The Portland daily press., 1864-10-08

that they had not arms enough " " u ocI-
vice; Dodd said if they did not Openly resist
he'd be id ii he would i've unuei tn9 pres
ent Administration; this was about the last
Fridav IN .Tuly: in respect to the contempla-
tod assassination of Coffin, he said they ex-
nacted 10 find him at Hamilton, at the Vallan-
dighsm meeting; pick quarrel with him. If
nossible. and shoot him. A letter was written
70 Dodd, Bowles and Riston, signed Dick.
supposed to be written by Dick Bright, warn
Ing them against Coffin, saying that he was a
us. detective, and reported everything they
did.
Tbs witness gave the names of large
number of persons, from different localities,
that he became acquainted with at meeting
OF the Sons Of Liberty on the 18th of June.
he told the day on which he was elected a
member Of the Supreme Council of the U. s.,
and his testimony continues:
John G. Davis was elected on the same
day; Mr.. Hetfren was member OF the Oruel
witness met him in Salem, Indiana twiIe
ne was the Deputy Grand Commander OF the
State of Indiana; he Was formerly LIEU
tenant Colonel of an Indiana Regiment !;
told witness that he and Dodd hao Tue rlght
20 call tho Order together at any ume tney
might think proper, ana also saio tnaS the oD-
,o-onerate with the Confederate forces; the
drst time he saw the witness he took him
or a Commissioner from the Confederate
orces told witness that there were seven
regiments OF Forests men disbanded in Ken
lucky to remain at home for time, and to
concentrate when necessary; he met man by
che name of Piper in Louisville who said he
resided in Springfield, Ill; he was member
OF the Order, aud said he was on the staff of
Vallandigham; Piper was present at the
Grand Council in Kentucky, and assisted In
opening the meeting; Piper said he had a
communication from Valandigham to Bowles
giving him charge of the releasing of the
Rebel prisoners at Rock Island; Hines was
then in Canada waiting for the order to be
given and the time to come; Hines was after
ward captured with John Morgan; Piper also
said that he had attended a meeting OF
the Grand Council of Illinois: that they had
passed a resolution that if Kentucky consid-
cred it advisable to resist the enlistment Of
negroes, the members of the Order would
prevent the Illinois regiments, or Loyal
Leagues as they are called by the Copperheads
from being sent out OF the State by the Gov
eminent TO enforce it; that the resolution
was unanimously passed by the Grand Coun
ell OF Illinois. A conical shell about the
size of 32-pounder was here handed to the
Witness. He said he saw similar shell t.
that at Hocking's room at the Louisville Ho
tel, about the 29th or Both of June; Bowles
Collins, Charley Miller and others were there
Lhe lower part of the butt of the shell, whlc /
being unscrewed showed another, inside Of
which was an iron case to contain the powder
around this was an apparatus to contain the
| liquid Greek fire, and this inner shell being
loose and furnished with a percussion cap
| caused an explosion on its striking or falling
/ info tYnoohina WI IN
ended to be used for the destruction of Gov
eminent property; a spherical hand grenade
about three inches in diameter was here pro
duced, which being unscrewed in the center
showed an inner shell furnished with severa
nipples for percussion caps; the inner she
was to contain the powder or powder an
outlets, and the aperture between the innel
= aud outer shell the liquid Greek fire; III
she'll or hard grenade, on being throw
1t any object, would explode Immediately
toucned any object; everything near it woul
oe ignited; Bowles told the witness that Gree
Dire had been used for the destruction of tw
boats at Louisville in the Spring, and also 70
number OF boats down the river in April o
/ May; this Greek fire on breaking, he sale
would ignite instantly, or 1t might be made t
ignite some time afterward. The orde
known as American Knights has been chang
ed, as Odd said, by Judge Built and MI
Cofus, to the Order of the Sons of Libert
and Dodd wanted me to distribute neS
pamphlet or ritual of the Order throughout th
State, The commands of the chiefs of tn
order were paramount to all other laws 0
orders, and were to be obeyed in oppositio
to any civil laws or orders of the Cover
ment.
CROSS EXAMINED.
The cross examination was lengthy. Sti
.er's testimony was strengthened, many ne
points against the prisoner and the Ord
being developed. The witness had Joined Il
Order as a detective, but was supposed to
bona fde member of the Order. He ha
, been assigned this work by Provost Marsh
Jones, OF Louisiana; he did not give al
opinion of his own as to Coffia's assassination
but Judge Bullitt's opinion Dodd and othe
concerned in that opinion; he never m
Coffin in lodges; he knew him, but did NJ
communicate anything to him.
In reference to the military character
this Order, he testified that he did not know
personally, that they were armed or drie,
out was told that at the West they were arm
ing, while from the East they expecte
money !; it extends over Ohio, Indiana, Ilinoi
Wisconsin, Missouri, Delaware, Marylan'
Pennsylvania, New York and Kentucky
Dodd told him that he was at Chicago at tn
Meeting of July 80, and said " we came
such conclusions there's" DR.. Anthem coul
seled caution; he was present at the meetiu
of the Grand Council, June 10; ne advise
delay until they were more thoroughly organ
lied, and till they could see what they cou
do at the polls. The council asked the wi
ness whether Athon did not council delay III
til they knew whether the election was to
controlled by the bayonets. Witness replied
He said they should use their military pows
at the polls if the Government undertook t
| faop nd hot fhor uuoul6 ho in,
when it would be proper to use their militar
power against the Government, but it was be;
to wait till after the election; Alton SO state
to me at his office; Judge Bullitt told IN
Athon gave him the same opinion; befor
that Mike Bright, Jesse D. Bright's brother
had given Butler the same opinion he though
twenty thousand men could be raised in thi
State for insurrectionary movements; Val
landigham was elected Supreme Commando
in New York, February 22d; the witness I'm
derstood from Piper that Valandigham ha
knowledge of this insnrrectionary movement
had given his sanction to 1t, and had suprem
control; the particular day to rise was t
be designated by him. DR.. Bowies said h
knew of man who would furnish arms q
any kind and quality at any time the orde
would designate; the committee of thirteel
appointed on the 14th of July were'to act to tn
recess of the Grand Council, and their acts il
be as legal as those of the Council itself
Bowles, Dodd, Bulltt, and chemist, expert
mented with Greek fire In basement at In
dianapolis on Sunday.
Without concluding the cross-ezaminstior
the commission adjourned
Further extracts from the testimony will b
given in another number.
The Armed Conspiracy in the West.