The Portland daily press., 1864-10-08
THE SONS OF LIBERTY IN COURT.
Trial of H. B. Dodd for Treason.


Trial of Il. B. Dodd for Treason.
Gigantic Conspiracy of Democratic P0ttt-
clans, to seize the Federal Arse'l0ts,
and joi,, hands sUith the Rebels
to subuert the Government.
The readers of the Press have not forgotten
the developments recently made at Indianap
oils, Indiana, disclosing some OF the purposes
and acts of the Sons of Liberty, and the arrest
of one of the principal actors-Harrison b.
Dodd, who has since been put upon trial be-
fore martial court, charged with treason
against the Government The Cincinnati Ga
zette contains full reports of the proceedings
OF the court, which, but for their great length,
we would transfer to our columns. We shall
be obliged to give only an abstract
1t will be seen that the Sons of Liberty is
new order which has taken the place OF the
American Knights of the Golden Circle, is en-
gineered by the same officers, and made up OF
such Of the same members as it has been deem
ed prudent to trust with the nefarious secrets,
which are to be kept under the most solemn
pledge, with no less penalty than sudden and
violent death. 1t will be further seen that TIT
head OF this new order is c. L. Valandigham;
that bis orders were to take precedence OF al
civil laws; thai day tor public revolt had
been agreed upon, and nothing but the timely
discoveries of the Government has saved the
Northwest from being deluged with fratricidsl
blood. We trust the loyal people will see and
appreciate this gigantic preparation of the
leaders of the Democratic party-the men Dho
engineered the Chicago Conuention-to seize
o. .. arseusIIs uuu suuveEt THO Govern
ment, and we ask them to consider whether ii
is probable that even the State of Maine is en-
tirely free from sympathy with this infamous
design upon the temple of our liberties. We
are aware that now, when the danger seems
to be past, it is difficult approaching the terri
BILE wickedness of those engaged in this plot,
bat we hope our people are not SO insensibe
to the presence OF reasonable spirit in their
midst that they will fail to notice the aninlus
OF the party leaders Of the opposition, as it has
been disclosed in the developments OF the last
few months.
The examination of witnesses in the case OF
Dodd commenced at Indianapolis on the 9th
OF September, before the Military Commission
of which brevet Brig. Gen. Colgrove is Presi-
dent. We copy from the testimony:
Felix G. Stidger testified that DR.. Bowles
gave him the drst Information respecting the
order of the Sons OF Liberty; he was sent by
Capt. S. E. Jones, Provost Marshal to learn
The particulars OF the organization, and had an
other interview with Bowles about the 205h OF
January, 1854; was regularly initiated into the
order OF tue Sons of Liberty; this was about
the 9Th or On OF June; was instructed in the
third degree by Mr.. Harrison, the Secretary OF
the Grand Council of this State; first met
Dodd Ia the office of Mr. Bingham, editor OF
The Indianapolis Sentinel; had letter of in
PRODUCTION to Dodd from Judge BulIitt the
conversation witness had with Dodd related to
Mr.. Coffin, United States detective who was
to be assassinated; Dodd said that such men
would have to be disposed of /; the persons
connected in this matter at that time were Mr..
Odd, Harrison, DR.. Bowles, Milligan, DR..
Humphrey. and r. G.. Gatling. The Sous of
Liberty was military organization; it was in
this organization that Coffin's murder was dis
cussed, and it was decided emphatically that
1t should be done; there was to he a meeting
at Hamilton on the occasion of Mr.. ValIandig
hams return, at which Coffin was expected to
be present; at the meeting referred to, Dodd
called on those who would go with him to muir
DER Cotiia only one mau esponded-McB Bride,
from Evansville, lnd.-who thought he knew
coma; but Coffin could not be found They
expected definite time to be set for a qene
raj uprising, IN which they were to seize the
United States ArsenalS Ia Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois; the Rebel prisoners in the States were
10 be released and armed with arms seized
from the arsenals; the number in the Order OF
The Sons OF Liberty was calculated to be 10000
TO 10000 in Indiana; Illinois was counted OIL
having considerable snumber and Missouri
was believed to be almost uurnimous. Ohio
was not much counted on. Bowles told the
witness that he had his command organized
into companies and regiments; saw BowIes at
Louisville; he was there experimenting with
r. G. Booking in the manufacture of hand
genades and Greek fire, which were to be used
in destroying Government property. Bowles
said that the Greek fire had been used for the
destruction Of the Government warehouses az
Louisville and of the Government steamers
the programme of tho meeting of the Order in
Chicago in July was given by the witness, who
SAID Dodd told him that Chicagoans had a.
greed to seize the camps and depots OF prison
ers IN Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; seize the
otseha's In those States, arm the Rebel prison
Slo ieieaseu, and also the members OF the Or
ueI, anu unite at Louisville; the uprising was
70 Te General IN those States aud in Missouri,
GU - aieeu VI nentucky as possible; the date
was not fixed definitely. At a conference with
Bowles, Milligan and Walker r. was deter
mined to go ahead on the 18th or Tin If Al
gust, and carry out the plan agreed mon ana
eventually unite at Louisville: al The Chio o.
meeting of the Order there were ,,rasas'.
Judge Bullitt, DIR. Bowles, Richard Barrett n ~
st. Louis, Dodd, and john G. Walker: tbey
agreed that the uprising was to take place
from the Sd to the 18th Of August, as should
finally be determined BY Vallandigham, the
Supreme Commander of the Order, whom
they were sworn to obey; Dodd was Grand
Commander, and Walker, Bowles, Milligan
ana Humphries Major Generals for Indiana;
DuiilIt had attempted to communicate with
Co,, Jesse,and rebel Col. ShiDhert, on parole
~ Aentucky, was initiated into the Order, and
aste'npted TO get permission to go to Canada,
from whence he designed going to Mexico
and into the Confederacy; at Chicago thew
agreed that the Order was to meet orenIy
IN the mass Democratic meetings nd ~ -,
the day of the uprising, August Oh wa-o ~
have mass meeting at Indianapolis. and car
~ out their programme-the design Of The
movement was to carry portion Of the States
into the Confederacy.
SECOND DAY.
Stidger continued his testimony:
Saw Mr.. Harrison at Dodd's. He COM