Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-12
WHEN MOLLY MAeUIREs RULED
A Secret Organization That Dominat-
cd and Terrorized Forty Years Ago.

About 40 years ago five counties
in Eastern Pennsylvania were domi
mated and terrorized by a secret or
ganization, thousands strong, who's,
special purpose was to rob, burn pill
lage and kill. The members were
ruthless in bounding down and finally
destroying an enemy, and so power
full had the organization grown that
respectable residents were afraid tc
leave their homes after dark, and al.
ways carried revolvers to protect
themselves against an attack. Let 9
man incur the enmity Of the Molly
Maguires and his life was not worth
a two-pence.
The origin and development Of the
Molly Maguires is a matter Of spec
ulation. Their chief purpose was to
kill; and they killed men and women
with whom they had no dealings
against whom they had no personal
grievances, and from whose death they
had nothing to gain. except, perhaps.
the price Of a few rounds Of whisky.
They committed murders by the score,
without knowing why or without car
ing. The men who decreed these
crimes did so for the most trivial reas-
ons, a reduction in wages, a personal
dislike, some imagined grievance Of a
friend. These were sufficient to call
forth an order to burn a house where
| women and children were sleeping.
to shoot down an employer or fellow
workman. to lie in wait for an officer
of the law and club him to death.
In vain did the residents Of the in
tested counties form and arm commit
tees of vigilantes, who were to take
the law into their own hands, inas-
much as the forces Of the law were
| paralyzed. All was Of no avail; public
offices remained in the hands Of ruff
ans; the same fierce crimes persisted
persons were assaulted, robbed and
murdered with increasing frequency
In 1873 Allan Pinkerton. head OF
the Pinkerton Agency, was appealed
to for aid in clearing out this band
There was then in the employ Of the
| agency a young man named James
MCFARLAND, who had become a de-
tective by accident. MCFARLAND was
detailed to go into the territory con-
trolled by the Mollys and to remain
'fn the field until every cut-throat
had paid with his life for the lives SO
cruelty taken"
1t was announced that Mcfarland
had sailed for Euorpe, and a few days
later the young detective arrived In
Pottsville, where he established him.
self in the boarding house kept by q
Mrs. O'Regan. There he met a man
named Jennings, who offered to show
him the sights Of the city. They pass
ed noisy drinking house called the
Sheridan House, and McKenna-for
that was MCFARLAND 'sassumed name
proposed going in. Jennings warn
ed him never to cross the threshold
Of that place.
Its kept by Pat Dormer," he said
'the big body master Of the Molly
Maguires,"
McKenna noticed the frightened
manner Of Jennings. but he rejoiced
to find himself so soon on the right
track. He gave Jennings the slip q
little later, and, going back to the
saloon, boldly entered. He found
/ himself in the midst Of a noisy assem-
bly,. All of the men were drinking
Some were dancing to the accompani-
ment Of a crazy fiddle. Things hap
pened rapidly after that. McKenna
took hand in a card game, and ac-
cused one Of the players, the bully OF
the Molly Maguires, Of having SIX
cards In his hand. This precipitated
fight, in which McKenna gave the
bully a decisive beating.
| The newcomer was Immediately
hailed as hero. All insisted on treat
ing him, and even Mrs. Dormer and
her eldest daughter came forward
with congratulations. In a week Nc
Kenna was on such intimate terms
with the great Dormer that he was
invited to the wedding Of Dormer's
sister, where he pretended to get glori-
ously drunk with the rest Of the
guests. He managed to acquire q
number Of the secrets and passwords
of the secret order.
A little later McKenna told Dormei
that he was going in search Of bet.
ter job, and Dormer gave him letter
to the desperate Muir Lawler, body
master of the Molly Mcguire lodge al
Shenandoah, q great coal center, Il
miles north Of Pottsville, with popu'
lation Of nearly 10000. Within few
weeks he was installed in Lawler'!
house as boarder and was regarded
as a roaring, reckless fellow, quite
bad enough to be a member Of the
Mollys. The ceremony took place ir
| due time over Lawler's. saloon, and
after having paid for unlimited whis
ky, McKenna was instructed In the
signs and passwords Of the order anc
made a member in full standing
And he rose In time TO De secretary
Of the Shenandoah division.
Having thus laid the foundation.
for his future work, McKenna, with
letter Of recommendation from Muir
Lawser, now began a period of wan
dering through the distracted counties
getting work in various mines, bu
never keeping one position long. 1r
the course of his travels he made the
acquaintance of most Of the active
Mollys, including Jack Kehoe ant
yellow Jack" Donahue, both Of
whom were hanged on his testimony
Everywhere he found that his reputa
ton had preceded him. and he was
received by all the Mollys with re-
spect. At each new stopping place he