The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-29

The Terror of the Mining Regions Taking
Shape Again-Mystesious Assassinations.

Pittsbure Special to New York Herald.
The mysterious murders IN the anthracite
regions of Pennsylvania during the past thirty
days have led to the belief in Pirtsburs and its
vicinity, where | have been eince Sunday last,
that Molly MAGNETISM, the curse OF the coal
fields, is once more taking an active. tangible
shape. That the association OF brutal coal min
ers known as Molly Maguires" have been very
active under the surface for the past year or two
has. l learn, been we'll known, both 10 the
authorities and to the politicians who have
handled the miners vote. Ii is an open secret
among the Democrats, both in the anthracite
and the bituminous coal fields OF the State.
that the elections of county and State
officials and members of the Legislature, as well
as the great majority for the Republican cleo
toral ticket this year, were largely contributed by
the coalition between the Republican party
managers and those men who once swayed the
coal miners organization.
1t is not pretended that in either the Knights
Of Labor, the Coal Miners Assembly or the
Amsleamated Association of Coal aud Iron
workers there is q preponderatins influence in
favor OF Molly MAGNETISM. Yet the Molly Ma
guire vote in eastern and western pennsylvania
was an important factor In the last election.
But really little has thus far been developed in
detail OF the connection between the politicians
and the Molly Maguires.
L gained to-day, however, from a detective
who has worked in sympathy with President
Corbin's coal and iron police In the anthracite
regions. with the coal and iron police OF the
western bituminous fields, with the de-
~tectives in Hooking valley, and with the
coal detective corps in the Cumberland
and Elk Garden fields, as well as with the
authorities in the lower Kauawha and Poca-
hontas coal districts OF West Virginia. very i'm
portaut information as to the Molly Mcguire
organization. While declining to give me at
present details as to names, locations and posi-
tive figures. this man said that the Molly Ma
CURES were to-day stronger in point of mem
bers, effectiveness Of organization and financial
resources than they have ever been in this
country.
II use the expression, this country explained
my Informant, because under another name
and with slightly different purposes the Molly
Maguires are most potent elements OF danger
and anxiety in certain European countries"
When pressed to give q definite color to his
statements the detective said significantly: On
the line of the Pennsylvania railroad. within
seventy-fve miles Of Pittsburg, there is a small
mining town which ia one of the worst nests Of
dynamiters and Molly Maguires in the United
States. 1t is equally active when an obnoxious
boss is to be %quieted, or when plans are being
laid and money is being raised for a Guy
Fawkes episode in the cellars at Westminster
beneath the noble lords and gentlemen.
This little mining town is full of dynamite ex-
perts, and it lie a fact within my own knowledge
that it has contributed more American dollars
per man to the Irish dynamite party-not to the
OrDonovan Rosa gang of blatherskites. but to
the actual destroying aneels-than any other
town or district in the United States. Among
this group of men are to be found some of the
real leaders of Molly Maguireism in Pennsylva-
MIA. Their own operations are conducted within
the bltuminous coal regions OF western Penn
sylvania. but in the general councils of the or
ganization these men are the peers OF those who
rule at Pottsville, Shenandoah. Wilkesbarre,
Mauch Chunk, Mahanoy City and the other
Eastern ~centers, and in the Hooking valley and
West Virginia.
indications here around Pittsburg of extremes
in Molly Mcguire criminal tactics. Men have
been beaten. driven from the mines, called scabs
and black sheep. and occasionally constables,
deputy sheriffs or special police have been spot
ted, but there have been no brutal murders OF
late.
In times gone by in the outskirts OF Pitts
burg and in Westmoreland county, near here.
there have been as horrible Ducheries Of objec-
tionable representatives of employers as ever
d~iseraced the anthracite region In the days of
Jack kehoe. 1 can show you to-day in the
records of the Criminal Court OF the district at
torney's Office in this county indictments for
murder against men still active among the
Mollles. These men have never been tried.
Some of their colleagues have been called to ac-
count before juries, but save IN one or two in
stances they have been acquitted by means of
the famous stock In trade defense Of the Molly
Mcguire organiZation-an alibl.
"Some of the spirit of the order was shown in
the Connellsville coke region a couple of years
ago, when tipples at the mines were burned and
a number of men were attacked at night, and
SN0hi III shC OIOo0 oyASA " m -
mass of the strikers in that case did not belong
to the Molly Maguirss, and were honestly ig-
noraut Of the order and its workings, but there
were enough members OF the organization
among them to leaven the whole with evil.
Among their leaders were and still are we'll
known Molly Mcguire workers.
dc / look for much criminal activity from
this sourcel / have looked for il for more than
q year. Cold weather and its consequent suf-
feriugs, real and fancied grievances and the
suilen. smoldering, ugly passions and desire
for revenge left from the defeat OF the great
anthracite strike of last winter will push to the
surface deeds OF violence before spring, l be-
lieve. II this crime wave starts there are rea-
sons known to the authorities which justify .
belief that it will reach q formidable height be-
fore it breaks against the gallows.
perhaps I have talked toofreely, and seem to
be an alarmist. Time will show how much I
an wrong in my forecast am going East to-
night, and il | should see you a month from
nov. or perhaps sooner, 1 might be at liberty to
give you specific grounds for my belief.
"And now let me ask through the Herald this
question: Have the authorities who have been
searching for the murderers of that paymaster
and his assistant who were killed near Mahanoy
City looked for those who by this crime could
appease at the same time a thirst for revenge as
well as their c~upidityl
mo. They have not, so far as l can learn,
made any such quest" my informant continued,
answering his own query. Perhaps they may
do this at about the same time that the London
police look Tor the Womao, or the man In W0m-
ans clothes. who has committed the White
chapel murders.
The story OF the detective which / have just
transcribed, startling in its details as 1t is and
tending to prove as it does the resurrection OF
the Mollie Maquirs organization, is in strict 40
cordance with information already in my
possession when heard it.
During last winter, in my travels through the
anthracite coal fields, at the time of the great
strike among the coal miners in the Schuylkill
region, l was Informed by several persons that
Molly MAGNETISM was merely ''scotched'-not
killed. Men were pointed ou: to me on the streets
Of Pottsville, Shenandoah and other towns who
were said to be members of the dreaded
association of thugs, and whose freedom
from punishment was due partly TO political in
huence, and in greater degree to the fact that
the organization to which they belonged was
then quiescent. It was predicted, however, that
the time would probably soon come when they
would be led into some act of violence at the
behest Of the order, which would result in their
sharing the fate of Jack Kehoe and his asso-
ciates. The organization, ] was told, was merely
bidiug its time, strengthening itself by degrees
and preparing for a repetition of the outrages
which had made the name MOLLY Mcguire in
famous throughout the civilized world.
Such dread of consequences pervaded the en-
tire region among men who knew something Of
Molly Maguireism, and condemned the crimina
principles and practices Of the order. and yet
did not dare to make any deroeatory remark
concerning it in the presence OF any of their
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