The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-18
STEPHEN HORsEY DYING.
Ex-Knight Of the Golden Circle I'm the
Martin County POOrhOuse.

louisville, Oct 1.-THE Courier-Jour-
nal saws: In the poorhouse of Martin coun-
ty. Indiana near Shoals, an old man is rap
idlv approaching death who at one time
became one of the most notorious figures
of an aeitated time. He is Stephen Horsey.
r1orsev together with Col. Lambin Milli-
gan Horace Heffron Col. Bowles and
number of other Indianians, was arrested
in 1864 on a charge of high treason, the ar
rests creating the greatest sensation, and
being the outcome of the discovery OF a
secret society called the knights Of the
Golden Circle, which was alleged to have
reasonable purposes. The men arrested
were taken to indianapolis and cast into
prison and treated with great cruelty and
rigor.
Their trials were held before a military
commission or court-martial in utter con-
tempt of the rights of citizenship and the
Constitution, members Of the comslis-
sion freely expressing themselves before the
trial that they intended to hang the men.
Horace Heffron, a prominent attorney or
Salem broke down under the strain and
made a confession. The other men We're
condemned to death by hanging, but at this
point Governor Morton interfered and
though he at first insisted on conviction,
was now as anxious for a modification OF
the sentence Pardons were offered the men
if they would apply. but Milligan utterly
refused TO do this and the case was taken
10 the United States Circuit Court on a
writ Of habeas corpus. General Hovey de-
clared that he would disregard the writ
were ii issued. The court could not agree
and the case was appealed to the United
States Supreme Court, which declared the
entire proceedings unconstitutional ana IN
violation of all law. The attorneys for the
accused men were j. T.. Mcdonald. j. ;.
F,lack James A. Garfield and David Dudley
FIeld the greatest array OF learned, loyal
and able men that ever pleaded together in
one case before one court Horsey retired
gladly from his involuntary not0rety, put
sfnce that memorable trial and acquittal no
history of the war time has been complete
without mention of mis- name.
The Knights of the Golden Circle, or Sons
OF Liberty, as the organization was sosne-
times called, was organized IN Orange
county Indiana. probably at French Lick,
where Colonel Bowles resided. Millgan and
Horsey organized the Martin county branch
and were active in the work OF installing
lodges Horsey was picturesque character.
and his ma ture partook of much of the rug
gedness that made his Martin county
hills wild and romantic. He was a justice
OF the peace at the time he was so active
ly engaged in the alleged reasonable work,
and was considered an influential citizen
Wesley Tranter, of Shoals, Ind had been
induced to join the lodge that met at
Stephen Horsey's house, near that town,
and it he who first gave the govern
ment a knowledge Of tie sOclety's existence.
Tranter alleged that there were two de-
grees In the X. G. c. In the first degree the
candidate took an oath TO support the
United States government and the Lincoln
administration. One week later the candi-
date received the second degree, and in this