Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-08-17

and Is the only instance In the history
Of the State where q new county has
been created by joint resolution. II
was approved by tho Governor, OF
course, and thereby became q law. 1t
was near the close Of the session and
the joint rules would not allow its pas.
sage in any other form. He did this
TO oblige felIow-p pioneer in tho wids
of the new county, Cyrus Blood. Sub.
sequently, Forest county was enlarged
its primitive limits were quite circum.
scribed.
THE ABDUCTION OF WILLIAM MORGAN.
The connection OF Judge Gills with
the abduction of William Morgan, OF
Batavia, New York, the exposer OF the
secrets Of Masonry, rendered him no.
torious through life. He was tried at
Canandaigua, N. Y, in connection with
the affair and charged with being one
of the abductors Of Morgan. He was
accused of being one Of the party who
helped to convey him from Batavia to
Fort Niagara, whittier he was taken,
no doubt, in close carriage, and re-.
lays of horses were furnished by the
brethren slong the route, thus insur.
ing rapid and secret transit. At the
trial he was defended by John Q. Speni
Ger, n lawyer then Of great reputation,
of Canandaigua, afterwards Secretary
Of Warand OF the Treasury, who subso.
quently became noted in the politics
and Affairs of the country. The trial
resulted in the acquttal Of Mr.. Gills
and the affair led to the formation of The
party known in politics as the Anti.
Masonic party, which held an import
ant part in politics from 1927 to 1882
1t held such power in Pennsylvania
that in 1885 Joseph Rtner was elected
Governor by it. The removal of the
deposits from the United States Bank
developed new issue, and Morgan
and his platform dropped out of poll.
tics. At the time Mr. Gillis was ar
rested he was residing upon farm,
which he was clearing up, in what was
then Indiana county, Pennsylvania,
and which was on the old road known
as the Miiesburg aud Smetbport turn.
pike, six miles northeast from Ridg.
way. At the time OF his arrest be was
busily at work clearing the farm, which
was known then, and is now, as the
Montmorency farm. A Deputy Sheriff
from Ontario county, New York, came
there tor HIM. He was man who
Gillis hated most intensely, but he
kept him over night, us tho nearest
neighbor was sixteen miles distant.
The Sheriff had come there from the
town Of Indiana, the county seat, &C.
companied by Deputy Sheriff of that
county. The requisition of the Gov.
ernor of the State had been duly rec.
ognized by Judge Young, who was
then holding court at Indiana, and the
proper warrant had been issued for the
arrest. The party started on horse.
back the next morning for Indiana, "A
distance Of about one hundred miles,
through the woods The most part of
the way was only blazed line and
bride path for their route. A heavy
rain had caused the Clarion, tho Red
Bank and other streams 10 rise very
high, and the party was delayed three
days over the proper time making the
trip. Great anxiety was felt at Indi-
ana, caused by the delay, and the opin.
ion freely expressed that Gillis had
made way with both OF the officers.
Late one afternoon, however the com.
munity was relieved by the arrival Of
the overd1e party. ellis was handed
over to the Sheriff of the county, who
was Mason, and spent pleas.
ant night in the town with his brother
Mason. The next morning he pro.
cured writ of habeaS corpus to be is.
sued by Judge Young. Upon the hear.
ing discharge was refused. lie was
conveyed to the Canandaigua by way
OF Franklin and Erie, Pa, and Buffalo,
N. Y. Upon the route be lacked
neither food, drink or lodging. Dur.
ing the whole trip he refused to asso.
ciate or have anything to do with the
Deputy Sheriff who nominally had him
in custody-w would not let him ride in.
side the stage with him. Gillis plodg-
ed his word to the Sheriff before leav.
ing Indiana, through third party,
that he would accompany the Deputy
to Canandaigua peaceably and quietly,
but if any harsh means were used he
would not be responsible for the con,
sequences, and ironed he would not be-
A rescue could have been invited at
any point almost along the road. The
Sheriff knew this well he also know
that his prisoner was gentleman who
would keep his word, and he relied
upon it. When they arrived at Can
andaigua he was released Immediately
upon bail and he returned to Pennsyl
vania. At the proper time he went to
Canandaigua, stood his trial and was
acquitted. lie had tho full report of
the trial printed in Masonic paper or
magazine, called the Craftsman, pub.
lished at the time, which he kept care
fully. through life. His special friends
had access to IT, The writer of this at
one time requested Judge Gillis to
write up the history and his knowledge
ofthe Morgan affair and leave il sealed
and it should be kept secret in the
hands of the writer till after the death
Of the former, when it should be pub.
lished and thus throw somo light upon
the mystery. His reply was al don't
know, never did know what became
Of Morgan You know from what you
have read and what | have told you
what | was accused of. | have no
knowledge as 10 what became of him.
No information was ever impaired to
me, He was evidently taken to Mag.
ara Falls and passed into Canada from
one set Of men TO another At that
time most every British man.of.war
had regular Masonic lodge, acting
under charter from the Grand Lodge
OF Great Britain. Some of these were
stationed at Montreal, Quebec and Hal.
flax. He could have been easily taken,
or passed, from one to another, as be.
ing a man who had divulgcd the Sc.
crets of Masonry, till he reached one
which was about sailing to foreign
shore, and, carried there, kept in such
position that he could communicate
with no one, and ended his life in a
natural way. never believed that
he was murdered, either by drowning
or otherwise, as alleged. AT any rate
can leave nothing behind me which
will throw any light upon the subject,
and would not if | could. There are
many persons living now, descendants
of those who were implicated in tho
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