The Jasper news., 1907-06-20

Work That Was Responsible for
the Present Sensational Trials at
Boise, Idaho - Lived for Years
Among the "Mollies," Where His
Life Literally "Hung by Thread"
Philadelphia there is but
slight resemblance between the horri-
BILE crimes committed in the mining re-
gions of Idaho and Colorado and the
bloodcurdling deeds perpetrated in the
mining regions of Pennsylvania a gen.
GRAFTON ago, there is this extraordinary
link between them, that the same man
was instrumental in procuring the
most important evidence for the gov
ernment in both cases.
James McParlan, easily the greatest
of living detectives, did more than any
other one man to break up that terri
BILE organization known as the Molly
Maguires. James McParlan, "a years
later drew from Harry Orchard in the
Idaho penitentiary confession" OF
more awful crimes than the Mollies
ever dared to contemplate.
Membership in the Mollies was not
confined to miners There were saloon
keepers, tradespeople, artisans, Office
holders and men of no occupation in
the organization. BY whom 1t was
started, and for what purpose, have re-
mained secrets. It's motto was
Friendship, Unity and True Christian
Charity" and the meetings Of the
lodges and of the county conventions
were opened with prayer Then, after
prayer, the business of making plans
for assassination would be taken up.
1t was not, however, until in the
early Cos that murders became fire.
quent. Some boss of a mine, some OBJ
noxious policeman who had clubbed a
drunken Molly, some miner who had
incurred some displeasure of a men,
ber of the order, or some citizen who
had spoken Of 1t disrespectfully would
be either beaten within an inch Of his
life, or murdered occasionally. But
the crimes were sporadic. During the
civil war they increased rapidly in
number, and by 1871 there was reign
of terror in the whole anthracite re.
gion, extending over five counties.
During that year and the year follow
ing there were 4S murders and in.
Vulnerable assaults and crimes against
property.
McParlan Becomes a Molly.
Gradually the enmity of the Mollies
was directed toward the mine owners
and the railroad corporations. One
boss after another, who had made him
self unpopular with the miners, was
murdered. Mines were blown up OF
filled with water. Railroad property
was burned or destroyed. Finally
President Gowan, of the Philadelphia
G. Reading Coal and Iron company
seeing that the city and state authori
ties were rowerless, determined to
.call on the Pinkertons for aid. They
sent McParlan to the scene. That was
in 1873 when McParlan was 29 years
old
McParlan came from the Pinker
tons Chicago Office. He was born II
Ireland, had come to this country
when young man and had had con
siderable experience with the world
Short and slightly built. but muscular
of fair complexion, with dark hair
broad forehead and gray eyes ant
wearing glasses, he presented a gen
tlemanly appearance. He had beer
coachman, policeman, clerk in a liquor
store and had finally gone into bust
ness for himself The Chicago fire
wiped him out. Then he went to worl
for the Pinkertons.
Following his instructions to learl
all he could about the Mollies, McPar
Ian went to Pottsville, Pa. He changed
his name to McKenna. He got &C
quainted with everybody. He wa
looking for work in the mines. H,
could sing good song, dance JIG
pass rough joke. be polite and at
tentive to the girls, drink his share o
whisky and pay for it, and was alway
ready for row or shindy of any kind
He got a job in mine. He insiste,
on working in his best clothes. Sool
his coat was thrown aside, then hi
vest and finally his shirt He pei
spired and suffered under the unwoni
ed toll. He soon learned, howeve
that it was not as the skillful miner O
as the Industrious laborer that admi.
sion to or influence In the Mollies wa
to be obtained.
So he gave that up and cajoled
halfdrunken saloonkeeper into diyulf
IL