The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-11-01


pendence u ~. United States the l0s,h
(Signei) CHEsrKa A. Arthur
ny Tive President.
fsEpEEicg I. fnELlsonursES.
Secretary Of State.
Youthful CrtminAis
Last week We published short accouu
Of the discovery Of : gang Of young rascal
with headquarters at Jamaica. VT. m
further particular. which We give below
sbo~ thst they bad . regular organization
Tor an extensive business. and that the
have evidently been reading dime novel
extensively. Dime novel reading is an
swersble for great many foolish IN,
criminal actions on the part Of young pee
pie Of the country The antics OF th
bad boy" Of Peek's .S1.. which have beef
sxtensivsly copied into the nswspapsrs o
the country As well y issued in book form
ssd sown broad cast over this land vii
have like tendency TO corrupt The chill
dren and youth OF the nation.
A grown up person may read such trash
without injury. but many children vii
seek 70 initiate the bad sctious, which srs
held up " be smart" Parents ought Il
provide their children with plenty Of good
reading and sss that they do not have 80
cess 10 bad.
The account from Jamaica is 10 follows.
"Actine under information obtained
from Merton q. Clark, now in jail. officers
Of the U. 8. Secret Service and the local
authorities made en- important discovery
In Wild and lonely gulch in the noun
tains . few miles from this village.
They 10 und the hsadquartera Of the Grim.
inal gang which for some time had been
coming spurious dollars aud committing
depredstions on the surrounding country.
Complete counterieiting outfits were
seized. including molds. boxes, kettles,
plaster OF Paris. bismuth. lead, etc. The
most interesting part OF the story is the his
tory Of the gang. which has begun extern
sive operations. II is q secret society OF
blood and thunder variety. now number
ing twenty three members. II was organ
ICED according TO records June 18th Of the
present year. Its members are young men
from IL to 81 years old. living in South
Londonderry. Jamaica. West Townsend
and Wardsboro, Vermont. and Ashuelet
and Winchester, New Hamp shire. The
baud was governed by captain, first and
second officers. secretary, Judge Of q rearms
and board Of directors. They style them.
selves the United Birds and Brothers.
They had organized an elaborate system Of
signals aud secret slphsbets, to which the
officers now have the key. Their secret
records are kept by n mystic system.
which is translated according 10 the key
by an arrangement Of fgures. A being
represented by figure /; b, O. etc.; J. 10;
X. 30; etc. The mem ers who have con-
fes.ed tell blood .curlling stories about
the process OF initiation. Each applicant
Was required TO take the following unique
oaths:
DO you solemnly swear upon your hon
or, by ell that is great and small. to for.
ever keep secret what we are about to tell
you. under the fear OF lying below the
rays OF the sun, moon aud stars by the
hand OF the united avengers. So help you
god"
Second Oath you solemnly swear
upon your honor TO never tell or cause to
be known by any being except yourself
and your informers the secrets we have
trusted you under the fear Of being
avenged by party which you know moth
Of at present. So help you God"
Third Oath Brother, knowing orr So
cret PURPOSE .. do you solemnly swesr- up
on your honor and by slltthat is great and
small. by the devil and Ill his imps, hell
and all its terrors, this world and oil its
dungeons. the United Birds aud Brothers
and all their avengers, never to betray or
cav To he betrayed. any one Of our party,
bnt always 10 defend ruch aud every one
Of US, through thick aud thin. 10 the last,
upon the fear Of being shot in vour tracks
or stabbed through the heart with .
nine inch baa, 50 help you God"
when lie last oath Was administer Ell.
says young CLARK, the applicant knelt, and
! cooked revolver. loaded with ball car
triigrs was held at his head. On one
the revolver was placed at the
head during the prosess Of
Of the hrSt oath. He got
scared ana started to run, bot was brought
back and the cersmoneI was completed
With some notifications.
Thus far the gang had coined consider.
bile bogus money. II is Of fair workman.
hip. The officers have found the source
II their supplies, lead, etc. The gang
has stolen hores!once or twice, but has
Tot got ready for The Wholesale career Of
rhine that vas contemplated. The lead
IN have fed aud officers are in pursuit.
Clark and Charles W. Stone, also Of
his place. were arraigned before United
states Commissioner Waterman and in de.
ault Of $1,000 bail were committed 70
ill to await the action Of the United
Itatss jury" ~