The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-19


warning in time and had not been killed James was
proud Of his strength and was not afraid of any
But he was not dealing with men, he dealing
with horde who struck In the dark. He forgot my
warning, at feast decided he could care for him.
SELF and went to a dance at Shenandoah, where he
was killed.
"a meeting Of the Moies being held at Tama-
qua. There much rejoicing over the killing Of
James and 1t was decided that the who had done
the killing be rewarded with $500 for his work. Re
member, attended this meeting at Tamaqua and
all these details were discussed in my presence.
Thomas Hurley, member, went to the front and
claimed the reward, declaring that he had done the
killing He into details and seemed to be proud
of his efforts We about to vote him the money
for the murder when a man named Michael Butler
astonshed the meeting by declaring Hurley had not
done the killing, but that named McClain was
entitled to the reward
"a discussion followed as to the merits of the two
claims.
You would have thought by their Dragging that
those two arguing over the merits Of real
estate deal McClain not present to tell his side Of
the story the convention had grown excited over
the discussion that it decided TO appoint COM
mittee Of two to gather all the evide and then re-
port to the convention that the reward could be
paid to the proved to be the real murderer.
Il hoped that might be a member of the committee.
i wanted to hear all the evidence and listen to the
e+ories of the witnesses. Butler suggested as
member of the committee, to represent the McCain
follc-'~@. Then there long pause. Suddenly
some one suggested James McKenna, my assumed
-. Z second member Of the committee. !
was at last to get into the very inner circles of the
Mollies. The convention agreed that 1 would be a
proper man to take up the Hurley side of the case
THE next Sunday Butler and agreed would be
the proper time to hear the merits of the We
notified the witnesses that would hold in the
brush town, and all the men who knew anything
about the actual murder of James should be on hand
Perhaps there have been stranger committee meet
ings than that one but attended it. The wit
nesses were on hand and told their stories in detail
There was some objection to my taking notes, but,
fortunately, Butler agreed that it would be help
us in going the case later on
ION that Sunday morning. in the midst Of the thrifty
mining and farming community, we gathered, and
man after man told what he knew what he thought
he knew, of the killing Of James. There $500 re-
ward up, remember, but, more than that, there was
the glory of having killed James,"
Mr. Mcfarland shook his head as he wiped his
glasses and sighed deeply.
We weighed the evidence with care-at least
took extra care" he continued. THAT evidence
knew would have to go into court later on, and did
not want any mistakes.
when all the had told their stories there was
not the slightest doubt that Hurley had been the
man who did the killing. The reward never paid,
for the murder of two men, Sanger and Uren, caused
followed kept the MoleS in condition Of turmoil for
some time afterward
1T is be forgotten that had been reporting
every move of the Mollies each day to the home Of
flee, sending out statement complete as 1 could
make of everything that happened during the day.
Ny evidence pling up and my superiors hard
at work checking and gathering the loose ends
gether for wholesale arrests.
1T can be guessed that there was something of a
sensation when ct last ready to go out in the
open and march into court. The trial at Pottsvile
Pa-that was the first of the trials-began on May g.
1876 and had TO take the witness stand
Perhaps l will be pardoned if pride myself a bit
on my memory. i have good memory for dates,
places names and facts and 1t stood in good stead
during the trials for the defendants had battery Of
the best attorneys money could obtain defend them
But detective who wants to make his way must not
only have good memory, but he should train it every
day, and that is what had done.
More than seventy arrests made in the vaSi-
GUS branches of the MOlies. OF course many of the
leaders of the band escaped rushing to other parts OF
the country or back to the old country. But twenty
three sentenced to the gallows and some
two score sent to State prison.
Il have lost track of the number Of attempts that
were made to put me out of the way. Efforts
made to poison me, throw down mine shafts blow
me up with dynamite shoot and stab me, but kept
close watch and was fortunate in escaping with my
life.
"The trial Of the captured members of the Molly
Maguires a sensation in the newspapers of the
day. While it would not be remarkable to-day it was
remarkable in those days have newspaper man go
a long distance to attend trial. But this
important all parts of the country that the New
York Herald sent staff man to report the proceed
ings.
'There was much effort made during the entire
period Of the case to work up sympathy for the men
on trial Meetings held in New York and other
parts Of the country and Archbishop Wood criti-
csed for Joining MIR. GOwen in sending me collect
evidence against the murdererS. Some unthinking
persons said he should have sent missionaries tell
the men how wrong it to kill fellow being"
For the first time this famous detective showed signs
Of anger and he clenched his fist he excaimed--If
those who talked this way could have gone into
the meetings Of the Molly Maguires; II they could
have heard the boodthirsty threats boasts and dis
cussions they would have realized that they were not
real humans. often think that murder
Of fellow being meant more to many OF those men
than merely shooting rabbit In fact it seemed sport
to some of them, who were the most depraved. We
have of this type to-day, but for real downright
cruelty met the equal to some Of the Mollies
Of the '70's.
when Jack Kehoe, who called by some of
the Mobiles the King, was found guilty of murder In
the first degree 1t big sensation. Thomas Duffy,
also convicted OF murder in the first degree was per-
haps the boldes and most defiant member of the band
He made hard fight for his freedom for be not only
had money but he also had brains.
This is but brief outline of of the points in
with the Molly Maguires. There
Of other incidents where ran close races with death