
"In conclusion, yonr Committee submit
tho following propositions deduced from
their examination and investigation.
81. That the rebel prisoners had no as
sistanco in effecting their escape either from
tho Psnitentary or military authorities, or
from any one connected Herewith, unless