The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-11-08
From the Lowell Advertiser, Oct. 'as.
KnOw-NOthimgs IN COtft-DiselO-
sures Under Oath ENfa


KnOw-NOthings IN COhFt-DiselO-
sures Under OatII ~
At the criminal term ofthe Court or Com
mon Pleas, now being held 10 Lowell, Judgo
Bishop presidingi the following scene was
enacted, yesterday. lFriday.l
The case on trial was the Commonwealth
va Michael Reardoh for rape, Dist. At
'torney Train for government, B. F. Butler
and Daniel Needham for defendant.
II G. Snow, of Groton, having testified
for the Government, Mr.. Butler, on cross
examination, asked him the following ques-
ton. A. : = 4-'1
DoyOu -tsiongto seressociety bOBdldf-
ly called the Know-N Nothihgslc 20 cor ,j-t
/ /, Mr.. Snow having denied that he did, and
stoutiy Persisting in the denial, the question
was put in different form, when he was
finally driven to the wall, and asked leave
of the Court to consult counsel. This lib
erty was politely granted by Judge Bishop
who gave the Jury recess. of ten minutes
on account Of the delay.
- When Bir. Snow again took the stand, the
question was agaih asked, upon which he
promptly replied, 81 cannot answer that
question without eliminating myself, and
subjecting myself to punishment. Again
and again was the Question urged by the in
genious counsel for the defendant, every
time assuming some new form, but bearing
the same fearful visage to this disciple OF
the secret order, until, at last, having de-
tuined the court more than two hours, aud
exhausted everybOdy's patience, he replied,
81 do.n t..s ,Gtf .rir ',''H {
s. Cues. How long rhave,y you belonged to
t! Ans. About four or FIVE months. @.
Is it a secret society! A.. 1t is. @. Did
you take any oath or obligation in joining
that society! A. did take an obligation
q. Was il in the form of an oath! A.
do not know. @. How was it administer
ed to you--did you hold hp your. hand when
1t was administered A. did. @. Did
you call upon God to witness the obligation
A. l think did. $50 help me God" were
the last words @. Are there different de
grees in that society! A There are. @.
How many have you taken! A. Two. @.
Does DR.. Norman Smith "a witness in this
case) belong to that society! A. 1 have
seen him at the meeting. @. Have you
ever seen John A. Gardiner (another wit.
ness) at the meeting of the society. A.
have. Q. Have you ever seen Deacon J
Pingree (another witness) at the meetings
of the society! A. have. @. What is
the form Of initiation! A.. shall not tel
as it will criminate me, and expose me tc
punishment.
Here the Court remarked to the witness
that he had a right to protect himself. If he
had taken an oath contrary to the law he
was not bound to criminate himself. But
said Judge Bishop, this is startling revela'
ton, that men take obligations in secret So
cieties which are regarded by them as O
higher authority than those administered if
this Court.
A. NJ. Gage was then called. He test
fed in frank, humorous manner, that he
once joined the order, but left it some three
months ago. Mr.. Butler called his attcn
ton to an exposition of the oath published
in the Boston Post, of Oct. 25th, which Mr.
Gage seemed to think was about the knt
of oath administered to him, though he die
not remember exactly. From his testirno
ny, we judge he had become disgusted with
the order, and exposed its secrets without
any misgivings. .... ..., ..... ..-,
DR.. Norman Smith called. @. Do you
belong to secret society, opposed to aliens
A. do, to a society which is calculated to
exercise political influence. @. Does i,
not also exercise religious influence! A.
Some think it does. @. Can a Roman
Catholic join that Society! A. Not if he is
foreigner. Q. Can he if he is an Ameri-
can born citizen! A. No. G. Can he he
if his wife is Catholic, and he Protestant
A. No. @. What is the object of the so.
cietv!
The Dr., drawing himself up to his full
height, and extending in statesman like
manner his right arm, replied, with grea,
eloquence, "To protect our liberty, sir!" a,
the same time bringing his right hand, with
great violence, down upon the Judges bench
and making the courthouse echo with the
sound OF his hand, as well as the music o.
his voice. - ........ ... r.' ...
@. What is the form of Initiation anc
what the character of the obligation yol
take! II. cannot tell @. WHY? A
Because have bound myself not to! @
But have you not sworn here before this cour
to tell the whole truth and nothing but the
truth! A. | shall not tell unless an
obliged to.
The court here asked the witness if he
thought by answering he would expose him
self to punishment! to which he answered
yes. ..,-. ..l.,..fl .,,,,.......s- .,t....-
@. Did you assist in getting up the lodgs
at Groton! A. + did, Q. Are you an Of
ficer in the lodge! A.. am. @. Wha
Office do you hold! A. cannot answer
that question without eliminating myselS ano
opposing myself to punishment . ...........
We shall take occasion to allude to this
subject in onr next paper.
The Boston Post says: "This is the frs
time the Know Nothings have been brought
upon the stand and placed their obligations
to the society above their duty to the laws.
A FilIibMstcr Proclamation.