Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-19
EXCITEMENT IN NEW YORK-TROUBLE
AMONG THE KNOW NOTHINGs.

We copy the following from the New
York Times Of yesterday morning as an
item of news:
The order of know Nothings" is
likely to achieve notoriety. Yesterday
morning, the Lower Police Office was the
scene of an ARRAY in which some men,
bers OF this secret organization were in
volved in difficulty. A member, whose
fidelity was soon after suspected, was
admitted to the 'Order" not long since,
and close watch kept upon his move
ments. A few weeks ago, a letter was
published in the Courier and Enqui-
rer, which purported to be written by
one Elliott, a member of the Native
American organization. 1t was addressed
to a Roman Catholic priest, and announced
the wish of the writer to divulge all the
''secrets" of the Order, and to make
full exposure of the system. The con-
SideratiOn named for this act was ten
thousand dollars. A person of the same
name was secretary of the order; he was
believed to be the individual who address,
ed this letter to the priest, and arrange
ments are said to have been made to Sc
cure the cOnSIlIatIUn oud byo low. --h;oh
were in his possession.
Nothing more was heard of the matter,
until man named James Elliott an.
peared before Justice Osborne at the
Tombs, and preferred charge against
three members of the Order, accusing
them of stealing leather trunk from
his office, at No. 81 Nassau street. In
his affidavit he sets forth that the trunk
contained 1872 copies of the bylaws of
the Order, besides other papers, and q
considerable amount of money. The
complainant assured the Magistrate that
he could bring witness who saw the
defendants carry the trunk out of the
building. A warrant was then issued
for their arrest, and was placed in the
hands of officer Webb, who took them
into custody in the course of the after
noon; bua0eing responsible persons, the
Court allowed them to 20.
Yesterday, the prosecutor again came
into court, and informed the Justice that
his life was in danger. 1t seems he had
received package of anonymous letters,
written in different styles, which were of
character calculated to shock his nerves.
One OF the letters went on to say You
are an infamous traitor; depend upon it
your course is known; for it, you will
yet suffer death ~ In rather a milder
tone the document then reads thus: .syou
OF course remember the sudden disap-
pearance OF Morgan who disclosed the
secrets OF the Masonic Order, and was
thrown over the Falls of Niagara. Now
look to yourself, as your fate is sealed,
and with you it will be the same as re.
CARDS the cry of Where is Morgan ?''
Again, the recipient is warned ''To make
himself scarce from the city before Friday
night, as he well die if he fails to take
his flight"
From another letter we quote the fol-
lowing: g Your coffin is ready, so beware
and benefit by the timely warning given
you. On the afternoon of the night that
you will receive the death blow, will
converse with you as usual, and nothing
whatever will excite your suspicion. Do
take caution, else your wife and children
will be fathcrless; for no man who acts
the traitor in a secret organization, can
or ought to live, III a civilized commu-
MY.
The language above quoted is the s,lt-
stance of all the letters exhibited 10 the
court, but strong doubts seem TO exist
whether they were written with base in
tent The affair will perhaps lead to
disclosures" more authentic. The in