The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-05-30

Work That MAJ Responsible for
the Present Sensational Trials at
Boise, idaho - Lived for Years
Among the "Mollles," Where His
Life Literally Hung by = Thread"
Philadelphia-While there Is but
slight resemblance between the horri-
bic crimes committed In the mining re-
gions OF Idaho and Colorado and the
b-loodcurdling deeds perpetrated in the
mining regions of Pennsylvania a gen
Grafton ago, there is this extraordinary
link between them. that the same maa
was instrumental Ia procuring the
most important evidence for the gov.
eminent in both cases.
James McParlan. easily the greatest
OF living detectives. did more than any
other u man TO break up that terri
bic organization known as the Molly
Maguires James McParlan. "a years
later. drew from Harry Orchard In the
Idaho penitentlary a confession" OF
more awful crimes than the MorIes
ever dared TO contemplate.
For more Thar 20 a the Molies
hourished IN the anthracite mining re.
gions Of Pennsylvania. The o-rganiza-
ton was started before the civil war.
Il % its name from the ancient
band OF Irish Ribbonmeu. who, dis
Euised as women. made forays. They
were named from Cornelius Mcguire.
baron OF Euniskillen. who I'm 1871 took
part In the Irish rebellion. The spirit
which animated the Pennsylvania so
ciety a however. entirely dlnereHt
from that OF its prototype.
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 IL was
started, and for what purpose. have re
NAMED secrets. Its motto was
Friendship. Unity and True Christian
Charity, snd the meetings OF the
lodges and % the county conventions
were opened with prayer. Then. after
prayer, the business Of making plans
for assassination would be taken mp
10 was not, however. until in the
early COS that murders became fire.
Qucnt Some boss OF q mine. some OBJ
noXious policeman who had dubbed a
drunken Molly. some miner who had
incurred some ~displeasure OF a mem
Der OF The order. or some citizen who
had spoken OF % disrespoctfuIly would
be either beaten within an inch % his
hic. or murdered occasionally. But
the crimes were sporadic. During the
civil war they Increased rapidly IN
number. and by 1871 there WAS a reign
OF terror Ia the whole anthracite re.
Sion. extending over Eve counties
During that year and the year follow.
ing there were IS murders aud in
Vulnerable assaults and crimes against
property.
heParisn Becomes a Molly.
Gradually the onmIty Of the MolIies
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 or
filled with water Railroad property
was burned or destroyed Finally
President Gowan, OF the PHILADELPHIA
q Reading Coal and Iron company.
seciug that the city aud state authorl.
ties were p~oWgIlcss. determined Go
cali on the PinkoFions Tor aid They
sent McParlau Go the scene That was
Ia 1898 when McParlan was % years
old
Mcraflan came from tho Pinker
tons Chicago Office BE was born Ia
Ireland had come 10 this country
When a young man ard had bad con.
siderable experience with the world
short and slightly buil,. but muscular.
of fair complexion. with dark hair
broad forehead and gray eyes and
wearing glasses. be presented a gen.
tlcmauly appearance he had been
~coachman, policeman. clerk I'm a Iiouor
store o had finally gone into bust.
mess for himself Tho Chicago ere
wiped him out Then he went 90 work
TOT iho Pinkertous
Following his Instructions 20 learn
all he could about the MolIes. Ncpar
Ian went TO pottsyIlle. Pa lie changed
his name to McKonna. Tie got ac.
quaintcd With everybody lie was
loohing Tor work in the mines. lie
could sing a good song dance a fig.
pass q rough joke. be polite aud al.
tontiyc to the girls, drink his share OF
whisky aud pay for g. and Was always
ready for a row or shlndy of any kind
he wal just a rollicklng lmpulslve
generous. careless, unreasonable. a a
rclsome. dcyilmay care ir.shman
he got a job "a a mine Iio insisted
on WORKING 10 his best clothes soon
his coat was thrown aside then his
vest and nnally his shirt ne per
spircd and suffered under the unwont
ga toll He soon learned however
that &c vas not AS the sknul mines or
az the Industrious laborer that admis
sion 20 or inauence Ia the Moliles was
"a be- obtained
SO he gave that up and caloled a