The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-11
BY HARRy NEWTON GARDNER.

B1 HARRY NEWEON UAktAtN nths. ty. following what was probably the greatest individual piecee of deteetlVe work In the history of crime, James Mcfarland has again suddenly entereu the Hnelight f publicity Tn connec- tion with another series Of cTlmihal hunts which promses to eclipse hs fof- rner great record.
 It was Mcfarland, or, as his name was then spelled McParlan. who In 1876 con- cluded his work of nearly three years, which resulted in the complete over throw of the Moilie Maguires. which until the recent TBlack Handy and perhaps the criminal faction of the Western Miners Federatfons which Mir. Mcfarland is now engaged in running down. was the most remarkable and dangerous lot of men ever organized in the United States for the perpetra- tion of crime.
 MT. Mcfarland said a few days ago that the crimes in connection with the Western mining troubles which he Is now engaged In ferreting out. as shown by the confession of Harry Orchard and other evidence that he has. will eclipse those in which he played such prom inent part in the anthracite mining region of Pennsvlyania over thirty years ago. If that is so. 1t will show a condition in the Western mining reg ion even worse than the bad state that most newspaper readers already knew existed there.
 Sent Twelve Men to Gallows.
 It is doubtful however. if in connee- fion with those crimes the work and testimony of Mr. Mcfarland will re- fult in sending twelve men to the gall lows and over twenty others to States s prison under sentences aggregating over 120 wears. the result that crown ed his efforts in connection with the iawlessness that reigned for ten years fin the Eastern mining region.
 As in the present instance. the work of the Moliie Maguires was the out (growth of labor troubles.
 The true story of the work Of James MePar1an. or, as he was known to the Mollies. James McKenna, ir breaking uu that famous band is as thrilling and interesting as any fiction al account Of the doinss of Sherlock Holmes" or Cap Collier"
 The Mo1lie Maguires constituted an organization. started in Ireland, which began a work of crime In the mining district nf Eastern Pennsvlvania fin the carly sos Mir Mcfarland says that at least twenty-six murders. besides other crimes, can be laid to the door Of the criminals alleged to be associated with the Western Miners Association. Even if that Is so, 1t is doubtful If
 
 assault. arson. and other crimes in which the Mollies figured from 1863 to 1878. although 1t was only for few of the more, atrocious acts that mem bers of the order were ever brought to account.
 Reign of Terror Existed.
 Many of the crimes were committed against the mining and railroad com panies. their suUerintendents or fore men. In the early '70's 1t became evi- dent that these acts were the work Of an organized band working in more or less systematic manner, until by 1873 a regular reign of terror existed through the entire mining region. From Pottsville to Carbondsle. The skull and erossbones or coffin warnings be- came more feared than the same signs ever were under the lawless rule Of the Ku-Kiux or White Caps, Such warnings were not to be taken lightly. and many men on receiving them would give up good positions and hurriedly move from the country.
 The situation became so bad late in 1873 that Franklin B. Gowen, presi- dent of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and mining companies. called to bis aid Allan Pinkerton, chief of the detective bureau that he had founded. told him to take such steps as were necessary to break up the criminal or der placed at hls command $25.o00 for that purpose, and told him to draw on the company for more when that mon- ey was exhausted.
 AIePar1an Selected for Task.
 From a partial investigation Into the situation MT. Pink srton decided that the only way in which the order could be broken up was from the inside, and for that purpose. to do the work al- most unaided. Mir. Pinkerton selected James MsParlan, young 1rishman con- nacted with the Chicago branch of the detective agency.
 Changing his name to James Me- Kenna, the young detective went to the Echuylkill district of the mining region