The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1918-05-20
spy HUNTING IN ,7s

II OAN AA4N0 IN ~
In Revolutionary days the hunt for
traitors was steady and unrelentless.
As early as May, 1776, the provincial
congress appointed a committee to
deal with these intestine enemies
arrested by the committee of safety.
During the next few years one body
after another was appointed to run
down conspiracies. These moved from
place to place and with the aid of
armed force sought out and arrested
the enemies of the people. Their func-
tons included the right to seize pa
pers and arrest suspects, to admins
ter oaths and take bonds, to imprison
all persons dangerous to the safety of
the state, and to discharge from con-
fnement others upon evidence of 10y
atty.
At first Eenient measures were tried.
Disaffected persons were removed
from the center of activities to distant
farms and allowed to work these at a
moderate rental Because they were
too close to the heart of things they
were banished to isolated places, as in
this war aliens have been sent out of
the District of Columbia, and have
been forbidden to approach ether i'm
portant points. This extract from the
Board for detecting and defeating con-
spiracies shows the method of the
committee: ~
"John Kort Jun, of the East camp in
the county of Albany was permitted
to be confined TO the house of James
Bingham on his entering into bond
not to exceed the limits prescribed to
him in the sad bond nor to hold any
correspondence with any disafected
person and for the strict performance
thereof he and his bail have bound
themselves Jointly and severally in the
sum Of el000"
In many cases the punishment was
more severe, as in that of Seth Row
ley, arrested for having been present
at the meeting at James Listers and
for being one of the chief promoters
in having Sir Henry Clinton's procla-
nation read there. The board ordered
that he be imprisoned.
Leniency was found to be ineffect-
ual. On July l, 1880, a bill was pass.
ed by the New York Legislature fol
the deporting of the families of the
disaffected because they concealed en-
issaries from the enemy and "trafick.
ed" in information. Numerous resi-
dents were sent into the British lines
Protests poured in about the stal
chamber methods of. the commission
ers, but a joint committee from boil
houses of the New York Legislature
justified their powers. 1t sent an adj
dress to the constituents showing tina
since concealed traitors scattered thu
seeds of disaffection and took advan
tage of,"the credulity of the honest
it was necessary to reach them b.
summary method.
Rangers were employed to run down
suspects. A warrant for arrest wa!
in most cases issued after charges
were made by a reputable citizen. An
other quotation from the minutes O.
the Albany county board, one of hun
dreds that could be given, shows OF
what slight ground the committee
acted.
Samuel Stringer, Esq, informed
the board that he has received infor
nation that Simeon Smith of Pit:
Town, innkeeper, entertains disaffect
ed persons; drinks King George.
health and speaks disrespectfully Of
the authority of this state, resolved il
consequence of the. said information
that a warrant be made out directed
to Lieutenant Jonathon Brown forth
with to apprehend and bring before US
the said Simeon Smith"
Another obstreperous talker was
George Rodgers, whom a witness ac.
cused of saying
''that the French fleet was come tt
carry off the Damned Rebel Officer
Washington, who was afraid he woulc
be hanged, and the Rebel Congress;
that the Wings were all set of scoun.
drels and rascals, and that he was per
suaded the British troops would in g
fortnight's time march through the
city of Albany"
Mr.. Rodgers had said too much. He
was arrested and put into solitary
confinement, where no doubt his hot
temper found time to cool.
Even prominent citizens who, whis-
pered propaganda against the Ameri-
cans were disciplined. Witness the
case of Evan Davis of the Manor of