The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-04
titus Oates, Conspiracy Inventor

the son OF an English weaver. He be-
gan life as a Ba0tist clergyman. was
driven out of his church for perjury
and became chaplain in the British
navy. He was dismissed from this
service for gross misconduct and went
to study for the priesthood in a Jes'
uit college. Here he was found to
be vicious. hypocritical and worthless,
and was expelled in disgrace. Thus
in 1873, at the age OF tifty-nine. he
was cast upon the world to pick up
q living by his wits. Already he had
been branded as a blackguard, but
now his real career Of deadly mischief
was beginning.
Hating the Jesuits for their Just
condemnation OF him, he went to
Charles H.. king OF England. and in
vented story Of Jesuit plot to muir.
der the king and to start general
massacre. His tale was an absolute
lie from first to last, and 1t was
SO awkwardly devised that the king
In few careless questions exposed 1t
40 nv why luioo but ultCily oOouius
Oates was not discouraged. Failing
10 convince Charles of the falsehood.
he went before a magistrate named
Godfrey and publicly took oath that
his charges were true. The govern
ment and the people at large seemed
to forget that Oates had already been
convicted Of perjury and that his
whole life was that Of a man whose
word was not to be credited. Panic
struck statesmen and populace alike.
They believed their kings life was
really threatened. No proofs to the
contrary nor appeals 10 their sanity
could check this belief. The nation
was made with excitement. Charles
alone-the supposed plots intended
victim-remained calm and laughed at
the entire affair as hoax.
Nearly 1000 innocent persons were
arrested on Oates false testimony as
members Of the conspiracy. Brave.
honest, loyal Englishmen were tried
and unjustly put to death on the same
ridiculous charge. A reign OF terror
set in. No ones life seemed safe
when convicted perJurer could swear
1t away. Plain citizens and high no
bles alike swelled the ranks OF VIC
Tins. Oates received large income
from the government and had suite
Of rooms in the palace.
Then, as the turmoil began to die
down. Oates tried to revive 1t. by the
most atrocious charge Of all. He ac-
cused the queen-a meek. pious, gen.
tie little woman whom her husband |
had neglected and ill-treated-of con.
spring to poison King Charles. The
public once more howled with fury.
Parliament tried to force the queen
20 leave. court. Charles had the de-
,ency to put stop to this tale by de-
,laring his wife innocent.
Later, when Charles III. died and his
brother, James H., came to the throne,
Dates was convicted Of perjury. A
strange sentence was passed upon
lip. For state reasons 1t was DEEM
ID best not to execute this "conspir-
icy inventor" who had caused so many
,etter men to die. Instead, 1t was
iecided to put him to death In anoth-
'r fashion. He was sentenced to pay
| heavy fine, then to be clapped into
ne pillory Ia rude wooden contriv-
Ince In which a captlves head and
lands were fastened, while he was
,ept standing for hours exposed to
'ublic view, to receive whipping,
nd then to be imprisoned for life, be-
ng taken from his cell five times
ear to be pilloried again. AS Oates
vas sixty-five years old, it was thought
he terrific beating would kill him.
But he was tough. He received LOO
ashes of the whip and was so mangled
hat he had to be dragged back to pris-
n on sledge. In spite of this treat
lent he recovered.
Three years later, in 1858, when
ames III. was deposed and William Of
'range became king OF England, one
I Williams earliest acts was to par
on Oates and to give him royal PEN
ion Of $1,000 a year.
1t is hard to understand how any
In the light of Oates crimes,
ould have issued such pardon and
ension. Yet the fact remains. The
Id perjurer lived on In comfort vain
: trying to stir mp new plots now
nd them for the next II years, dy-
ig in 1705 at the age Of eighty-slx.