Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-10-11
IMPORTANT ARREsT,,

n CoS"e " Ho hHtgNtS Of TIE u. q.
Assatlted By Ms u s. Marshai- The
Records ,Seised--.d "Con,anderp taken
From the Ohio state JoprBal.
II has long been known that a oano of
'confederstes,' called knights Of the Golden
Circle" has been infesting the whole coun-
try. That they wero working secretly in
Ohio against the war and the government
has also been known. We have been in
possession Of their oaths, their grip, their
password, and cipher for secret correspond
once, for more than month past. But
knowing that the officers Of the government
were upon their track, we refrained, by re-
qest, from any publication Of the documents
that had come into our possession from a
perfectly "reliable" source. The Marshal
of the Northern District has now made
''desoen" upon them,-he assaulted one Of
their ''castles" in Marion yesterday and bore
off "Commander" as q prisoner, to the
Cleveland Jail. Thoir records were also
seized. The excitement in Marion is in
tense. Public Indignation is aroused. But
remember, fellow citizens, that the same
vicious and reasonable organization is every
where amongst us. The man Court who
was arrested, stated that there arc NINE
HUNDRED Of them in Columbus! Arouse,
friends, and crush this vilanious conspiracy
against our countryl Below are found the
sworn statements upon which the Marshal
made tho arrest.
/, Samuel Cheney of Marion county,
Ohio, Of lawful age, being first duly sworn,
depose aud say that on the evening of Oc-
tober Sd, 1861, was at Carriers School
House, in Green Camp Township, in said
county, and with others present being desi-
rous of fretting out and exposing secret
association known and distinguished to tho
uniniated as "Knigbts of the Golden Cir
cle," called on 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 he was a regu.
lar member; whereupon we proceeded to a
wagon some little distance from the school
house, and in said wagon l was duly initial
ed as member of said association, by said
Peter Hopkins, he administering the oaths
and giving the passwords, signs grips, DC,
in good faith. The oath was taken 10 this
wise, said Hopkins first repeating a part of
the same at a time, and myself repeating
the same after him. After said initiation
said Hopkins informed me of the names of
number Of said association residing in the
neighborhood, which names I for the pres
ent withhold. The oaths, signs, grips, pass
words, &c, are to the best of my knowl-
edge embodied below, and are as nearly
correct as can recall them from memory.
| am particularly positive that the parts
in Italics relative to 'oading in blood up to
my knees to serve Jefferson Davis, as con-
tained 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, grips, passwords, &c. The oath as
given is true in substance, if not in form, as
| have to depend entirely on my memory
for the same, and further saith not.
FIRST OATH.
81 do trust and solemnly promise and
swear that | will not reveal any word, eth
er directly or indirectly ofwhat lam about
to receive, except it be to some true and
faithful brother of this order, and not unto
him or them until after strict examination,
| shall have from him or them, as Justly
entitled to the same, as | myself am about
to be under no less penalty of having my
body severed into four parts; the first part
cast out at the north gate, the second part
at the south, the third part at the east and
and the fourth part at the west gate. l
furthermore promise that will always hail
and answer all signs and signals that are
given to me by brother of this order if in
my power to do so; and furthermore prom
ise and swear that will protect and defend
all constitutional democrats, their lives, pro-
lperty, and personal liberty from mob vio-
lence, during the Southern insurrectiou, so
long as they obey the laws of the U. S. A,
let it come from whatever source it may
this obligation to be binding on mo as long
as the war shall last"
SECOND OATH.
"And l further promise and swear in the
presence of Almighty God and the men,
bers of the Golden Circle, that I ,ciN not
rest or sleep until abraham Lincoln, noao
President, shall be removed out of the Pres
identidl chair, and 1 a0M wade IN 5Lood up
to my knees, as soon as Jefferson Davis
sees proper to march aOath has army to take
the city of Washington and tie white house,
to do the same. Sohelpm me God and keep
me steadfast to do the same"
The undersigned under oath state that
we have read the above statement, and say
that VIC were present and heard the oaths
administered as stated in the above afiidav-
it, and that the statements therein are true.
T. H. DICKERSON.
j. w. HOOD.
DANIEL SNYDER.
G. MARTIN.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
7th day Of October, A. D. 1861.
]. r. GARBERSON,
Mayor of the Incorporated village of
Marion, Ohio.
Arrest of More s'IKnIghts.'S
DR.. j. NJ. Christian aud Thomas Holder
of Marion, were yesterday arrested aud
hrou0hf to fhie oitu for hainns iTnplioafad in