Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-11-15

bishop j. rUs.ding, lhu following scruo
. was enacted yesterday O'nd5yD
Tho coso ON trial was The Common
wealth rA Michael Rcardon Tor rape
District Attorney TRIM for government,
'B. T. Hullcro Daniel Nccdham tor de-.
lendant
II. g. Snow, Of Groton, having testified
for the government Mr.. Butler, on cross.
examination, asked himlho following Quos.
ton:
DO you belong to secret society, popu.
larly chilled know.nolhings
Mr.. Snow having denied that he did,
aoatiy PersiSiiag in the denial, the quos.
ton was put in different form, when he
was finally driven to the wall, and asked
leave orlhe court to consult counsel. This
liberty was politely granted by Judge
Bishop, who gave the jury recess Of Ten
minutes on account Of the delay.
When Mr.. Snow again took the stand
the question was again asked upon which
he promptly replied:
| cannot answer that question without
Icriminatting myself and subjecting my
self to punishment.
Again and again was the question urg.
ed by the ingenious counsel for the de-
lendant, every time assuming some new
form, but being the same fearful vsaga to
this disciple Of the secret order, until at
last, having detained the court more than
two hours and exhausted eyeryboly's pa.
uience, he replied, 81 do"
Ques. How long have you belonged
to it?
Ans. About four or five months.
q. lsita secret society?
A. 1t is.
Q. Did you take any oath or obliga.
ton in joining that society,"
A. did take an obligation.
q. Was it in form Of an oath 2
A. do not know.
q. How was it administered TO YOU ::
did YOU hold up your hand when it was
administered.
a. | did.
@. Did yon call upon God to witness
the obligation
A. think did-"So help me God"
were the last words.
Q. Arc there different degrees in that
society,"
A. There are.
Q. How many have you takenl
A. Two.
Q. Does Dr.. Norman Smith "a wit.
ness in this case) belong to that society 2
A. have seen him at the meetings.
Q. Have you ever seen John A. Gard.
ner (anoIher wilness) at the meetings Of
the society
A. have.
Q. Have you ever seen Dea. John
Pingreo (onolheg wilness) at the meetings
.ofthe society!
A. | have.
q. What is the form orthe initiationl
A. Shall moi tell, as it viii criminate
mo and expose me to punishment.
Here the court remarked to the witness
that he had right to protect himself
If he had taken an oath contrary TO law,
he was not bound 20 criminate himself
But, said Judge Bishop, this is u startling
revelation that men take obligations in Sc.
|cret societies which are regarded by them
as OF higher authority than those admins.
tered in this court.
a. NJ. Gage was then called. He tes.
tilted, in frank, humorous manner, that
he once joined The order, but left it some
three months ago. Mr.. Butler called his
attention oan exposition of the oath pub.
Iished in the Boston Post OF October 25,
which MIR, Gage seemed to think was about
the kind Of oath administered 10 him,
though he did not remember exactly
From his testimony we Judged he had be.
come disguised with the order, and ex.
posed lis secrets without any misgiyings.
DR.. Norman Smith called.
q. Do you belong to a secret society
opposed to aliens
A. | do; to society which is calcu.
lated TO exercise a political influence.
q. Does it not also exercise a reli.
gious influenced
A. Some think it does.
Q. Can u Roman Catholic ioin that
society?
A. Not if he is a foreigner.
q 90, kn ;r L., .: 90. a---..-,