The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-29
Murderers ms Political Agents.

which two armed and lawless mobs came
In collision with fatal results, we will again
call the attention of the press and the
public to the fact that the most extensive
and desperate body OF organized incendi-
aries, thugs, and assassins ever known Oh
this continent has for several years been
used as part OF the Republican organiza-
ton in Pennsylvania. We refer to the
notorious Molly Maguires, eight of whom
have recently been convicted OF murder
and now lie in prison waiting for pardon
from Gov. HARTRANFr, in whom all hope
of escape from the scaffold rests.
We have frequently had occasion 10
chronicle the assassinations aud other
crimes Of this secret, oath-bouud order of
organized murderers, who for years have
been permitted to overrun large region
of country in Pennsylvania, and commit
the most atrocious crimes without any
genuine effort on the part Of the civil au-
thoritics to restrain them. On the con-
trary, the leaders of the Republican party
in that State several years ago formed an
alliance with the Molly Maguires, who
have since been ardent workers for that
party ut all elections. In return, these
cutthroats have been allowed to assassi-
nate their personal enemies and commit
dcprodations upon property with i'm
punity, until it came TO he considered
almost useless TO attempt any interference
tn them through the courts If by some
miscalcuation a Molly Mcguire happened
to be convicted Of any offence, pardon
was almost certain to follow. For several
years past the number of pardons to cfim-
mails in the coal regions of Pennsylvania
alone-mostly to Molly MaguIrcs-has ex-
cccdcd annually the whole number OF
pardons granted in the State OF New York.
OF course these wretches are all HART
RANT men; their leaders openly claim
him rs their best friend.
But these mscreants are in fair way of
being overcome, notwithstanding the en-
couragement and protection afforded them
by corrupt Republican officials in Pennsyl-
| vania. The Reading Railroad Company,
finding that the State authorities would not
protect the community from this gigantic
com bination, took the matter into their
own hands, employed detectives, made ar
rests, collected evidence, and the Presi-
dent Of the corporation, FRANKLIN b.
GowES, appeared in the court room and
|
of the rufians who had been engaged in
the work OF assassinating peaceable citi-
zens. One passage in his plea in the case
of MUNLEY, the first of the Molly Maguires
convicted Of murder in Schuylkill county
is now. we are told, the subject of general
discussion among the law-abidlng citizens
of tho msgoverned keystone State:
81 have seen this organization WELD polit
cal power in the state which has controlled the
election Of great Comm onwehth. nave re-
ceived the Information of meetings hetweer
some OF the highest officers Of the state and ths
cnief Of the m 4rderers, nj whIrn large sums o
money ie paid 10 secure the votes Of this In
ierna Association To turn the tide Of state cleo
, lion. GOD knows. never ia the world thei'
revelation A. deep ana as dtmnlng a. that nov
, | id omen t. the peope OF tnis Commonwealth
for the first time.
; Mr. GowrS Is not n man 70 make un
founded and reckless assertions in rcgart
to so gravea matter. In thus confirming
l what THE SUN has repeatedly charged
( against the Rings who control the Repub
: lican organization in Pennsylvania, h
+ was speaking from information which h
. had obtained through trustworthy agent
u employed to get the evidence that has re
u suited IN the conviction of eight murder
+ ers. Those agents discovered that the I'M
e derstandiag between the Molly Mcguire
Il and the chief officers of the State wa
thorough and complete They discovere
j. that NJ. 8. QUAY, Secretary of the Con
= mouwcalth had paid 10 JACK KENO
o Si.10O, to john J. SLATrERy 500 and
c BARNEY DoLAN $500, for their services
IS defeating Judge PERSHING last fall, and !
I. helping to elect GOV. IARTRANFT. KENO
r IL now under indictment for murder
n SIATTERY for arson and aggravated Il
r sault and battery; and DoIAN is wretcl
n ca outcast An of them were leaders
20 the Molly Maguires in Sohuylkill count
= and all OF them rendered effectual servl'
- in return for the money which they II
r. celved from the Secretary Of state.
ID Yes, It is true, as Mr.. GowEN has public
affirmed, the organized band OF murde
Sc ers known IA the Molly Maguires hi
IS wieldoi vast political power; the fac
III we now give show for whose benefit tn
is power has been used. Probably d.
n CAMERON, the new Secretary of War, cou
a give great deal Of valuable informatl'
- in regard TO the way in which these thin
to have been managed; perhaps he may
H. able to suggest TO Gen. GRANT and I
as National Republican Committee p
or for carrying the United States for HAY
to and WHEELER by similar means to the
which have proved SO successful in MAJ
NJ tanning the supremacy Of the Republic
us party in Pennsylvania.