Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-03-24
The Escape Of John Morgan.
Report of tbe Investigating
Comnlttee--Miiitary AithOri.
ties Resp0nsible@-CiviI Omcers
lowed 10 have Files saws, SEC.

EkhOmOrAte0--Ffl AL
lowed 10 have Files saws, SC.
Special Correspondence. Of the Cincinnati oszete. 4
COLUMBUS, March 10.
THE ESCAPE OF JOHN MORGAN.
1t will be remembered by the readers of
the Gazette that at an early day OF the pres
ent session of the Legislature, resolution
was adopted by the House instructing ITS
Committee on the Penitentiary to- investi-
gate and report to that body all the facts
| pertaining to the escape OF John Morgan
and six OF bis gang. The ommittee prompt
" entered upon the discharge OF that duty,
which has been tedious aud laborious one,
and this morning the result ofits inquiry
was laid before the House, in the shape OF
a report consisting oftourteen pages OF man
uscript, accompanied by the testimony,
which covers sighty-three pages Of cap pa
per. lt
The following is the concluding and most
material portion OF the report:
''One Of the first objects OF the Commit
tee was to ascertain in what manner the va.
rious officers who had had charge of the reb-
el prisoners, confined in the PeniteutiaIy,
had performed their respective duties. Be
ginning with the warden, every officer OF
the Penitentiary and also all the military
officers were closely examined under oath,
.
az will be seen in the testimony accompany
ing this report. -.'.
: ''Upon careful examination of the testi
J mopy the Cummittee do not feel justified in
rejecting upon the moral intentions OF any
one, but it is evident Lieut.. Judkins was
. guilty Of gross carelessnsss aud Improperly
! 10 furnishing the rebel prisoners with saws,
files and vises; although 1t is evident they
q did not make use of these tools in effecting
their escape, there can be no doubt it was
= for this purpose they wished to obtain them.
$ Lieut.. Judkins was on Gen. Mason's
e staff, aud went with him to San Francisco.
n From the 4th to the 25th OF November he
J, appears to have had the care and disburse
d ment of the funds belonging to said prison
J. ers, also the care and inspection OF all let
o tiers, articles and packages going into or
!. coming from those prisoners. lie had ao'
! cess to them at all hours IN the day. lie
Is took or cent packages TO them ut his pleas
ure He, in fact, seems TO have been the
4. standing officer OF the day for said prisoners,
70 and in the view of the Committee, it was
D. his duty to have seen that the cells were not
n, only kept in order, but closely inspected ev
= cry day. We think he must have been des
es titute OF that sense, discretion and irmness
re which constitute the good soldier; or want
a. ing in that moral integrity, without which
We While We are of the former opinion, WI
think he should be discharged from th'
ne military service of the United States.
Dr. "The Committee will here state, in con
IT. nection with the above, that the Chairman
,e, saw at the headquarters Of Col Richardson
a! Camp Chase) four different orders sgne
at by rebel prisoners, on General Mason, re
I'm oues,ing him to deliver to Lieut.. Judkin
he sundry articles, such as medicines, quit
~. percha buttons, wire, wise, files, and tw
re- dozen watch-makers' or diamosd saws. Th
in saws were on two separate orders: One {
his these orders was signed by Basil Duke. U
an names or initials OF the drawers, with diffe
iI ent amounts in figures, supposed to be th
nd cost of the articles therein ordered.
he Captain Lamb. in the absence of Colon
a Richardson, did not feel authorized to gi,
ose COPIES of these orders, consequently SUI
the pena was left commanding Col Ricbardso
ose to appear with said orders at the Sta
sm House on the 18th inst, or send certihe
dly copies of the same, neither of which orde
the has as yet been complied with. The reasC
APP your Committee are unable to give.
of "A At the time the transfer of the reb
ac prisoners to the military authorities W
,er- made, on the Sd day of November, the
mi appears to have been want OF specific u
r of derstanding, or, to say the least, want
- due care and caution in not commlttingt tn
ion understanding to writing 1T is evider
or however, that the Warden and Direoto
We supposed themselves relieved from all ca
tier and responsibility Other than keeping on Il
lth night watch 1t is also evident that Ge
tho Mason understood that the said prisone
the were, from that day, to be under his ca
ous and keeping, as on the following day he sc
AUS United States surgeon to take charge
- : .l...x II IN -
the charge of their rations and mail, to car
ola packages to and from them, Il commission
officer to take charge of the guards.
nm, also appoin cd commissioned officer Lie,
Ina Judkins) to take charge Of their funds,
a INSPECT at his (Gen. Mason y headquarte
,o,;- all letters and packages going to or CONT
an from the said prisoners and to pnrchi
The such articles as the prisoners wanted or W
d allowed. These packages as well as tn
into mail were taken in and out ot the prls
!, M without going through the hands of
rant -" Warden, aud without his knowledge, and
ne some cases against bis express orders.
arye In conclusion, your Committee subj
and the following propositions deduced fr
, H. their examination and investigation.
, We 81. That the rebel prisoners had no as
most tance in effecting their escape. either fr
the Penitentiary or military authorities
=, from any one contested Herewith, unl
ap'e the uon-examinatiosto the cells may be G
'}nwe sidered such
. be, "2, That il was not necessary for then
ated have had any assistance. All they rcqui
ane was that there DO no examination for 1
rs" 6cient length oil time TO aew them to
iAeu form the necessary labor.
Ui ',3. That said escape could not have u
lind effected had il not beer. for the air cham
hject under the cells.
y--' | .,a IT,. AZ .,,; -ht hova land proba