Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-08-09
MOLLIE MAGUlREI SIN.
ARGUMENT OF
FRANKLIN d. GOWEN, ESQ.,,
Counsel for the Commonwealth.


Counsel for the Commonwealth.
ON THETRIAL OF THos. MUNLEY, ATpoTTs-
VILE, PA, FoR THE MURDER OF THos.
SANGER, ATRAvEN RUN, scHUYL.
KILL COUNTY, ON sEPTEM-
BER lst 1875.
The recent trials at Pottsville and
Mauch Chunk, for the numerous mur-
ders committed in the anthracite coal
regions, have attrneted universal at
tention, and has fnlly established the
fact that there exisp..i1 those counties
secret oath bouncpontica@ organiza-
ton, known as the Gollie Maguires,
who, at their meetings, in n regular
business way, appoint committees to
burn property; menace and murder
men whom they cannot control. As
this organization had at one time, if
not now, a ioot-hold in our county. we
propose TO lay the argument of Mr..
Gowen before our readers, so that they
may learn just how this band of assas-
sins deport themselves wherever they
obtain foot-hold. Hundreds of mur-
ders have been committed within the
past four years, in the coal counties of
this State, and the murderers successful.
ly concealed, until recently six or eight
of the Mollies have been committed in
Carbon and Schuylkill counties, and
will be hung at no distant day. We
have most emphatically declared that
it is our belief that the tendency of all
secret oath bound political organiza-
tions is to the same end, II makes no
difference what name the consprators
may assume. A full hedged Mollie
Mcguire is man who is ready to as
sail the life, liberty, property and hap
piness of his fellow-man, awaiting the
orders of his associate conspirators to
execute thom. 1t becomes the duty OF
every citizen who fears God, loves his
country and his fellow TO use his
influence to crush out and expose this
band Of organized murdercrs.
Mr.. Gowcn addressed the jury on
behalf of the Commonwealth as fol.
lows
With submission TO your Honors
gentlemen Of the jury; 1t is frequent
" customary for lawyers, in opening
cause, TO refer to ii as one of great
importance. am sure that you will
bear with me, when | say that | do
not exaggerate the merits of this case
in stating that it is perhaps one of the
most momentous trials that has ever
been submitted to q jury in this coun.
try. II is one Of that class of cases,
which, for so many years, has disgrac.
cd the criminal annals Of this country.
For the first time, after struggling un-
der reign of terror that has extended
over twenty years, we are placed front
TO front with the inner workings Of a
secret association, whose members, act
ing under oaths, have perpetrated
crime in this country with impunity.
/ desire to say, at the outset of my
argument, that when a man is on trial
for his life, no matter what may be the
gravity OF his ofense, and no matter
what may be the circumstances con-
nected with his participation in it, il is
due to the administration Of justice
that he should have fair and impair
tial trial. In my opinion, II is as i'm
portant for the administration OF jus
ticc that the prisoner should be tried
fairly and openly by an impartial
Court and jury, as that he should be
tried at all and if it is necessary TO
vindicate the ends of justice that Grim
inals should be tried and executed, II
is equally of the same importance that
they should be tried fairly and openly,
and that justice should be administer
cd according to the forms of law, as
they have come down from our fathers
and that the prisoners should have the
assistance of able and experienced
counsel for the defense. And want
to say here that am not one OF those
and ! hope there are very few in
this country-though from some re
marks which have heard, | fear there
are some-who would reflect in any
manner upon a member of the bar ioI
undertaking the defense of criminal
in Court of justice, no matter what
may be the enormity of his clicnt'
crime If this prisoner is guilty, h,
must be punished, and be will be pun
ished but il Is of infinite Importance
that lie should be punished alter hav
ing had the assistance of the ablesi
and most experienced counsel at tn,
bar. | have no reflections TO max,
against our friends on the other side
! have no word Of roproof for them fol
conducting this mans case. On th,
contrary, believe that n lawyer VIII,
runs the gauntlet of public sentiment
by conducting the defense of crimi
nal whom the community has perhaps
adjudged guilty, deserves higher com
mendation and greater praise for fear
lossly fulfilling his duty than does HI
who enters upon the prosecution OF I
case in which he believes there can b.
no end but conviction.
We ask nothing here but an impair
tial trial. We ask no sympathy, ant
invoke no predjudicc. We try thi
man according to the law; and &C
cording to that law which you hav,
sworn TO administer, we ask you Il
convict hlm. What is this case? Oh
the lst of September last, Thomas San
ger u young English boss miner,
man between thirty and forty years o
age, who, so far as we know, may no
have had an enemy in the world, lef
his house in the morning TO go TO HI
daily work. II there is anythin,
which should be accorded to a mem
r Der OF free government, if there !
any right which the humblest man il
this country should possess, IL is th
right to labor for the support Of hi
family, without hindcrance or molesta
ton from any one. Going forwar
, and onward in the performance Of hi
|, duty, and the prosecution Of his dali
work, this man was confronted by on