Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-04-13

such order in the Northern States as that
known by the name Of the knights Of the
Golden Circle
A.. never heard Of such an organiza-
ton having existance in Ohio or the North
ern States. / first heard of it in rumor.
IA or l. years ago. but | never knew of any
lodge Of the Circle, or council in connection
with any such organization, though | have
seen many names printed, as members Of it,
IN the newspapers.
e. Have you any knowledge Of the pur
pose or objects Of the Knights of the Col.
den Circle?
A. No, sir; except what was connected
with Mexico fourteen or fifteen years ago.
q. IL has been said that this organiza-
ton was gotten up between you and JEFF.
Davis, is this true
a. That was the testimony Of Mary
Ann Pittman, lady Of whom have no
knowledge, and alluded to in the Judge.
Advocate Generals report.
z. Have you any knowledge Of the orr
gin or this institution, except thatyou have
stated
/ A. None, whatever. heard it existed
previous to the appearance Of those gentle.
men in Windsor, in February, but had no
q. Something has been said in the rules
Of this organization about a military de-.
partment, what knowledge have you on this
subject
A. Upon that have none So far as
the national organization was concerned
there never was any. As a witness has
stated as hearsay, and refers to what is call
ed my staff, | never had any. never contem-
plated it. newell saw Mr.. Piper nor Mr.
Stidgcr. never had any communication di-
rect or Indirect with them, and | never saw
Mr.. Doollttle. There never was any move
ment, to my knowledge, made with refer
ence to the military organization. | have
heard that there were military organza-
tions in some States, but | never knew Of
any in Ohio.
Q. Stidger thought that Piper was
member of such a such staff, is that true?
A. If Piper ever made such state
mcnt, he stated that which is positively and
unequivicaly false.
q. Stidger speaks of being at Hamilton,
did you see him?
A. / did not, nor did ! ever see him.
b. Have you any knowledge of the
matter or plan TO assassinate Coffin there?
A. / never heard of Coffin, nor never
heard Of it except when | read Stidger' 5
testimony.
O. Stidger states that the uprising
which was TO take place about the ID, or 10,
or 18th of August, was to be agreed upon
as you might decide the matter, is that
true?
Question objected to, and the question
withdrawn
@. Was there any matter for you to de-
eide in reference to the time when the up
rising was to take place
A. Most emphatically there never was,
and as | have before testified, l had no
knowledge, information or suspicion Of the
subject, and was absent from Ohio, in the
State of New York. at the time alleged
and never heard of it till saw it in the tes
timony, and if it had depended upon me i
would have been very speedily determined
Q. How would it have been determined
had it been left to you?
A. To break it up, had it been necessa
| ry to inform the officers Of the Federal Gov
ernmeut of the fact. That warning wa!
! given to a member of the order, whose
name | do not now recollect. The idea was
suggested to force an insurrection, and com
pei me into it. l told them they did not
know the man they were dealing with. Such
a thing would have been suppressed instant
ly.
Q. Do YOU say Dodd was at the meet
ing at Hamilton?
A. Yes, sir; also Bowels and AIilligan.
q. Did you have any communication
with them
A. | did not.
Q. Had you any conference with them,
at any time, in reference to any uprising?
A. No, sir. | had Just returned home,
and was occupied entirely with circumstan-
ces that naturally grew out of the fact of
my return. | understand those gentlemen
returned the next day.
Q. Instead of engaging in this uprising
that has been spoken of by Stidger, what
did you engage in when you returned to
Ohio
The question was objected to by the
Judge Advocate as irrelevant. The Court
was cleared for dellberation On being re-
opened, the Judge Adv ocate announced
that the objection was sustained
Q, Did you send any communication to
Piper !?
A. No, sir; never saw him in my life,
was never acquainted with Piper, and new
er heard of him till l saw his name in
Stidger' testimony. do not know either
Bullet or Piper.
Q. You have been charged with intima-
cy with General McClellan-do you know
! him?
A. l never saw General Mcclellan in
my life. l voted for him, if that is ma
terial, never saw Mr. Grenfel, with
whom have been charged with being init
mate in my life, until yesterday, when saw
him in the court.
DISCRIMINATION.
Question by the Judge Advocate. Was
not your initiation into the order by Mr..
Barrett and Mr., Green?
Answer. Yes sir.
@. At that time had they the work OF
the order with them?
4. They had two little pamphlets which
were represented as such, part of which
were read and they were left with me fol
examination.
Q. Did you examine them
4. did atterward.
Q. Did they read that ritual and obliga.
ton from the pamphlet?
A. A portion Of them.
Q. Did you at that time read the oath
and obligation
A. | did not, and did not notice thai
particular passage, which | referred to and
which struck out, though do not admit
that it is susceptible of that Interpretation,
and was Objectionable on that account;
Q. Did you ever meet brother of Jas.
A. Barrett
4. Two or three times. first met him
!