Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-08-15
Astounding Developments be-
fore the United States Grand
Jury.
A SECRET SOCIETY OF TRAITORS
IN INDIANA.

A SECRET SOCIETY OF TRAITORS
IN INDIANA.
In the District Court of the United States,
for the District of Indiana, May
Term, 1862,
The Grand Jurors of the United States
of America, within and for the District
of Indiana, empanneled, sworn and
charged in said District at said Mag
term thereof, having about completed
their labors (and being now ready to ad
journ) feel it their imperative duty to
announce in respectful manner to this
honorable court the general features of
some startling Developments made du-
ring their ii lions These asgel-
opments when considered In connection
with the disturbed condition of the coun-
try by reason of the causeless and afro
cious rebellion against the Constitution
and laws of the land, are deemed Of the
gravest importance and should be made
known, that prompt and efficient meas
ures may be taken by the civil and mil
itary authorities to meet and ward off
the effect of the wicked and reasonable
designs of those connected with such de-
velopments.
A recent act of Congress made it the
duty of the Grand Jury to inquire into
any combinations or eonspiracies formed
by individuals within the jurisdiction OF
the Court to prevent the execution OF
any law Of the United States. Having
heard that organizations, with this OBJ
iect in view, existed in certain localities,
witnesses we're sent for, and brought be-
fore the Grand Jury. These witnesses
came from many counties; and lived in
various parts of the State. After q
careful and diligent examination Of the
testimony from witnesses welfacquaidted
with the facts deposed, and hauiag a per
sonal hnoaozeage Of the matters, said Grand
Jury are constrained to say that Sc
cret and oath bound organization exists
numbering some fifteen Thousand in In.
diana, as estimated by the members Of
their order, commonly known as Knight
of the Golden Circle, and even In the
same localities by different Names
Their lodges, or ''Castles, as they de
nominate them, are located in various
parts of the State, yet they have com
mon signs, grips, and words, whereby
the members are able to distinguish each
other, and passwords to enable the mem
Der to enter the castle in which he was
initiated, or any other which such mem
Der may choose to visit. They have
signals by which they can communicate
with each other in the day or the nigh
time, and above all, they have sigma
or sign which may be recognized at ;
great distance from the person giving it
This last signal, we regret to say, wa
invented for the use of such members a
should, ly means Of the draft, or otlerwise
be compelled to serve IN the ranks of tn
army In such case, members Of the
order serving in opposing armies, re
eeiving the sign, are reminded of theil
obligation not to injure the member giuin.
1t. This signal is given in every in
stance upon the initiation of new mem
Der, and its observance is strictly en-
joined upon every individual belonging
to the order. By the teachings of til,
organization, it is the duty Of its mem
bers engaged in the present war, al
though arrayed on 6pp6site sides, upor
the signal being given, if they shoot q
all, 'sto shoot ouer each other" MANY
members of the order examined befor,
US admit the binding force Of the dbliga
tion, and pretend to justify 1t as correct u
principle.
Said Grand Jury would respectful,
submit that the effect of such obligation
is to set aside the oath taken by ever,
soldier when he enters the service o
the United States. The obligation i'm
posed by she organization alluded to il
inconsistent with the duties of soldier
who in battle, dare not spare the person
of his enemy. We must either disarn
or destroy him, and especially SO lons
as the rebel may be seeking to take th'
life of the loyal soldier. To do other
! wise would be grossly treacherous, ane
justly subject the guilty party to trait
or,s DOOM
From the evidence introduced befor,
said Grand Jury, it would seem that th,
order called the Knights of the Colder
Circle had their origin in some of tn
Southern States, and was introduced init
this State from Kentucky. Its primar.
object, when it originated was to organ
ize the friends of the institution Of AT
rican Slavery in the United States, fol-
the purpose of acquiring more territory
in Mexico and the Central American
States, and also for the acquisition o
Cuba, thereby to extend and foster ;
great slave empire, even though i
should dye those countries in human
blood Hence the various raids mad,
upon those countries which have callet
forth, from time to time, the rroclama
tions of our former Presidents, denoune
ing such attempts, and threatening th'
exercise Of the power Of the Govern
ment to put them down. Wicked al
these hellish schemes were, said Crane
J ury would not have troubled this Hon
orable Court with this prescntmeiit hat
the Vaccinations of the knights of thu
Golden Circle been confined solely t.
their original designs. Finding hov
useful such an organization was for tn,
purposes originally intended, said Gran,
Jury believe that it not only extends a
presentsthrough every part of the South
and every department of the rebel army
but during the last winter aud sprin:
was introduced into the State of indians
and other Northern States. Since tha
time it has made alarming progress il
our midst with entirely new features t
tached to it in view of the unnatura
conflict now desolating our country
Not only are the loyal soldiers an I'll
army to be treacherousy betrayed in tn
bloody hour of battle, by the signals be