The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-02-15
a MOLLY M aguire Trial.

BlouMsr, r., PA, Feb. q, IS. Ihe
eXcit ement in the court incident to the
MOLLY Ma9uires TRIALS of Hester, Mciugn
and fully was intensified this forenoon
by the appearance of Mrs hea, the Wild
ow OF the murdered man, upon the wit
ness stand Her testimony simply racit-
ed the fact OF her husband leaving home
on the morning ot The 9Th OF October,
1865, which was the last time she ever
saw linn alive; also the brmgin" home
OF his body on the day following.
Or Retterly, who made the posl-mor-
tenn examination, described the appear
ance Of Alexander Rea's head after if was
ridd!cd by the bullets of his assasSins, any
one of which bullets was sufficient to xiii.
The climax of the thrilling trial was
reached, however, when Manus Gull, or
kelly the Bum, b" was placed on the Wit
ness stand for the prosecution. lie is the
man who fired the first shot at Alexander
Rea, and who has now turned States evil
dencc against his companions i'll crime.
His story OF the devilish deed held the
crowded court spellbonnd, and the large
audience was rs still as death while he
told of how that desperate band Of ten
men plotted and prepared for the murder
Of the mine superintendent. lie said that
Pat Hester was the first who suggested
the crime, ut the saloon OF Il man named
Donohue, where Il dozen " Molly Ma
CURES were present, including the wit
ness and Mcliugh and FULLY, who We're
on trial. Hester, he said, stated that the
murder would be Il good thing. as Rea
would have at least $50, 900 in his posses
sion. This was on the night of the 10th
On the morning of the 18th Of October,
1868, nine Of the Molles set out at dawn
on their deadly mission. Hester and three
others turned back after going a little
way, and five, including Kelly, went on
to do the deed. They hid themselves in
the woods on the roadside, between Cen
tralia and Mount Carmel, where they
waited several hours and drank freely
from a whiskey bottle they had with
them. 1t was customary for Rea to have
his little boy with him in his buggy, and
the murderers held council as to what
they should do with the lad when they
would kill his father, in case he was
along. One of the number, who knew
MIR Rea better than the rest, went out on
the roadside to give the signal as soon as
the doomed man was to appear. Two
buggies passed by, and the murderers
levelled their revolvers at the occupants,
only TO lay them down in disappointment
when they saw their expected victim was
not there AT last he came in sight. The
picket gave the signal and when Rea
drove by the assassins rushed from their
ambush, and the witness says that he
called on him to surrender. Rea then
handed him his watch and $50 in money,
whereupon Kelly asked FULLY what they
would do with the man. Tnlly replied,
kill him. OF course; ! won't be logged
through the country for my life by any
one" Then they fired simultaneously at
the Superintendent, who attempted 10 es-
cape through the woods, but was already
wounded and fell bleeding on the grass
The assassins rushed upon him, and Tul-
ly, placing his pistol TO the PROSTATE
mans ear, discharged bullet into his
brain, after which they ran Oft and diyid
ed the money.
The pent up agony Of the audience dur
ing the recital Of kelly's fearful story
broke forth in expressions Of horror when
he reached this point.
In cross examination Hon. j. W. Kyon,
tor the defence, drew from the witness q
| confession of long catalogue Of crimes,
including highway robbery, murder and
indecent assault, in which he had previ.
ously implicated. Gull says his right name
is Manus Gull that he was member OF
the Molly Mcguire Society along with
Hester and the others, and that it was one
and the same as the Ancient Order of Hi
bernians.
Hon. F. W. Huges proposes to prove to-
morrow by the testimony of Detective Nc
ParIan Mutf, Lawler and others who arc
here. the criminal character of the society
The town is in a feverish state of excite.
ment this evening and hundreds are com
ing in from the surrounding settlements
to hear McParlan tell the story of his ex
perience among the Mollies.
This, the last and greatest Of the trials
has produced more profound sensation
than any of its predecessors. The Mollie'
have been driven to the wall and are max
ing desperate struggle for life.