The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-15
A SOCIETY OF MURDERERS.
THE ALLIES OF THE REPUBLICAN
RING IN NPENNSYLvANII.
An Organization that Furnishes Assassins TO
Paw on the Grudses Of its Individual
Mcmbcrs-Thc Molly MsRuires Exposed.

PoTTsvILLE, Pa, Sept. H.-Deteotive
Sutherland OF Plnkerton's National Agency,
who came into this county In 1873, and who In
gratiatsd himself Into the so-called Ancient
order of Hlbernians, legally chartered by the
State OF Pennsylvania, appeared upon tho wit
ness stand In the Court House here this after
noon. Never before has he In such graphic
manner given the public to understand tho
fendish nature Of the organization, nor has he
upon any previous occasion SO fully described
the desperate end to which tho members have
resorted to, during his knowledge OF them, to
consummate their dlabolical plans. substan-
italy his testimony was as follws;
found out that the so called Ancient Order
OF Ubornians and the Molly Maguires were
Identical. learned also that the society had
been duly chartered by the Legislature Of tho
State Of Pennsylvania. 1 found q short time
after had, under the disguise OF q detective,
become member Of the organization, that its
whole mission was to commit crime. found
that the society had secretaries, post aud body
masters, and that the order had passes, by
words and signs, by means Of which any one be-
longing to the order could be identified by an
other OF the order. Learned that the mission
OF the society was death to any one against
whom IL had any grievances, real or imaginary.
So far as my experience with It enables me to
judge, the grievance was In tho majority OF
cases imaginary. The murders which for some
time past have startled this county have been
committed as follows:
When any person who belonged to the ssso
citation desired to murder some man outside OF
II, against whom he had a grudRe, he would
generally speak to his division master about 1t.
His division master would consult another divi-
sion master In another county, so that the in
tended victim would always be attacked by a
stranger In the most secluded OF places, and at
the most unexpected moment. No matter
| whether a man was to be killed, TO DO club
bed or to have his home burned down. the act
was always committed by parties unknown to
him, VINO could subsequently seek their own
adjoining county. and VINO, unless their designs
were antieipa'ed Dytno poice, ooulu almost al
individual instances whore the members OF one
branch Of the fraternity contaminated their
own 1endish designs without appealing Tor aid
to another. The most extraordinary measures
have always been used to shield the perpetra-
tors Of crime from detection. In case any mem-
Der was arrested he always had other mem oers
to prove an aibi. Nor was this alb for II his
| case was of a serious nature committees were
appointed to operate In different sections Of his
| county to collect money to defray the expenses
| Of trial, to retain counsel. &c.
Mcfarland rendered to-day. and which fell
upon the court Ike thunderbolt. was that he
saw Thomas Duffy. now on trial for his life, pay
over the sum OF $500 for the purcna ase OF Firearms
| to enable the Molly Maeuires To carry out their
deyilish Intentions. No sooner had ne uttered
which lasted until the adjournment OF the court.
Tomorrow II Is expected that Mcfarland VIII
be on the stand all day, ond that the most start
ling phases OF Molly Maguireism are yet To be
develoled
1t Is well known that the society of which all
| the desperate men now under sentence OF death
are members has been tolerated by the Cameron
Ring for several years past. 1t Is also well known
| that this society has been chartered by the
State, aud that the highest Republican officias
| In the State have approached the murderers
now under sentence OF death and those othor
murderers yet to be tried, and have. by briblng
| them with money, secured their influence aud
| the Influence Of all the Molly Maguires to fur
| ther their political schemes. Mr.. Gowen assert
ed as much In his speech IN the Munley case,
| aud subsequently declared that II Gov. Hart
ranft accused HIM OF having made any misstate-
ments, ne Gov. Hartranfti uas \ liar.
Detective Mcfarland and Mr. Gowen have q
great deal to tell concerning the Relations which
| have for the past few years existed between the
| leading Republican politicians aud the red
handed murderers. and tnat prior 30 the No.
yember campaign this relation Will be exposed
| by evidence undeniable Is beyond the shadow VI
|