Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-06-27

bon.men" and other societies Of kin.
dred character were in ireland almost
~, asc.6.ss-y Eses- y ~. tlAa A{Ssraae~'
AHSaaCSIkeNuasaaatEs,snlneSS
cret societies were moved by patriot.
ism and q desire to free country they
believed to be oppressed, while in Penn
sylvania the "Mollios" were without
a motive for even banding themselves
into q secret society. The numberless
crimes that have been committed by
the latter can only be attributed to an
unnatural thirst for blood and to a
mistaken idea that through system
of murder and terrorism, they would
be enabled to obtain power and wealth
otherwise than through the usual
channels. The TORN "Molly Mcguire"
has only Of late years been applied to
the desperadoes Of the coal region.
Fifteen years ago they were known as
the "Buckshots,' and during the draft
converted parts Of Luzerne and Carbon
counties into a perfect hell. The as
sassins and robbers invariably escaped
punishment by intimidation or perjury
Of witnesses and jurors. McParlan,
the Irish detective who connected him
self with the order in 1873, testified
on the witness stand that the Molly
Maguires was but another name for
the branches ofthe A. 0. H., which are
located in the coal region. lie sue
cecdcd in obtaining the position Of Sec
retary OF division. He stated that
the order had its origin and fountain
head in Ireland.
[The name Molly Maguires was sim
ply transfer of the name of the wild
band Of maskers who terrorized Tip.
perary and the adjoining counties of
Ireland in the days of tho land riots. ]
From Ireland came the passwords and
signals issued quarterly to the subor-
dinate branches in other parts of the
world. Tho initiation is simple. The
novitiate kneels bareheaded while q
document called a test is read to him.
The test contains the general rules to
be observed. They are to obey the
officers in all things lawful, but not
otherwise, to report il they hear mem.
bers ill.spoken of, and to keep the So
crets Of the organization. The candi-
date then kisses tho test and is decar-
ed member There is a national of.
fee in the United States with head
quarters in New York. The national
officers are selected by the State Off
GERS, who are selected by the county
officers, who are chosen by the division
officers, who in turn are elected by the
members OF their division. The chief
division officer is the body master. Nc
Parlan stated, however, that the prac-
tice OF the organization in this country
was widely different from the precepts
laid down in the test constitution and
bylaws. Punishment is never in6ict-
ed for crimes committed on persons
outside Of the order. On the contrary,
such conduct is highly esteemed, and
if member informs on another who
has committed crime he is expelled.
When q member has grievance
against an outsider he lays bis case
before the head Of his division or lodge,
who is called the body master and it
is considered by his officer, together
with the most trustworthy members
of the lodge, and those only. If the
offenders death is determined on, the
body master Of neighboring division
is called on TO furnish men to do the
work who are unknown to the intend.
ed victim, the understanding being
that the courtesy will be reciprocated
when required.
Thus the murderof Yost, in Schuylkill
county, was planned, because he had
given offense to a man named Duffy,
who had been arrested some time be-
fore. The division to which McGeghan
and Boyle belonged was called on to
furnish assassins, and did so, and in
return Duffy's division undertook the
work Of killing John p. Jones, the
Dansford mine boss who had discharg-
cd McGcghan, and so incurred the lat
ter's enmity, and the contract was
faithfully performed
Such was McParlans testimony.
Its truthfulness as regards to practices
of the Molly Maguires throughout the
coal regions was proved by corrobora.
tive testimony, and the confessions of
the Mollies themselves.