The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-11-15
Have we a Secret Political Soei-
ETY. amongst usi

ety amongst 1sf
Notwithstanding the evidence found in
the result of lie recent elections, many per-
sons are aow 10 believe that shese results
have been productivity an organized seere,
political society. For the benefit of such,
says the S,eubenville Union, we copy belov
the report ofa scene which occurred recent.
y in a Massachusetts, conrt. Respectable
men, u'Gsr oaih. sestify that such secret
political society does s<ist, and that it has its
officers and members who are sworn hy an
oaIh which they regard as Of "a more bind
lng and solemn nature than those admins
tered in our courts Of justice. 0 pr serve
is secrets and carry cut its objects. It
ilso has At least two degrees. This much
is sworn to, and is apparent, on trid,in a
criminal case, by unimPeached Witnesses,
and must therefore be taken MS absolutely
true. The report is seopied from the Lowell
(Mtss } Advertiser of October 90:
AT the criminal term Of the Court OF
Common Pleas, now being held in lowell,
Judge Bishop presiding, :he following scene
was enacted, yesterday, { Friday.
The case on trial was the Commonwealth
vs.. Michael Reardon for rape. Dist. Attor-
ney 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 quys.
ton:
0oyou belong to secret society popu,
lary known as the Know Nothinys?
Mr. Sno" having denied that he did, and
soutly persistiag in the denial, the ques,
ton was put in different form, when he
was finally driven to the wall. anl asked OF
the Court 10 consult counsel. This liberty
was politically granted by Judge Bishop
who gave The jury recess Of ten minutes
on account ofthe delay.
| Vixen Mr.. Snow again took the stand, the
question WAS again asked, upon which he
promptly replied. Il cannot answer that
question without eliminating myself and
'uHj citing mysefto to punishment" Again
and again WAS the question urged by the
ingenious counsel for The defendant, every
time assuming some new form. but hearing
the same fearful vsage to this disciple of the
secret order. until. at least, having detained
the court more than two hours, and exhaus
ted every body's 'patiences, he replied; a
Ido."
Ques. How long have you belonged tc
il? Ans. About four or five months. @
Is it a secret society? A. Il is. g. Did
you take any cath or obligation 10 joining
that society? A / did take an obligation
@. Was it ir the form Of an oath? A.
do not know. Q How was it administered
to you-Lid you hold up your hand when
| it was administered? A. did, @. Die
you call upon God to witness the obligation
A l think did 80 help me God wer,
the last words @. Are there different De
srrss in that society? A. There are. Q
How many have you taken? A. Two. @
Does DR., Norman Smith, witness in TIL
case, belong 10 that society? A. l hay
se,n him At the meetings. Q. Have yol
ever seen John A. Grdner (another wit
messy at the meetings Of the society! A.
have. g. Have you ever seen Deacon Johl
Pingree another witness at the meeting.
Of the s'ciety? A. ! have. O. What il
the form Of initiation? a shall not tell
As it viii crmipAte ne. aud expose me t
punishment.
Here the court remarked TO the wtnSS
that he had a right to protect himself.
he had taken Rn oath contrary 10 the law Ii,
was not bound to crminate himself But
said Judge BiShop. this is a startling reve
lation that men take obligation in secret so
cieties which are regarded by them ms o
i9gher authority than those administered ii
| thiv Court. @ f f H #ss
A. NJ Gage was then called. lie testi
| fed in frank humorous manner, that hi
once joinea the order, but left ii some thre,
months ago. MIR Butler called his atten
ton TO an exposition Of the oa:h published
in the Boston Post Of October 25, which
Mr.. Gage seemed to think was about tht
kind OF an oath administered ID him thourI
he did not remember exactly; Fromhi.
testimony. We judged he had become dis
gusted with the order and exposed its 81
crets without any misgivings. a4st1.t
Dr. Norman Smith called DO yot
belong to a secret society, opposed to aliens
do, to a society which Is calculated u er
ercise political influence @ Does il alst
exercise y religions influence? Al Som,
think It does O. Can. Roman Catholi,
join that society? A. Not il he is foreign
en-. @. Can he II he is an American borr
citizen? AsaNo. O. Can heaif his wife |.
acatholic aud he aprolestant? A.. mo. q
What is the object Of Tie society? g 5a4s
The DR., drawing hih,self up to his full
height, and extending IN u statesman nix,
| i B. y b