Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-05-27
KNOW NOTHING EXCITEMENT.

| sKnow No,hng' affair before them. lhe
Times gives the following report Of =
Yesterday morning, the Lower Police
Office was the scene Of an affair in which
some members of this secret organization
were involved in difficulty. A member,
whose fidelity was soon after suspected, was
admitted TO The ''Order" no, long since, and
close watch kept npon his movements.
few weeks ago, letter was published in the
Courier and Enquirer, which purporied 10 be
written by one Elliott, member of the Ma
tive American organiza iion. II was address
sed 10 a Roman Catholic priest, and announ-'
ced The wish of the writer TO divulge all the
''secre,s" of the OIder, and TO make full
exposure Of the system. The consideration
named for this act was ten thousand dollars
person Of the same name was secretary oi
the order he was believed 10 be the lndi
vidual who addressed this letter to the priesp
and arrangements are said 10 have been made
TO secure the constitution aud bylaws which
were in his possession.
Nothing more was heard of the matter,
until man named James Elliott appeared
before Justice Osborne at the Tombs, and
preferred charge against three members Of
the Order accusing them of stealing leather
trunk from his office, al No 81 Nassau street.
In his affidavit he seis forth that The trunk
contained 492 copies of the bylaws of the
Order, besides other papers, and consider.
able amuunt of mon.y. The complainant
assured the magistrate that he could bring "a
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 that afternoon
bnt being responsible persons, the Court al
lowed them TO 90.
Yesterday the prosecutor again came into
Court, and informed The Justice that his life
was in danger II seems he had received
package of anonymous letters, written in
different styles, which were of a character
calculated TO shock his nerves. Ore Of The
letters went on TO say :-TYou are an inia-
nous traitor; depend upon it your course is
known for it, you will yet suffer death !"
In rather a milder tone the document then
reads Tins: "You Of course remember the
sudden disappearance of Morgan who dis
| closed the secrets of the Masonic Oder, aud
was thrown over the Falls of Niagara. Now
| look out Tor yourself, as your fate is sealed,
and with yon il will be the same as regards
| the cry of Where is Morganrn u Again, the
recipient is warned ''To make himself scarce
from the city before Friday night, as he will
die if he fails TO take his flight"
From another letter we ,uoie The follow
ing: "four coffin is ready, so beware and
benefit by the timely warning given yon.-
On the afternoon of The night ,ha, you will
receivesihe death blow, ] will converse with
you as usual, and nothing whatever will ex-
cite your suspicion. Do take caution, else
your wife aud children Will be faherless
Tor no man who acts the traitor in secret
organization, can or ought to live in a ciyili-
zed community" s.3
The language above quoted Is the sub
stance OF all the letters exhibited TO The
Court, but strong doubts seem 10 exist wheh-
er they were written with base intent. The
affair will perhaps lead TO disclosures" more
authentic