The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-11-29

| The tlrst witness tor the prisoner was Mr.
| RUTLEUGE, who said:
| | live in La Sale, and am general pit boss
! He explained his duties He has other bosses
under him; hires the men and sees that every
/ thing is all right in the different shafts. Ain
brother-in-law 10 defendant Was not ac.
quanted with Murphy till the middle of
January or February last. Don't think
! OughtOn knew him before he came to La
Sale. Murphy weighed li5 to 1870 lbs A
pretty strong man. was at home Oct 18th
last. Did not 90 to the Jail when | heard
what had happened, because | knew they
were as much against me as him. | know
there are parties there In opposition to each
other. Have sent men to get into the meet.
inCs of these societies to see what they do.
Objections raised here by peoples atlor
neys. You must bring the witnesses who
have been there.
BUII.-We cannot az it is not safe for wit.
nesses 10 swear against such societies.
O'BRGEN-lf such things are in existence
III there is a state of terror of this sort, this
Court ought to know it,
The COURT-lf such things exist; il wit
nesses are kept in terror, the Court will exert
all its authority to bring witnesses before it.
Witness cOHtinue9-I learned of the ex,
istcnCc of these societies among the miners
and communicated the fact to Oughton. One
society was known as the Molly Maguircs, y"
another " The Ancient Order of lIibcrnians."
think they were different societies have
accused several miners of belonging TO a
secret society to do harm, but they always
deny such as being the purposes Of the So
cirty. None OF my friends belong to il.
Oughton said that the reason why he was
leaving the Kentucky shaft was the abuse of
him by the men, who were hostile to him.
Knew of Molly Mcguire Society first Sept.
last Also heard of it last winter. under.
stood it was abandoned last winter. The OBJ
jcct of that society was to get me out and
get McGec in as boss | talked this over
with OughtOn. THIS was our general opn-
ion. | received a notice picked up on my
door on Saturday morning, | think Oct lllh
(ilcre paper was shown him. identified it,
1t was between my front porch and gate
Found it about half past six in the morning
| also received threatening letter for Ough-
ton to take care OF himself; this was the day
when he was paid his wages. The notice or
letter was introduced us evidence and reads
- SALE, Oct. o, 1873.
Mr.. RuTLIP'c:--Wc are determined To /
get You away; il moi bv fair by foul means.
.>l-nedI BY order Ot the NJ VI. SOCIETY. !
did moi show this to Oughton. but told
itiAh WHAT lltAl itNEHN'Nl- ltl't - les mum
hcr OF men under my charEc-35O or so.
Have heard the miners call themselves
Molly Maguircs frequently. y man named /,
Pagan was found drowned in the canal and
il was said that il was done by the miners
Who lid not want him there; Il was our opin-
ION that tina; man came To- his Gcah by the Il
miners
CumminS told me that once when he was Il
BOSS, three men met him one day and
demanded work Tie refused when they
shocked him down and left him for dead rs
vas also assaulted on the Eth or 18th of
January last OuChtOn was there the night {
when | got my head split. \ man named
/ ousg and Oughion had had q trouble, /
eparated them and pushed Young up against d
he wall In few DAYS after he got his time L
rom me and then as | was standing with NV {
Jack 10 him. came mp and struck me with an
ron knuckle (here exhibited and idenuted)
)ughton and | had both been told that 1
lurphy belonged Ia the Molly Mcguire
ocieiy e
| received letter of advice from pit b, s. il
I Bloomington about Murphy. Letter pro il