The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1863-10-01
An Expose Of tNe Order Ut the
Star

The following is taken from the "Sig.
Quincy News" published in Ksokuk
county, and shows who the supporters
Of Talley, who was shot IN that county
were. 1t is another evidence that the
Copperheads are disloyal to the core.
It will also be noticed that are Of these
"S,a," men is 4 candidate on the Dem
ocra,ic ticket. Take notice Of it, ye
who for little filthy lucrc would otiici
ate with them.
AFFIDAVIT OF II. B. RODGERS.
Iowa City, Aug. 9Th 1863
On or about the last of April, 1868,
was inflated into what was called the
Order f the Star Jeremiaa Suffer
asked me to become member of
Benevolent Institution" lie took me to
an untenantel house in secluded place
in the north east part of lAeoknk county
There was fifteen Or twonty persons
present, among whom were Wesley
Funk, Dolph Faucet, w. N. Butter
Geld. Jerome Chandler. John Chandler
Il. Breeder, Thomas Powell, John Vel.h
James Mckinney, Samuel Knight, Pa,t
McCarn, I'll mas Starkwea,her, and
other names not recollected At the
first meeting ,he> sSorr me To be true
IN the United States and to the Estate
Of Iowa, aud t. use all the Construction
al means in my power to restore peace
and harmony 80 this distracted country
70 use ali the means in my power to put
Down dissun;on parties, both n nth and
outh under penalty of death.
We were required to wear a five
pointed altar, Of any material; to hang
the sane IN our house, or put i; Oh our
,ats post. I'hi. was about all .hat was
aim;ni,tece., 1t The first n'ectipg. The
-ign OF recognition was to draw the
right hand over the forehead aud right
| eve and mouth, with the little finger
touching the n'-e, then dropping right
hand smar,!y 70 tho RICH, side The
answer was similar sign with the lefI
hand, with the little finger passing over
the noae. The alarm st TIE door, on
entering the Lodge, va, given to sen
tnsl vho commanded You to halt. ard
says who Genes there % The answer
is a stiasgler." You come to the sec
. ond sentinel, and place yonr RICH, hand
~ MS right shoulder, and say Hnrri
cane" Then vnu approach the ta'fd
guard and placing your lef, hand o
his left shoulder, say, "Vio'en' winds :
Then the officer presiding Al proa he's
offers his hand, yon give him ne grip !;
he asks you "wha. is that: Reply "a
grip" lie asks you, has It name
Answer, 1t has" He reply "gi,e it to
me-" My reply, 81 did no, SO receive it,
neither can 40 impair, it, H. then
asks. chow shall we arrive at the sense
Of it," AnsHer, will letter or sylla
lie it with You" He asks, team you
spelI?" Answer, "a LITTLE HIS reply,
spell and begin. IL reply, no it is with
you, you begin. His reply, mo it is
With YOU, you Begin | proceed by
saving \. be says L, say =, he 50, 8
5, Then commence with S, he saws =,
say l. he says A, then | pronounce
the passw,rd, "Spls," which is "Alps,"
reversed.
This ends the examinatiap in the first
degree.
In the second degree I was required
70 swear that would not enlist in the
United States Army / am not to kill
an enemy, but take prisoners those that
arc placed in.,ny power. Or 10 surrender
" self prisoner when It is more expedi-
! ert, not to excite suspicion. | Was in
a;racted. thar in the action Of loading
4 rod IN nv hand, look anxinns's towards
the enemy. 1.-THE; recogniz IN they
viii raise thri, right hand Ger their
head and lot it dron smar.!s by heir
righ. side which. was 10 answer in
TIE same way. except using my left
hand On a ,let.eaf we are to trail our
ours n. our left hand instead Of the right
as is the custom. was required to
connect myselfin company composed
% ten men, one Of which is elected
Captain, which are to act in companies
or IN larger forces, as they may be Iii
rected by our superior officers We
are sworn to resist the draft by every
means in our power We were to en-
courage dese,tions, and to assist de-
serters in making their escape. [ would
s,a,e that 1 objected to aggr.eir. 10
res st the draf; or encourage aesertlon.
I lr.e- raYfxiYe.,. a,l