New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-01


secretary. The motto Of the society was "Tena'
prop0sih" Mr. Clarke was invited to attend the meet
ing, but he declined the ground Of inexpediency
This meeting resolved to pay Mr.. Clarke maximum
pnce or 81 an rent. At the. second
meeting. the committee appointed 10 call upon
Mr.. Clarke reported that he had ignored the
proposition and resolution passed TO prevent the
occupation OF hs lands unless he should consent to the
tenants proposals At the third meeting OF the society,"
held on March o. 1874, resolutions adopted not TO
cultivate Clarke's land for the of 1874 Other
meetings followed. property was burned, and MI
Clarke found difficulty in obtaining suitable tenants
MoNTANYE's CONNECTION WITH THE CASE
MI Clarke further says that he has been informed by
the detectives that MOnanye admitted to them that ne
was a member OF the Montgomery Tenants Mutual
Society; that he knew all their plans and move
ments, and that he had participated in them
1t is also claimed! that whenever the hres
occurred, Montanye was seen about CharlesJon four
Corners. After the second IRE, when tO0k pace %
AIRY 1874 Mr. Clarke Instituted proceedings In Mont
gomery County. MOntanye was examined ana heid Ior
trial the charge Of having set IRE to tue o6d hag
which lie procured, but has never been HctuanB uis-
charged Fires have constantly oeGrc1 bousandS
the present time ana property worm tn1 pt tn
dollars has been destroyed, and Is believed tnat le
soeiety still eXsts although lts noTee,s src sS De-
tectiye Police Agency Of tnis city las Deeh en-
Robert b. Gee, Of Fonda, who for six years mas been
the agent OF Mr. Clarke IN Montgomery County, nus
OF one OF the fires Montanye remarked TO MN TITLES,
you are good fellow, ana could tell you good deal
about this burning business, but will not tell any hng
to help George Clarke"
The ailayiIs OF the detectives rcoto conversations
had with tbe people of Charleston -Four Corners aud
state that several occasions, Monanye distinctly u-
mitted that the sole object OF the Mutual SO
ciety was the destruction Of ClaFkes p,0perg
that he was q member Of toe society ana
knew OF all its doings TO bind Its members
the society had oaths with penalty OF us seu
allege that sometimes he could not sleep Tor Whols
week for fear that Clarke would discover that ne hau
fired the buldings The reason Montanye gave I9r DC
ing communicative was because several OF
the sGeeiy m M !, n"d ess sP'Fsn CIV and he
frequently made appointments with tue officer To meet
Clarke and make inl eJnIessio, Dnt on ecn
said that he was not quite ready ana plead Tue aea
penalty OF his OATH II he made the disclosure ne IN
tended to secure Clarkes promise not TO prosecute nun
Monanye has been employed recently as truckmah IN
WHAT TIE PRISONER SAYS.
Montanye is tall, ank man, about thrty-s K years
old Of dark complexion, with long, unkept nearly black
hair He has a mustache and peculiar side whiskers.
He WAS dressed in wOoen shirt and coarse brown
oyeralls the latter tucked INTO high boots As he
sOuched loosely and swiftly INTO me Visitors room ~
the Ludlow Street Jail last evening his appearance was
In conyersatio about the suit and his arrest he
said: II bave been at work in tho city nearly
two years. When I first came here l brought
recommendations from Dr. Burdisk and other good
previously. got work at first IN HoDoken, ana from
trnck about year ago have been driving truck ever
since and taken from il when arrested. boarded
jersey City have heard Of the ASSOCIATION spoken Of
I'm the complaint against me, but never member
OF aud never attended any Of It's meetings. do not
know it's otec flOm hearsay but ihnk they were
~ prevent any increase OF rent among Csrkes tenants
/ was never q tenant OF Mr. Clarke's. and
never worked his Land except on my father
farm while he leased OF Clarke / have
not lived In Charleston for least six years, and
know nothing Of the fires am said 70 have set except
what | have heard others say. have heard great
deal OF talk about them and have told many times,
suppose, some OF the things have heard said. i
know
such cause as That never set any OF the nres aud
never assisted others In setting them. have been al
three years ago, / think was released on
bail, but Mr. Clarke DID not Eppesr against
avoided Charleston has been charged but have been
in the vicinity several tmcs the last time within few
months But they preferred 90 arrest me here. sup
pose knowing that could not get bail, am innocent
Of the charges brought against me-"