Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-04-18

| ing. We might say that before the hearing
closed. quite number of the most promi-
nent residents of Philadelphia crowded into
the Commissioners room.
| We observed one or two Of the prisoners
room.
We observed one or two Of the prisoners
making certain signs--one of which was
carolcssly placing the forefnger of the right
hand vertically on the lips, meaning proba-
| bly, to "keep num-" We have reason to
believe that some one or more in the crowd
in the room recognized the sign thus made.
THE HEARING.
Philip Huber, Augustus +. Tlig. Gabriel
Filbert and Harrison OXcneidcI were ar.
raigned on the charge of couspiresv.
George A. Cohey, United States District
Attorney, appeared for the Government.
! Hon. j. Clancy Jones, ex-incIpbcr of Con-
gress appeared rs counsel for the last three
named defendants.
John p. O'Neill, Esq, appeared for the
| first named
! Mr.. Huber is the prime mover in organi-
zing the alleged reasonable association. lie
expected Mr.. Jones would defend him, but
this gentleman declined. After settling
some unintercsting preliminaries the aflida-
Wit was read by the counsel for the defence
upon which the warrant of arrest was issued.
! This was made in April the 9th inst, by
| William Y. Lyon, United States de trctive,
and it sets forth that there have been organ
lied, in various parts of Bcrks county, Penn
| sylvania, scdtious and reasonable cOmbna-
! tions lodges, or societies, the object of which
is 10 create disaffcction against the Govern
mcnt Of the United States, to prevent and
rcsis. the execution of the United States
laws, and particularly the act of Congress
providing for Conscription or draft of
soldiers; the said lodges meet at night
time pay an initiation fee, and are bound
together by an oath said societies have
from fifty 70 eighty and a hundred members
each; that one was organized at the house
of Jacob Zelcr, near Stouchbnrg, Pennsyl-
vania, and other places. The affidavit
further sets forth the names of some of the
members of said association, Of parties who
have not been arrested.
TIE EVIDENCE.
William y. Lyon sworn.
Mr. Jones counsel for defence now eau
toned the witness to say nothing but what
he knows of his own knowledge.
Witness. Yes, sir.
Question by United States District Attor-
ney Coiiey Do you know the defendants
Answer l do l know Philip Huber,
DR.. Augustus Illig. Gabriel Filbert, and
Harrison OXcnoidcr; received information
within the last two months that there WAS a
man namcd-(obiected to by Mr.. O'Ncill,
who said, never mind about receiving the
information; just state what you know Of
your own knowlcdgo)
Witness. Well then. to suit YOU better
i VIII say from information that received,
set myself TO work to find out whether
there was anything in this matter I'pipedr
for it; there were complaints coming to me
every day.
Mr.. Jones here interrupted the witness by
saying that lie had understood that Mr..
Lyon had had some conversation with the
defendants, and anything they said to him
unless voluntarily made by them, cannot he
admitted as evidence.
Mr.. O'Ncll further said that admissions
could not bc received unless the Ct nspiracy
is first made out. Let us substantiate this
first, and then proceed.
Witness. | came here to tell the truth.
and nothing but the truth; am a stranger
hero.
BY Mr.. Cofcy. Tell. what you saw and
heard.
Witness resumed. On Saturday morning,
tiOn there was to be meeting; | proceeded
to the place where the meeting was 10 be
held / went on foot in Marion township,
and concealed myself in the barn Of Jacob
Cellar, under the straw Mr. Huber told
the men who were there; | think Mr.. Fill
bert was there; Mr. Huber was there of
course he told them
Mr.. O'Neill objects that what Mr. Huber
SoII iS ~ l,a Il Hr,
he conducted in the charge of conspiracy
When this is done then any admission OF
what Mr.. Huber said, may be given in evi-
dence.
Commissioner IIeazlett reptile el--"Well,
We must begin this investigation some
where, and we might rs well commence
now"
Mr.. Jones said, after the evidence has been
heard then the Commissioner can exercise
his own judgment
With this understanding the witness
made another attempt to give in his cvi-
dence, He said, there might have been
hundred men in the barn altogether before
they proceeded to business. lfr Huber toid
them to search the barn, 10 SET II there rele dHy
spies cOacealed in II | cannot name the
parties whom he was addressing he direct
ed them to run dungiork or hay-fork into
the straw, To gee - there were any spies con
cealed under it; after this ,ras done, he orler-
Ell picketS to be thrctcR outside the barn this
was, as near MS | can judge, between eight =.
and nine o'clock; the men went out, then
the men inside took the obligation Mr..
Huber did the talking; he denounced the
war rs unholy and unjust he said that the
society was million strong he stated that
it first was organized in the South that
the society had signs, pdssDor{s, and grips i;
he administered the Obligation; whether
the men swore on the Bible or not cannot
say there were cighty-thrce men TO the !
best of my knowledge, who joined on that
occasion by taking the oligation; the obl- |
cation was given verbally; he said tile men i,
would swear: | don't know whether they !
kissed the Bible or not, as could not eX- |
actly see they all answered yes after the |
obligation was spoken To- them he adverti- !
ses meeting to be he'll at certain place
Il mans house-and after This they go into |
secret organization the members sign list |
and pay one dollar each in the hrst place |
then those who sign go into secret those
who do not sign go away; heard him give
the obligation.
BY MIR. Coffey. Now just think and be
careful, and tell us what the obligation is.
Witness. Yes, sir.
"Are you in .taror ef the abduction cf AtrG