The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-27
We 0e SoIUNE, OOVVIUI
JAMES WRIGHT, Sec'y of State.

IMPORTANT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES kind
ness of Lieut.. A. J. Harding, acting Pro-
vost Marshal Of the District of North Mis-
souri,. we are furnished q copy OF the fol-
lowing important document. the man
Williams is under arrest in this city, and
may possibly make other revelations:
STATEMENT OF THOMAS b. JEFFRIEs.
Thomas 3. Jeffries, of lawful age, being
duly sworn, says: On or about the 4th
day Of August, 1864, fell in company with
a young man from the State of Illinois,
who said his name was John Williams
In conversation he asked me if knew
Elisha Lefi!en, saying that the said Leffien
long had known him, and what kind of a
man he was. I told him had known him
for about twenty-five years, and he used
to be q number one man and q good citi-
zen. He then said that was the name he
bore in the country he came from. He
left me then, and I went OF. In about an
hour he came back and approached me,
and asked me how liked the Presidents
Proclamation; asked him what procla-
nation? He said, 1.-THE damned amnesty
proclamation told him stayed at
home. read nothing, and did not know
how 10 answer his question. He then
asked me how was on the next Presiden-
/ told him there were some of them talk
ing about supporting Mcclellan. He said
that wouldn't dp-that Mcclellan was
war Democrat. He then gave me a grip,
and said. ''old fellow, you have been there,
but you are not quite right" He then told
me he would post me. He said he belonged
to the Knights of the Golden Circle, or what
is now called the Sons of Liberty; that he
belonged 70 what is called Hickory Club
Lodge, in Henderson county, Illinois; that
the club was 800 strong, and we'll armed,
with carbine and two navy revOlvers
apiece, and tina, they were going to resist
the election Of Abe Lincoln this fall; that
their object was to carry the election Of
Vallandigham for Vice President; the man
to be run for President was not yet known,
nor wouldn't be for two months; but they
intended to defeat Lincoln if they had to
kill every man who came to the polls to
vote for him. the day after this CONVEX
sation he was arrested by Captain NJ. G.
Thacker, and when on his way from Can
veysation with me, when he asked me il
couldn't assist in getting him released. /
asked him how could do ite He told me
by going to Illinois and reporting his arrest
to the '.Sons Of Liberty in Henderson
county. He said they would pay me all
expenses and they would come immedi-
ately and release him. The name of the
Secretary he gave me was Joseph johnson;
he also gave me an order on man living
near Canton for horse to go to Illinois,
and said he would furnish it. He gave me
all the signs and grips Of the Knights Of
the Golden Circle, or Sons Of Liberty,
which he said were the true grips, and told
me other things which If necessary tor you
to have can give you. lie gave several
names OF members Of the Order here. He
told me also that he would kill Hamilton
Johnson for deceiving him, pretending to
be friend Of his. He also told that If l
went to Illinois and reported to the Secre-
tary, and il he sent any communication
back by me should try to get to where he
was imprisoned, and wrap the note inside
Of o cigar and hand it to him, and that he
wanted me to be sure and attend to it for
him. THOMAS JErFRIES.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
18th day Of August, 1864.
A. d. KEsToR, Notary Public.
A true copy. A. J. HARDING.
Lieutenant and Acting Provost Marshal,
District Of North Missouri.-,N. Joseph
Herald, l7th.