The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-02
COAL STRIKE RECALLS
M0LL|E MACU|RE DAYS.
Gen. GObin'S RecOlleCtiOnS of DOingS
of MurderOuSOrg OrganiZatiOn--It Was
BrOkenUpby pbyDeteCtiVe McParlan

set down was too much for the cross-ex.
aminer and the alibis were bowled over
right and left and many OF the alibi per-
Jurers sent 10 the penitentiary.
'Mur Lawler, one OF the worst Of the
Mollies, lived right across tho street
there. He was a bodymaster. as the
heads OF the Mollie Mcguire lodges were
called Nun got his nickname from the
fact that he was a great game chicken
fancier and had a breed OF fighting cocks
called 'mufflers. He and McParlan be-
came great friends and IL was through
him that McParlan. then always travel
ing under the name of McKenna was
taken into the Mollie organization and
thus was enabled TO got at the Mollie Sc
crets.
Muir escaped hanging and got off
with term In the penitentiary. 1 believe,
because he at one time saved McParlans
life. They became suspicious OF the de-
tective along toward the last and finally.
just before he disappeared. 10 reappear
soon after on the witness stand. the sus-
picion became a certainty. He narrowly
escaped being murdered on several ooca-
sions and l think II was Nun who saved
him on one OF these.
SAVED FROM LYNCHING.
The man was in deadly peril from all
directions. He had played hiS part so well
the lynching pitch by the villainies OF
the Mollies, picked him out just as / did
as one OF the worst OF the gang. Once
when his life hung by a thread at a viii
lage meeting at which he was present
and where suspicion was strong against
him. crowd of citizens was lying in
wait 10 lynch him as soon as the meet
ing broke up. He was saved by one OF
the Moliies-and IL strikes me 'Mur' was
the man getting him out for a moment
on some excuse and hurrying him away,
lodging both the lynching party and the
lnfuriated Mollies themselves.
Jack Kehoe was the head devil and
the brains OF the Mollies. He lived only
few miles from Shenandoah and his
drinking place was the general head
quarters or the gang for miles around
have been told that Kehoe was educated
Tor the priesthood and went wrong He
was a man OF decided natural ability,
and have believed that love OF power
was the secret Of his interest in the Mol
lies.
He aspired to political power, as well
as power over his murderous order and
over the lives and fortunes OF all persons
within the Mollie dominions. Jack was
hanged. man who saw him hanged
asked me II believed In the potency OF n
dying mans curse. asked him why.
" Well. he said Jack Kehoe cursed by
who had been most active in prosecuting
him and with horrible impreca tions pre-
dicted that not one OF them would die In
his bed Now. do you not recall! that the
three most active In prosecuting Jack did
meet with sudden and tragic ends7
General Gowan. then president OF the
Reading and the lawyer most active in ex-
terminating the Mollies. committed sui
eide In Washington. Another was killed
In n railroad accident. and still another
met violent end
RUMoRS OF MURDER.
"All this was true enough There were
rumors that General Gowan was not a
suicide. but that he was murdered by
avenging Mollies. These rumors gained
great currency and ! should not wonder
II there were many still who believe them
But Captain Linton made a very careful
investigation. and he told me that there
was not doubt that General Gowan killed
himself.
Captain Linton traced All his move.
ments the day before the night Of tn,
tragedy, and found out where and wher
he bought the pistol found by his hanC
after he had shot himself as well as
number OF other facts which left no doub
| that IL was plain case Of suicide, although
| the motive for the deed is still a mys
| terry II was In Chamberlain's hotel
Washington. when that hostlery was Il
the full flush OF Its fame that Genera
l Gowan shot himself
| Jack Kehoe had a wife who was
magnificent specimen OF a woman physi
cally. and just his mate In point OF iroi
resolution and relentless disposition. Sh
made you think Of a tigress She mar
r1ed again after Jacks death.
| 1T Is a good many years now sine
those dark days here In the anthracite re
| gion. but their horror was go great tina
4 the memory OF them II still as vivid Il
many persons minds as though they wer
Just but yesterday. Talk about the darl
| and bloody ground OF Kentucky--this III
| tie group OF counties In which anthracit
| coal IL mined has seen more tragedies an,
| wanton murder probably that any othe
| foot OF the country.
There Is hardly n place 20 which yo,
can 20 anywhere about here that Is no
| historical for some deed OF darkness"
A MURDER TRUST.
General Goblin Is quite right about tn
| memory OF the Mollies being still fresh Il
| the minds Of people here in the Goa
| country. Every strike like the presen
one revives the stories OF assassination
| done by that organization OF thugs--th
Moiiie Mcguire Murder Trust. Some o
| tho old Moliies still survive and are liv
| the coal country towns. But the subjec
is not a pleasant one for them. and gen
orally avoided by people speaking Il
| mixed assombiages.
Only the other day a party In n Potts
| VILE restaurant that got to talking II
| frank. loud voices about the Mollie Ma
| guires came In. unconsciousiy 10 them
selves for some scowiing looks from
! couple OF other customers near them. an,
the proprietor. with bated breath. whis
| pered that the two In question were rela
tiyes of Mollies and that the subject wa
stiil ticklish one.
Even some OF the newspapers In th'
coal country avoid the use OF the name o
the old organization az much as possible
BY lseral reign OF terror the Mollle,
sought 20. and for many years did, MAKE
their will law In the conduct OF nearly
all the coal mining Industries
lf fOrtdnsin OF etnpefintendent dis
pleased one Of them his nane was
brought before the secret conclave and
be was sentenced 90 death. And murder
followed the sentence with appalling cer-
taiufy. Their boldncss Increased until
their assassinations weTe not confined 20
those connected with the coal mines but
were extended % anybody and everybody