Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-05-19
EXPOSURE Of the HOLLY Maau,rc..

molly MUguiTeSs by what TIES Tue Or
ganzation was held together, what were its
signs and pass words, and who were its
members these, aud most other matters
connected with its operations, have been
profound secrets. A shot or q stab in the
dark-the mysterious disappearance Of an
obnoxious boss or agent-tho firing of
houses and barns at night-theso have been
the favorile manifestations of tho order
In times when the mines were idle the
Molly Maguires have made themselves the
terror Of the whole region, holding the au-
thorities IN defiance, and working their
desperate Wills with little interference.
Yet the inner workings of the order have
been kept secret and would probably have
remained so had ii not been for n detective,
james McParlan, of the Plnkerton agency.
This man, with that disregard of personal
risk which is Characteristic of the better
class Of his profession, conrved three
years ago TO get himself admitted TO the
order. Ever since he has been busy study
ing its operations and collecting evide nee
against its members, and now in the open
court room at Pottsyille, before a crowd of
spectators largely made up of Molly Ma
guires, and at the trial of five members of
tho order for murder, he is exposing the
inner history of the organization and tell
ing the story Of its crimes.
1t appears that the real name of the soci-
ETY. is the Ancient Order Of IIbernians-
bu; branches of the same order which ex-
ist outside the coal regions are not credited
with any knowledge of or responsibility
I,,
there. Only Catholic Irishmen eau belong
to the order, and the initiation ceremonies
are simple. Members are sworn TO keep
the secrets Of the organization, TO report If
they hear members i'll spoken of, and to
obey the officers in all things lawful, but
not otherwise. The origin of the society is
in Ireland, from which coIntry the signals
and passwords arc sent out quarterly to the
subordinate societies in all parts of the
world. The practice of the organization in
the coal regions of Pennsylvania differs
from the rules laid down in the constitu-
ton and bylaws. Punishment is never
inflicted for crimes committed on persons
outside of the order; and If Il member in
forms on another who has committed crime
he is expelled. When a member has
grievance against an outsider he lays his
case before the head of his division or lodge,
who is called the "body-masler," and il is
considered 10y this officer and a council Of
the most trusty members. If the offend
er's death is determined upon, the body
master of a neighboring division is called
on to furnish men to do the work who are
unknown to the intended victim, the un
Outstanding being that the courtesy will be
reciPr6cated if requir ed. Thus, in the
murder of policeman Yost, the case now
on trial at POttsyille, the crime was plan
ned because he had arrested 4 man named
| Duffy, a member of the order. Duny's di-
vision called on a neiGhboring division to
furnish asslssins, and two men named
Boyle and Mcclellan were detailed for the
work. The latter division had job on its
hands in the case of the mine boss at Lans-
ford, John p. Jones. The contract was full
| filled TO the letter. Boyle and Mcclellan
killed Yost and DuGy's division recipro-
Gated by killing Jones.
There was a sensation in the court at
Pottsville on Monday when the detective
McParlan, after detailing the circumstances
connected with The murder of Yost and
Jones and the terms of the contract arrang-
ing for IT., proceeded to name some men,
bers OF tho order. Among others he men-
toned Patrick Collins, ono of the County
| Commissioners of Schuykill, aud a man
named Condor, who had just been APP
pointed by Collins a night Waterman in the
Jail where the Molly Mcguire prisoners
were confined. President Goweu of the
Philadelphia and Reading railroad compa-
ny, who has been active in hunting down
the Molly Mcguire organizations and who
is volunteer counsel for the common
wealth in these cases, corroborated the de-
| tective's statements, and said Eo would
| prove that Collins had secreled prisoners
and had within few days made a visit for
which lie would be called to account be-
/ fore he Court. He added that the order,
as it existed in Schuylkill county, was
worse than the Thugs of India, being So
ciety whose object was deliberate murder,
arson, robbery, and the prevention of the
detection Of crime. \ large force of spe-
cia police is on guard in the court room to
prevent rescue of the prisoners, and the
detective McParlan is guarded night and
The trial is not yet concluded, but the
evidence already given is sufficient to
prove a condition of things even worse
than had been supposed. The revelations
which have been made read almost like ro-
nance, but there is no doubling their truth.
With the testimony which McParlan has
secured the authorities of Schuylkill conn
" will have themselves to blame If they dc
not stamp out the last vestgo of Molly Ma
guireism in that region. The best way to
do it would be TO hang promptly every man
convicted of murder, and to sentence Ia
long terms in the Penitentiary the mer
who were accessories to the crimes. Ii
this way this horrible business of bartering
human lives might be made an end OF; bu
only the nfliction of swift and severe pun
ishment will answer.-BoStOn Journal.
| Wnnnr Mn MONEY! CANE