Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-11-18
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY IN
CHICAGO.
FURTHER ARRESTS OF CITIZENS AND
REBELS.
PROOFS CONCLUSIVE.
Confessions of the Criminals.

From the Chicago Evening Journal 18th.
We are authorized by Colonel Sweet,
the commandment of the post at Camp
Douglas, to state, that upon evidence
that he had received of the completely of
a number of citizens in the great con-
spiracy to rescue the rebel prisoners and
fire the city, he proceeded to arrest the
| following parties last night:
Z. w. Patten, Democratic Judge of the
First Precinct of the First Ward poll at
the recent election, and member of the
State Council, Sons of Liberty.
Francis Adams, present Democratic
City Attorney, and one who signed the
circular on the day of election denounc-
| ing the arrests made as an "election
| trick.
Obadiah Jackson, Jr., leading Dem
ocrat and lawyer, and Grand Seignior
| of the sons of Liberty.
James Harmon, u wealthy Kentucky
Democrat, and - Semmes, nephew OF
| the pirate that name, and james Gea-
| ry, IL leading Copperhead, and f. W.
Hoffman. The latter, upon making il
statement that, upon discovering the
| Order to be reasonable, he abandoned
| it after attending one meeting, was dis
charged.
Obadiah Jackson, Jr., in long inter-
view with the authorities, stated freely
and frankly his connection with the
whole matter. He said he joined the
Sons of Liberty three or four months
since, at the inStigation of Judge Buck
ner $. Morris, upon the representation
| that it was simply a Democratic party
organization. He was taken by Morris
to McCormick's building, where he was
Initiated. Shortly before the election
he was informed that he had been elect
ed Grand Seignior of the Order He
presided at II number of meetings of The
Order, at the Invincible Club Rooms
Sunday before the election.
Charles Walsh, Patten and Others
were present. Tie discussiOn w0s in re-
tdtioH to the ,escuing Of the prisoners OF
camp DOugtots, 0!7,i0g tie members, end
taking possession Of the potts. Walsh,
Geary, Patten and others stated there
were plenty q arms Ia tie city for uN The
Ord8r, AMI others. Itg0 rendezvous for
tie distfU~iiOn If arms Ue1'e indic0t Il al
Wtt meeting, "J'f Of 3chjch 2Uus the I30i}-
elite CLIO Lt0OH'. AS presiding officer,
! lie appointed the Conmittcec to diStrb-
ute the arms, of which Semmes was a
member. He says at that meeting he
(Jackson) first discovered that the de-
sign of the organization was reasonable
and that it would lead to blOcdshed and
revolution and he determined to expose
the Order to the authorities, hut the
| military arrests made the same day, lie
| thought, rendered ii unnecessary.
| Mr.. Geary's business, being Il second
hand clothing dealer, appears to have
| been to furnish rebel prisoners who rot
away from Camp Douglas with cloth
ing, to enable them TO escape, as we'll az
to the rebel officers for cOncealment,
whilst III the city aiding and assisting
the coGspirators.
| From the extract of the testimony
volunteered by Messrs. Jackson and
| Hoffman, il viii be seen that Colonel
Sweet has not acted hastily or unad-
visedly. And yet this is but small
portion OF the damnimg proofs he has in
| his possession in regard to this infamous
and diabolical plot. He deemed ii his
duty to make sure of the guilt of those
who were most prominent and intlucn-
tial, and he is amply borne out in all
that he has done.
The rebel officers came here by the
invitation of this reasonable Organizl-
ton, which aided, suhsisted, clothed
and sheltered them. But for the vigil
lance and zeal OF the Post Commandment
his detectives and assistants, Chicago
would, in all probability, ere this, have
been heap OF ashes, mOstened by the
blood Of its citizens. All good people
will unite in awarding him the credit
| that is due to his official fidelity and ell
ergy