Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-21
BOUND BY AN OATH
TO SHED THE BLOOD Of MEN
les Asnhsss Banded. II II Bald. sss the
Paspsss of Killing Judge eeskin
and Hs Followers.

TorxxA. KAa-, Jsa- aA-Tne sus-
eeaspiraey 70 Kill Judge Bstkia. Pit
zsr. an attsrasy. Dunn. sheriff, szd
two or three other psrsols In the south
west has been fully substantiate4i. The
surprise Vas hoig atsnsd when the plet
was f0aad TO include parties In the
city. Eyideaee has aet yet besn ss-
cured that will convict tho latter, bat
still the evidence 10 such that outside
OF . court there would be no heaitatiou
In accepting as true the charges made
swssa to KILL
Three men residing in widely sepa-
rated localities have furnished inior-
nation concerning the masked men
and their forecasts have always bsen
correct proving that they have never
made guesseS While they are not
ready CT this time to reveal the full
enernity OF this criminal organ
izatson. thsy have learned enough OF
its workings 10 show that three sep
arate oaths bind the msn bers to obey
the orders of the inner council with
out question. even though they may he
commended to the take life Of their
dearest relatives
Sixty-Fivs Members.
In the counties of Haskell, Grant,
Stevens and Seward there are sixty
five nesabers. all o. whose names have
been furnished Judge Botlia. These
men are taken only from The alliance,
and even then the utmost care il used
In selecting proper material The
meetings arc held only at Springfield
and at Woodsdale, where the three do
grces are taken
Three Awful Oaths.
The hrst degree binds tho member
to stand by each other in public and in
private, and to defend each other ~
the risk Of life. Il necessary. The up.
plicant Is pledged. under penalty oil
having his residence burned and his
stock and crops destroyed. never - 70.
veal aught that may csme - his
knowledge concerning the sections Of
any member.
When taking the second degree he
swears TO join any member or mem
bers in the pfetsction Of their rights
and in resentiAe any personal afFron,
or injury. II he fails In responding
when called upon or reveals any con
tenplAted action on the part OF Eel
low member his life may be declared
forfeited BY the council 70 which he
belongs.
II will be noticed that In these two
degrees there Is NO provision for en-
ferciug tho penalty. Every member i.
expected to take all three degreea In
tho final degree he places himself NJ the
disposal Of the inner council in life and
death. He swears to faithfully exc.
eute any orders issued him by that
council He II given to understand
that the power Of this ''seeret order Of
justice" will be directed against the
enemies of one or all of the organize
oon. He further swears that
when ordered to destroy" any
menber proving traitoroua OF
even suspected of being such,
that he will unhesitstingly obey such
mandate. When called out bv the in
ner council or by one member thereof
he swears to obey, holding himself In
readiness at all times to join any party
for the determination OF common
enemiea Failing in any part Of hi.
obligations, he places his life at ths
disposal of his comrades
Net Before Dann Was Killed.
II has been learned that q meeting o.
this organization was held in a de
serted hotel At Springfield the night be
fore the Dunn murder 1T which forty
one men were present There are nc
rituals or written work. The oath.
are administered by one OF three meu
who ARC now definitely located.
This information comes from one o.
three men who joined the society whit
hns been spirited away to a place o.
safety. The other two are still in thai
county. They will be enabled I.
strengthen the evidence they already
have as soon as the proper time comes
Within two weeks the plans Of thu
prosecutor will DO SO fully matured
that arrests will begin, when oil the