New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-02

| Lowell Adr-tiser that some Of the secrets of tss
hncw Scthings have yielded to the authority Of Q
Al the criminal ns1a term Of the Court Of Comnoo
Pless, nov oelng heid N Lowell Bishop J. prssidinv
the followl~g scene was enacted ysstsrS., 1Er;ds.
The case on us.l was Toe Conms,ws.,IA >. ~
chae Reardon for rapA District Aiforpsv 7rn;, A.
Government; b. +. Butler and Daniel Nsedhan fof
defendant.
II C. Snow of Groton having testified for ne Gov
errnept Mr. Butler on cross examination asks.f
him the following question; =.
"Do YOU belong TO secret society popularity called
Mr.. Snow having denied that be did. and ssorffs
rsisfing in the denial the question was put IN di
ferent form, when he finally driven TO the Val,
and asked leave OF the Court to consult coasssa.
This liberty was politely granted by Judge Bishop.
who gave the Jury a recess Of ten minutes on &c
sount OF the delay.
When Mr.. Snow again took the stand the question:
"a again asked, upon which he promptly replied,
" l cannot answer that question without orminsnng
myself and suhjectipg myself 60 punishment
again and again was the question urged by the IN
senous counsel for the defendant every time sssun
rg new FORM that being the featful vissye 10
this disciple Of the secret order until at last. having
detSned the Court more than two hocrs and exhauss
ca svery hodys patience he replied, Il do"
vues How long have You belonged to III Ans.
Ahent four or five months. o. Is it secre, society,"
\. " is. Y. Did you take any oath, obligation In
i u M that society A did take an obligation. z.
" rs IL m the form OF an oath3 a. DO not know. q.
How VS. it administered to you-did you hold sp
your hand when it was sdmisteredi A. I did. O.
Did you call upon God 10 witness the oblgstionf A.
think did; a" SO help ME God the last words.
Q. Are there different degrees in that society A.
There are. z. How many have You taken A. I've.
O. Does DIR. Norman Smith Ia witness in this oases
beleng TO that sscetyl A. l have seen him at The
meetings.. Q Have you ever seen John A. Gsrdnsc
tanosher wtnees at the meetings OF the society," A.
have. O. Have YOU ever seen Dea John Pnyrca
another vitness) at the meetings Of the society, A
have. O. What is the form of initiation A. Z
shall net tell it will crminate me and expose ms 10
Judgment.
Herr the Court remark 81 to the witness that he hal
a right TO protect himself II he had taken oath
contrary to the law be was not bound 10 criminata
hin self. Bat, said Judge Bishop this is startling
revelation, thatmen take obligations in secret socie
tier which are regarded by them OF higher authority
than those administered IN this Court
A. NJ. Gage was then called He testified in frank,
humorous manner that he once joined the order, bse
left three months ago. Mr.. Butler called his
attention to an exposition Of the oath published in
The Boston Post Of Oct. IS, which Mr.. Gage seemed
to think about the kind OF an oath administered
to him. though he did not remember exactly From
his testimony we Judge he had become disgusted with
the Order and exposed its secrets without any mis-
givings.
Dr. Norman Smith called-Q. Do you belong to Q
secret society opposed 10 Aliens A. do; 10 go
cety which is calculated to exercise political inhu-
ence. .. Does it also exert religious nhuencet
A. Some think it does. q. Can Roman Catholic
Join that society A. Not Il heis foreigner Z.
Can he IL he is an American. born citizen A. No.
O. Can he IL his wife is Catholic and he Protest.
anti A. No. Q. What is the object Of the society,"
The doctor drawing himself up 10 his full hight and
extending in statesman like manner his right arm.
replied with great elcquence "To protect our liberty,
"sr! at the same time bringing his right hand with
great violence down upon the judges bench. sna
making the court echo with the sound OF bis hand a.
well as the music of his voice.
o. What is the form OF initiation. and what the
character Of the obligation you takel A. | CANNOT
tell Q. Why A. Because have bound mysen
not Q. But have You not sworn here before thn
court TO tell the whole truth and nothing bat IN
TRUTH A. | shall not tell unless am obliged TO.
The court here asked the witness II he thought %
answering he would expose himself to panshments
To which he answered, yes.
O. Did you assist in getting up the lodge at Grcton
A. did. @ Are you an officer in the lodgei A.
am. Q. What Office do you holdi A. l cannot sn-
swer that question without eliminating myself and
eIpossng myself 10 punishment.