Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-05-20


There was quite a fare-up among the
"know-No things" of our city yesterday,
growing out Of an alleged attempt of lead
ing dignitary of the order to betray their Sc
crets to Catholic Priest for $4,000. No
blood has yet been shed, and probably none
will be, but it is quite probable that the disc-
pline and power of the order will be shaken
by the expose.-N. Y. Tribune, 1871.
The trouble is as follows:
"a few days since All ANONYMOUS letter, ad.
dressed to Roman Catholic clergymen, APP
peared in the columns of one of the city jour
mails, stating in effect that the author was in
possessio of the secrets Of the Society called
'Know- Nothings,' and fol the sum OF $780,
600, would disclose the secrets of the society
and all the affairs of the Order. This an
nouncement, though coming from an unknown
source, created eonsid rable excitement among
the members OF the Order residing III the city,
and measures were at once instituted to ascer-
tain, if possible. the author of the anonymous
letter. Suspicion finally rested, for some cause
not made public, upon Mr.. John L. Elliott,
Que Of the principal officers of the Order, in
whose possession were the charter and private
papers, and with a view to obtain possess
sion OF these documents, as Is alleged, DR.. ].
w. Sleight, Mr.. Charles b. Allen, and Benz.
f. Morse, repaired, shortly after twelve o clock
on Saturday night last, to the Office of Mr..
Elliott, No. 81 Nassau street, where they were
met by Mr.. Eugene Ferris, who desired to
know their business, when they stated that
they were about going off by the cars, and
wanted a trunk and one or two other things
from the Office These they carried away and
in the morning it was discovered that the doc
uments and papers appertaining to the Order
of " KNOWN othings," together with some
iob
On Tuesday, Mr.. Elliott went before Jus
tide Osborne, and made an affidavit to the eff
feet, that OH the night of the 18th of May,
between the hours of o'clock 2. NJ, and u
o'clock 2. NJ, his office, No. 81 Nassau street,
was burglariously entered by the door being
forced open by three men, who lighted lamp
and then broke open trunk, and took from
it and carried away nearly all its contents,
which consisted of valse, 494 rituals of a
secret organization, 80 copies of its charter on
parchment, packages of printed blanks. the
seal of the Grand Council of the State of n.
York, and six tin cases. In the valse was
| russell leather port monnaie containing private
| papers, $40 bank bill, and eleven So bank
bills He further states in his affidavit, 'that
| he is informed the persons who were seen car
| rying the trunk from the premises, were the
same who had metin his Office the same after
noon, viz: J. w. Sleight, NJ. D., No. AZ Mad
ison street, c. B. Allen, No. West street
and B. F. Morse of Morrislana, n. Y, and
that he believes them guilty of the crime of
burglary, &c. Mr.. Eugene Ferris also made
an affidavit, in which he states that when they
were going away they said all right
warrant for the arrest of the three gen.
tlemen Poove named, was granted by Justice
Osborne, and Messrs. Sleight and Allen were
notified to attend before the magistrate, yes
terday. which they did, and hearing in the
matter, will take place at o clock this after
noon. Officers Webb and Martin, of the low
er Police Court, to whom the warrant was en-
trusted. have been unable. thus far, to meet
with Mr.. Morse. Counsel have been engaged
on both sides, and the investigation will pob-
ably be thorough. Mr. Elliott states that yes
terday morning he received nearly dozen
letters requesting him to leave the city forth
with, and threatening, in case of refusal to do
SO, that his days would be few in this world.
No names were signed to these letters, and
many Of them were in disguised hand Mr..
Elliott, it is said, las armed himself, and is
prepared for almost any emergency