Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-09

The DiGboiical Oaths Of the Order.
We have referred time and again to Ii,
Order of Knights OF the Golden Circle, anl
insisted that there were lodges in Ohio, and
al about US. We have to-day abundant
proof Of that assertion. One of ,he 6ioer.
has been arrested, and the diabolical oath.
which are administered, brought to light
This has been done by the unwearied per.
severance and skill of 0. S Marshal Bill
and his deputies.
On yesterday (dOnday) Deputy Marshal
Smith, Of Marion county, acting under in.
struetiOns from head quarters, and upon
abundant evidence of the guilt Of the
party, arrested one Court in that county
for treason, and brought him to Cleveland
where he was last night lodged in jsil.
With him many Of the records Of the
"oastle," to which he belonged we're
secured. We give below the affidavit Of
the chief witness, and the oaths that were
administered BY the officers. The first
oath is written and subscribed to in the
Csstle. The second is never committed
to writing, for fear Of disclosure, but is
administered verbally. Il is written out
here from recollection, and We have reason
to be convinced Of its genuineness. Men
and women of Ohio see what damnable
oath is being subscribed to by unserupu-
lous and desperate men in our midst
There is q startling chapter of develop
ments yet to be written. Here is the dep
osition and the oaths.
/, Samuel Cheney, of Marion county,
Ohio, Of lawful age, being first duly sworn,
dePose and ssy that on the evening of o.
tober 81, 1861, I was at Carter School
House, in Green Camp Township, in said
county, snd With others present being de.
sirous Of ferreting out and exposing
secret association known and distinguished
to the initiated as knights Of the Golden
Circle called one Peter Hopkins, who was
present, out Of said school house, and after
some preliminary talk, it was arranged
that should be initiated in regular form,
said Hopkins informing me that be was q
regular member; Fhereupon we proceeded
to g wagon some little distance from the
school house, and in said wagon I was duly
iuiriutr3 rs=--E.-ufi5Er ssssst-sssvstusss,ssy-
by said Peter Hopkins, he administering
the oath and giving the passwords, signs,
grips, SC, in good faith. The oath vas
taken in this wise, said Hopkins FIRST re-
peating part Of the same at q time, and
myself repeating the same after him. At
ter said initiation, said Hopkins informed
me Of the names of number Of said assO-
citation residing in the neighborhoOd, which
names I for the present withhold. The
oaths, signs, grips, passwords, sc, are to
the best Of my knowledge embodied below,
and are as nearly correct as 1 can recall
them from memory. lam particularly pos
tive that the parts in italics relative to
lOadiag in blood up to my knees to serve
jefferson Davis, as contained in the oath
below, was in the oath, and my memory is
particular and distinct on this part Of the
subject, also as to the signs, grip, pass
words, SC. The oath as given is true in
subsistence, If not in form, Sc have to de-
pend entirely on my memory for the same,
and further deponeRt saith not.
FIRST OATH.
al do trust and solemnIy promise and
swear that | will not reveal any word
either directly or indirectly, Of what an
about to receive, except il be 10 some true
ard faithful brother Of this order and not
unto him or them until after strict exami-
nation, shall have from him or them, ss
Justly entitled TO the same, as l myself an
about to be under the no less penalty Of
having my body severed into four parts
the frat part cast ont at the north gate
the second part at the south, the third par
st the east, and the fourth part at the Wes
gate I furthermore promise that l vii
always hail and snsFer all signs and sig
mails that are given to me by brother o
this order, if in my power TO do so; and
furthermore promise and swear that I vii
protect and defend all Constitutional Dem
Ocrats, their lives, property and persona
liberty from mob violence, during thi
Southern insurreotion, so long as they ODE.
the laws Of the Q. s. A., let it come from
whatever source it may this obligation
be binding on me as long as the war shal
last"
sand further promise and swear, il
the presence Of Almighty God and tn
members Of the Golden circle, that 1Oi
aotrsst OF sleep until abraham Lincoln, no
President, shall be removed out Of the Pres
dental Char, and / '0iH soade n blood up
my knees, as soon a. Jefferson Davis Sc
proper 10 march vith his army to take q
city Of WashiRgton and the White HOEs
to Do The same. So helpme God and keep n
steadfast to do the same"
The undersigned under oath state thI
we have read the above statement and 90
that we we're present and heard the osH
administered as stated in the above affid
Wit and that the statements therein q
true.
T. H. DICKERSON,
J. ". HOOD,
DANIEL SNYDER,
C. MARTIN.
Sworn to and subscribed before me Il
7th day Of October, 1861.
J. K. GARBERS0N,
Mayor Of the incorporated village Of n