Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-19
The TrIal of pr. ChrI.lInn.


uNEUDbu uhlu0 Euu HOllulbENhu AuAAAhhs
| couldn't hear all the words, but could hear
Court propose TO Kepler to go into q society
10 put down mobs. He said they were talk
ing of tearing down the printing office and
putting down Democratic papers. Court
asked him if he didn't want TO 90 into
such an order. Court said that thore was no
harm in IL; it was constitutional. Kepler
said he would say nothing about it, but could
sec no harm in the organization. | didn't
SEQ any paper shown by Court; was NOM
bor of the society at the time; had been so
for two or three weeks ] was initiated by
DR.. Christian | have seen the printed slips;
knew nothing only what is called the first
obligation; l don't remember anything Of
any such word as "sesl" in connection with
il know of no officer, any constitution or
bylaws; there were signs with tho hat, and
form OF questions to distinguish members.
I was invited by friend TO go into DR.. Chris
tian's office, and the latter asked me If
would Join " Democratic League" He said
il was TO put down mobs; never heard any
thing of a society of Knights Of the Golden
Circle, or Golden Circle, in Marion township,
until it was published in the Republican (;
do not know that there were any degrees in
our organization. DR.. Christian said that
there was nothing unconstitutional about the
agreement; | was never introduced to Court
as higher member" of the order, nor to
any other person was so introduced.
Cross examined.-I was initiated on the
last Of June or FIRST of July. It was before
the 4th of July. l never had paper or in
tinted any one. l saw one other paper in
the hands OF Mr.. Travis.
Peter Hopkins swOrn.-l live in Marion
county: am 20 years old; ! know Of an as
sociation of Democrats; ! belong TO it; l
took the pledge from Jacob Horniker, in the
presence Of Isaac Kurzy and Peter Kurzy; 1
took it in Honiker's shep; it was read tome
from a written paper; the others heard what
heard; did not sign anything, nor did l
soa any record or papers, have seen the
paper which has been published in Marion;
It was the first obligation, only, which took,
aud l heard of nothing else; they gave mo
the signs also, which are as has been dis
closed; | was at meeting at Carter's school
house; / went there with Samuel Cheney;
nobody was initiated that night; l was in
the school house and Cheney called me out,
and said that there were others who belonged
10 the National Democratic organization;
went out 10 wagon before the door; Chris
tian Martin gave tho sign TO me, by raising
his hat; he called me up in the wagon and
asked me if belonged to the Order and
said l did; he asked me if l had como un-
der the second degree, and told him had
not: told him | did not know that there
was any second dJgree; he said there was,
and repeated the second oath, which is
published in the Republican paperj | never
heard it before; he wanted me TO take the
second oath; be then wanted me TO admins
ter this oath to Samuel Cheney, and told
him didn't know the oath; had never heard
it before; then told him I'D hold Chsney's
right hand, and he might administer the
oath; he kept telling me that l knew the
oath, and l said 1 did not; he then said the
oath over TO me, and repeated it 10 CLANCY
and Cheney after me; We three were ell that
were present, that l knew Of; l didn't know
that any one was in the wagon; l did not see
any buffalo robes in the wagon; it was light
enough to see person, to recognize them,
twenty five or thirty steps; l believe only
drank whisky once before taking the oath.
Cross-eKamined.-IOnl only repeste1 the oath
n nee that evening. l never told any one
IN ct belonged 10 the hnie OF the Golden
Giro le. | never told MF. Cheny that be-
Iongt d to them, or that my fsthsr did. After
Lieut.. Diekerson came up, Martin spoke and
said that Dickerson was one Of those wh)
had taken the second degree, and that he
had been down to camp in Western Virginia.
D,ckerson TOOK pistol out Of his pocket
ana showed IL to us, and said that he had
cot a box full. WHICH he was going to give to
fhose who took the second osi h. They were
designed to aid JEFF. Davis. After We got
ont Of the wagon, told MAJ tin that HOnni-
ker had q paper, and that would get It TO
bring Cheny under the frst oath. was to
get is the next morning, and to let enemy
read it. 1 went for the paper but could not
Get il because Bradshaw had it, and be did
not think thst Bradsha would let me have
it, 1 told him when l was initiated. Che
nv and others came TO me the next morning.
| They showed me pistols, from which could
make q selection. 1 did not make any sss
lection, although they told me TO do SO. we
went down to Jno. Prices. He selected .
pistol. l made an affidavit, which was pub
/ iished in the Mirror.
Direct examination resumsd.-I do not
know how many men were present EBep
| Mr.. Osborne wrote the affidavit. 1 should
think that there were 6 or 8 men present at
all times.
Samuel saiter: I live in Lima, Allen
county, Ohio. 1 left Marion about the Ist
\ of April. went back to Marion about the
| 18th of April, and remained two weeks. l
/ stayed at Holders house. The witness test
| fled to the attack on Holders Office and on
/ Holder.
Ge1. W. spooner. live in Marion; have
| lived there two years. ! am printer and
| meas also described the attack on the Office
! publisher. am Holders partner. This Wit:
Gro. s-examined--I have the paper refer
red 70 by Mr. Holder on his examination, in
! nv possession; l tOOk it from his table some
three DAYS after he got it, / think.
H. 7. Van Fleet have lived in Marion
about four years, Holder came to me sud
| asked me if l wished to join an association
Organized by Democrats after had heard
the obligation, which he read TO me, told
| him that was opposed to all secret organl-
! cations; 1 do not now consider myself 6
member of the order; from all that ! ever
| heard and learned of the objects Of the assO-
citation, considered it to be for the purpose
of suppressing all mObs and mob violence.
know of but one obligation tho first one
The excitement in Marion after the fall o.
Sumter was very great; business was almosi
suspended for nearly a week l heard threat!
made to hang Holder before the attack was
made on his off e l was myself threatened
by letter, and ordered to leave town in few
hours; made some expression in speech
which was misunderstood,
CHARLES Martin his and the remaining
witnesses were called By the Prosecutor) =
Peter Hopkins repeated twice over the Obli
CATION given to Cheney at the wagon. Th'
last time he repeated it in presence Of Dick
erson.
| T. II. Dickerson-When l went 10 the
wagon on the evening referred to, I heard thu
obligation administered to Cheney, 1 was
near enough to have heard Martin if he haC
repeated the form to Hopkins at the SAM
time the latter repeated it to Cheney:
Samuel Cheney-When l received tn
obligation, was near enough to have over
heard if Martin had repeated the oath owe
TO Hopkins as the latter gave it to me. ii
did not do 80.
At this point the examination of witnesse
wsys closed. The District Attorney said tina
he was willing to submit the case withou
argument, and this was agreed to by tn
defence.
Commissioner White will give his decis
sion at o'clock this morning.
The following is the second obligation al
| Itsdad "A hv the vv;fueaaeR