The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-19
TYPICAL M0LLIES.
The Men Who Made the Anthracite
Districts Howl.
CAMPBELL, KEHOE AND SLATTERY.
Personal Traits and Characteris-
tics Of the MurdererS.
PorrsvILLE, Pa, June IS. 1877.

LlCS VI l1lS uA Q1QC4 CAos
PoTTsvILLE, Pa, June IS, 1871
In three DAYS from the date OF this letter ten men
will be executed in this and adjoining county for
crimes which, II not IDENTICAL we're so closely allied in
The means used and ed for their perpera
lion that they can only regarded parts OF the
offence. On Thursday morning these murderers will
brought from their cells in pairs and hanged by the
aeck until they arc dead. within hearing and almost
within sight OF other men awaiting Ike doom or
serving terms OF imprisonment at labor for partic
pating IN the same offences. In all the annals ofcrmc
there was conspiracy widespread, so gem
era long continued and yet one cannot but feel
surprised at the meagreness OF the number OF persons
engaged in it with any positive knowledge OIL
the purposes OF the organization or actual share in
It's direction. A few crimes embrace nearly all The
consprators under whose manipulatons the outrages
were committed, and the men engaged in them have
been thoroughly identified that pen picture Of all the
leading Molly Magures becomes almost easy as ''rol
ing OIL log" Al Mauch Chunk Jail are Ave prisoners
in whom great deal OF interest centres-Thomas p.
Fisher, the county delegate OF Carbon county, con-
victed OF the murder Of Langdon, but not yet SEN
fenced; sYeliow jack, Donohue, who killed Powell ;
Alexander Cam pbo who melted and planned the
assassination OF both Jones and Powell and Michael j.
Doyle and Edward Kelly who directed the fatal shots
which feed John P. Jones in his tracks OF these the
four last named to BIO executed by Sheriff Raudcn-
bush Thursday In the jail at this place seven
convicted murdcrers-Jack Kchoc, tho county dele.
gate OF Schuylkill county, who might have
been convicted OF nearly every crime committed
in the anthracite regions since 1878; Thomas Munley,
who assisted in the murder OF Sanger, and Mcclellan,
Boyle, Duffy Carroll and Roariiy the Yost murderers
or these the six last named will be executed by Sheriff
Werner simultaneously with the execution Of the
Carbon county murderers The repetition of all these
names seems necessary, that the drGmatis perso6 OF
Tho bloody drama enacted In the coal regions during
tho last ten years may be ndeiiby lxod the mind
Of the reader before the curtain falls upon tho last sad
scene of ALL and 1t Is the purpose oil this letter. be-
sides, to give glimpse OF the minor character actors
IN melodrama startling that the widest imagina
ton OF the Bowery stage has found its parallel.
THE CARBON COUNTY TYPES
The personal characteristics OF a murderer always
possess romantic interest," winch takes color from
the nature of his crme In the OF these ''Molly
Maguircs It is mingled feeling of mystery and terror
which taxes possession of tho mind. When l walked
through the Jail and VISITED tho cells OF the prisoners
at auch Chunk this feeling exerted its power
with singular force and dislnctncss AS sat down In
Campbcls apartment and heard him pour out assevora
tons OF his innocence could not help sympathizing
with him in his extremity and almost persuaded nv
self to believe his truthiulness 1t is no wonder
Alexander Campbell cxerted SO much influence among
the young men who thought II q heroic thing to
NIT crime in tho OF "Molly Mcguire. " There is
q fascination about him even in prison, with the
shadow oil the gallows hanging over him In his own
saloon he must have beer power which found 1t easy
to command the reckless spirits OF the mountains ana
the Tail and straight. slight but snewy, dark
frOm con.
Gnement and almost gaunt from suffering; cunning
INSCRIPTIONS, grasplng and ambitious, not even
the clank OF his chains could rob his voice
OF its sympathetic chords as he mournfullY exclaimed
81 am innocent and will provo 1t in my last hour.'
In marked contrast to Tins man Thomas +. Fisher,
the real chiel oil the Order Carbon county As he
stood trembling before aud seemed aimessy reach
ing out If to clutch hope in the dim uncertainties
he a bundle OF tho most abect misery ever saw
No longer young not dminutive, ard yet contemplate
IN figure. without CLEAN Of intellect in his ooun-
tenance sneakng, cowardly and cruel, such was the
mental photograph made OF him In my few moments
OF conversation with him. Again. In marked contrast
both oil these Is yellow jack Donohue The others
scarcely look like criminals but "Yclow Jack" is my
beau ideal OF a murderer AS looked at him / could
almost fancy heard him saying 40 Chris Donneiy In
Michael C.arks saloon ave OF this side the mouniai
are Tranquil 10 yc beyant the mountain but for the
present can attend the affair oursel'sn Dark suen
cold, bloody, enes-without love for his KIND pity
Tor ms victims or regret tor his crimes, tearing
God and yet In mortal terror OF the dreadful mystery
beyond the grave, he is not simply feon but hend
The. two boys who shot Jones-Rely anu Doyle-are
unlike any one Of these and unlike each other Kelly
young, small, almost fragile and seemingly idiotic
boyle is lew years older, of good size aud figure
commanding IN appearance, open in count cnance ana
regarded amiable and kind hearted, had been
well brought up and wcre not known 70 indulge in dis
tipations of any kind. They had personal reasons
tor kilns Johcs, and did II only because Jcrry Kane
the bodynaster at Mount Lafco. detailed them
purpose, Doyle even manlicsting much enthusiasm
that he volunteered TO takc mans place in tho
performances vi what he evidently regarded as duty
These contrasts, so marked IN lace. figure in CHAR
acter and IN impulses show OF what discordant cle
mcnis the "Moily Magurcs" were composed, and only
increase the wonder winch attaches to their crimes
and the history OF the organization.
THE yosT MuaDERERs
The Yost murdefers common-lo looking lot
enough. intellectually, McGeehan who fired the fatal
shot, Is the best man In The unfortunate quintet He
IL uneducaied coarse and brutal but neither drunken
nor proiane, and, although he does not look like a
criminal, his appearance shows him determined
halter aud ruthless IN his hate, stopping at nothing to
encompass revenge, and Tree from either rcmorse
shame. Young and ambitious he knew IL was not u
heroic thing he was dong, but 10 him his was not
much CRIME as ar important ana Responsible uu-
ocrtakIng which would bring him all the credit
IL was done with neatness and despatch Boyle his
associate was young, careless, without ambition ana
without thought ,eyond the wblskey IN Jimmy kcr-
rigan's bottle. Duly, who had inssated the crime is
older than either Of the Others, aud, IL aot more
daring, more reckless and quarrelsomc. lie was even
revengeIui than McGecnan aud with less reason
Dark, strong IN build heavy IN feature ana looking
Ike Spanard, stranger would not care encounter
Thomas Duffy on lonely road on dark night any
where and IL may wei be conceived that IN The coal
regions, at time OF internal disorder and conflict such
existed IN 1S74-'75, hc would be very bod or
very reckless man VINO would dare to offend HIM The
tragedy which cnsued the best illustration of his
character. Five men urc 10 be hanged on Thursday
because Policeman Yost put Thomas Duny IN the
lookup at Tamaqua. OF Roarity aud Carroll very
little is TO be Said The one was body master Of Coal.
dale division; the other kept tavern. Roth
were married, approaching middle lie,
dustrious, quiet and unassuming. Under or.
diuary circumstances aud surrounded by Ia
vorabIc crdlti0ns no better men or better
citzens could be iound anywhere than James Roarliy
ana James Carroll They fell victims to sat | am
compelled 10 call MOLLY Maguirsm, 10 Indicate that
an speaking Of disease rather than a society, and
IL Is because they iinbucd with The spirit
OF wicked and dctcstabe organ eaton that they
have brought themselves To the gaiows Tor completely
ia crime Tor when there excuse. Koarity is
without amy positive traits OF character whatever aud