Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-09-21
White Cap Revelations Made by One
VINO Joined---A Deteetive.

EVANSVILLE. IND. special: Startling
revelations concerning the operations
of the White Caps have been brought
to light by a well known detective at
present in this city, who several months
since was employed by prominent citi-
zens of Harrison, Crawford and Perry
counties to ferret out the workings of
the lawless gang. He Joined the or
ganization IN Harrison county about
two months ago, being sworn IN by a
branch organization. The oath de-
manded of every candidate is fairly
bloOded curding in its provisions, the
penalty of its violation being death, as
well requiring the deposit of $500 in
cash with the superior head of the or,
der, as forfeit for the least violttion
of any of the bylaws. A candidate is
also required to take an obligation in
addition to all others that he was ac-
cessOry to some crime-some outrage
of the White Caps for instance and
this he must voluntarily do before some
authorized magistrate and place In the
hands of the lodge which he enters.
This last requirement Is really the pre-
liminary step of the nOvititate before
his application for membership is con-
sidered. as 1t gives the lodge a power
full hold upon the candidate before he
knows a single one OF its secrets 1t
virtual " makes a man swear that he is
criminal and places the evidence of
his guilt into the hands of the White
Caps. The detective complied with all
these conditions, although with con
siderable feigned hesitations. Once
admitted he was again subjected to
many curious tests and much question
ing in order to test his sincerity
of these being a frightful OrdeOl in
which he found himself convicted OF
having entered the order with sinister
motives and condemned to be shot
therefor At the last moment, after
being led to a swamp, gagged and
blindfOIded, he was given an OppOrtu-
nifty to confess and save his life. These
stageg of initiation being passed, the
purposes of the order were then I'M
folded. The chief headquarters is near
English, Ind, though each county and
each township has its separate lodges.
The membership embraces a most
startling roll of prominent names in
c1lo1uS 10tltlIuS IdEIneES5 m6IC4lttuCS
and many county officials The fol-
lowing circular has been sent out to
the different lodges:
On THE OHIO, TO ali White Caps: Tt has
been announced in the public press that
Gov. Gray has seen fit to interfere with our
organization in answer to the clamerOus
lies which have been circulated concerning
our operations. As our counties are the
best judges of the coursoe OF the White Caps,
and as they have not interpo 3ed their au-
thoriUy to modest US, this interference upon
the part of the state authorities is unwar-
ranted and uncaIled for. We are willing to
be Judged by our acts, and by our own
neighbOrs and fell ow C tizens, but declare
our unalterable opposition to the invasion
of our counties by the miniOns Of Gov.
Gray in order to prosecute the White Caps.
1t has therefore been decided TO resist this
interference with blood, and the first one
Of our members who is subjected to inius-
tice shall either be released or avenged