The Molly Maguires Dewee 1876 PDF

THE
MOLLY MAGUIRES.
THE
ORIGIN,
GROWTH, AND CHARACTER
OF THE ORGANIZATION.
BY
F. P.
DEWEES,
A MEMBER OF THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY BAR.
'There arc more things 't\vixt heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
PHILADELPHIA:
J.
B.
LIPTINCOTT &
l8 77
CO.
Copyright, 1877, by J. B. LlPPlNCOTT
&
Co.
PREFACE.
IN the summer of 1873, James McParlan, a young Irishattached to the Pinkerton Detective Agency at Chicago,
man
was requested by
his employers to visit Schuylkill County,

He was told that a criminal
Pennsylvania, as a detective.
organization, called the "Molly Maguires," was supposed
to be in existence there,
and
join the organization, and,
if
that
it
was to be his duty to
possible, learn
McParlan consented
its
character
undertake the task,

that he did not believe that an organization
and purposes.
but remarked
to
such as described was possible.

"Schuylkill County is in
the mining region, is it not?" he asked. "Yes." "Youwill
find," he said,
"
hard and spend
that the
it
freely.
workmen
On
there
make
their
money
pay-day they get drunk, and
whilst they are under the influence of liquor, and in the

heat of passion, quarrels arise, and men are sometimes
killed
but that does not imply organization, nor is there

be the kind of work for a detective among them
likely to
that
is
supposed."
He came
to the anthracite coal regions with the expecta-
tion that in a few
months he would be able
to satisfy his
employers that no such criminal organization as they supposed had any^ existence. A few weeks' residence there
satisfied
affairs
were a
him
that his impressions as to the condition of
had been wrong, and that the "Molly Maguires"

terrible reality.
The criminal character and purposes of the organization

have now been shown by indubitable evidence, and its
iii
PREFACE.
iv
There is much misapprehension prehowever, as to the extent of the organization,

and very many non-residents of the coal region wrongly
existence proven.
vailing,
confound the members of the "Labor Union" with the
Hence
"Molly Maguires."
capital
it is
that in contests
and labor they are disposed
between
on
to array themselves
the side of capital, because they believe that in the coal
regions the laborer

the laboring man.
is
lawless.
This
is
rank injustice to
The
subject of capital and labor presents in the coal regions the same questions as elsewhere.
It is sincerely believed that the great
majority of the
miners and laborers of the anthracite coal regions will compare favorably with any large body of laboring men in
the world, and that the great
body of the Irish-American

and law-abiding.
citizens residing there are well-disposed
The laborer of the coal region is not a criminal, nor does

he sympathize with criminals.
It has been the object of the writer of this book to
give an intelligible description of the organization, with
some idea of
its extent and influence, and to

explain how
operations it affected the business, social, and political relations of the coal regions.
He has had to deal
in
its
with living men, and with events of the present day.

He
has endeavored to the extent of his ability to treat the sub-
From
ject discussed without prejudice and without bias.
the fact that he was born in the coal region, has lived there
the greater part of his life, and has personal acquaintance
with very many of those to whom he refers, his effort may
not have been entirely successful. He feels conscious, however, that, whilst possibly there may have been a disposition
to extenuate, he has not "set down aught in malice."
It
would be impossible to give credit
all to
whom
it is
due.
for information to
Whilst valuable aid has been ren-
dered by many, special acknowledgment is to be made to

James McParlan, Captain Linden, and Benjamin Franklin,
PREFACE.
of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Hon. F. B. Gowen

F. W. Hughes, General Charles Albright, District At-
and
torney Kaercher, of Schuylkill County, and District Attorney Siewers, of Carbon County, and to J. Claude White
and P. W. Sheafer, Esqs.
also to the Miners' Journal,
Shenandoah Herald, and Evening Chronicle, for free access
to their files; and personal acknowledgment to Thomas
Foster and Thomas B. Fulder, Esqs., of the Shenandoah
Herald.
;
F. P. D.
POTTSVILLE, December,
1876.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
The Molly Maguire
in Ireland
CHAPTER
The
I.
...
and the United States
CHAPTER
16
III.
Relation of the Labor Union and the Molly Maguire

Political
22
IV.
and America
36
CHAPTER
Carbon and Schuylkill Counties, 1861
V.
to 1865
CHAPTER
Schuylkill, Columbia,
CHAPTER
VII.
The Pinkerton Agency]
CHAPTER
....
56
69
77
CHAPTER
IX.
McParlan, continued
87
CHAPTER
X.
of Hibernians
CHAPTER
Strike
to 1871
VIII.
McParlan the Detective
The Long
45
VI.
and Carbon Counties, 186*
Coal-Mining Companies
The Ancient Order
The Molly
and Otherwise
CHAPTER
Societies in Ireland
II.
Anthracite Coal Regions of Pennsylvania
Maguire
PACK
McParlan, continued
96
XI.
107
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
The Long
Strike,
continued
XII.
PAGE
The Major Murder
Mahanoy
City
Convention
121
CHAPTER
XIII.
Attempted Assassination of William M. Thomas
CHAPTER
Meeting
in the
The Majors
Bush
of Policeman Yost
McParlan
Work The Murder
of
Murder of Gwither
Tamaqua Convention
Murder arranged
144
XV.
XVI.
Gomer James
CHAPTER
Jack Kehoe
...
J. Slattery
152
CHAPTER
at
133
XIV.
John
CHAPTER
The Murder
....
....
XVII.
Attempted Murder of Riles
CHAPTER XVIII.
W ho murdered Gomer
James?
Sanger
182
CHAPTER
XIX.
CHAPTER
Arrest of Kerrigan, Doyle, and Kelly
The
The
Doyle
Waiting
....
CHAPTER
217
229
XXIII.
Confession of Kerrigan
Arrests of Molly Maguires
206
XXII.
for the Trials
CHAPTER
Trial of
XXI.
Election of 1875
CHAPTER
of 1875
194
XX.
Their Lives threatened
CHAPTER
as a Politician
The Autumn
175
Patrick Butler
Murder of Sanger and Uren McParlan on a Committee to murder

Jones Murder of Jones by other Parties Flight of the Assassins
The Molly
164
XXIV.
McParlan suspected
241
....
249
CONTENTS.
xi
CHAPTER XXV.
McParlan's Dangers, and
his
260
CHAPTER
The
Kerrigan the Informer

Yost Trial
XXVI.
Trial of Kelly
Preparations for the
275
CHAPTER
First Trial of the
PAGE
Escape
Yost Murderers
XXVII.
More
CHAPTER
....
Arrests
285
XXVIII.
Molly Plots Trial of Alec Campbell Trial of Thomas Munley

Second Trial of the Yost Murderers
298
CHAPTER XXIX.
The Conspiracy Cases
Trial of Duffy
310
CHAPTER XXX.
Trials of
"
The
Mollies"
Wholesale Confessions
Sheet-Iron
of
Morgan Powell
The
Patch
XXXI.
Trial of Yellow Jack
CHAPTER
Trials contrasted
Jackson's
322
CHAPTER
The Murder
Gang
Sentences
332
344
XXXII.
Catholic Church
CHAPTER
Donahue
Has
the
End come ?
XXXIII.
Conclusion
355
APPENDIX.
List of Outrages in Schuylkill
Murders
in Schuylkill
and Shamokin Regions
1867
Test of A. O.
372
Passwords of A. O.
Letter of Jack
359
County during the Years 1864, 1865, 1866, and

375
Kehoe
to the
Shenandoah Herald
.376
....
'.
379
THE MOLLY MAGUIRES.

CHAPTER
THE MOLLY MAGUIRE
MOLLY MAGUIRE,
IN IRELAND
name
I.
AND THE UNITED
STATES.
and terriand murders in the

anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania, and recalling to
a
identified with sad
ble records of violence, of bloodshed
memory tales of equal horror that have been borne across

the ocean from the Emerald Isle. The murders committed
in both localities have a striking resemblance in their inception, execution, and very frequently in minute details,
and yet, while we regard the one with a feeling of unmixed
horror and repulsion, the memory of the other is enveloped

in a shroud of unhallowed romance.
This difference of
In the one case

naked enormity, whilst
in the other the feeling with which it is regarded is modified by the distance of the scene, the mellowing hand of
The tale of unprotime, and the magic pen of fiction.
voked and aimless murder in Ireland excites resentment
and inspires horror; nevertheless, the peculiar position
of the Irish peasant, his modes of thought, and certain
feeling
is
to a certain extent explainable.
crime stands out unrelieved in
its
characteristics of his race,
compel a feeling of repulsive

Without entering into the merits
pity for the assassin.
of the Irish question in relation to England, it is remem9
THE MOLLY MAGUIRE IN IRELAND
jo
bered that England and Ireland are bound together by

no ties of race, of tradition, or of religion. The one is
the Saxon, the other the Celt ; the one the conqueror, the
other the unwilling subject; the one the Protestant, the
other the Catholic.
The Irish peasant yields but enforced allegiance to the

house of Hanover, and a species of wild homage is still
extended to descendants of Celtic kings, rulers of the
Emerald
Isle,
whose
Druids erected their
extended back to times when the
line
altars in
primeval forests
to a period
England became a Norman

conquest ; to an age preceding its invasion by the Saxon,
and its conquest and occupation by the legions and Caesars
To a romantic and impulsive race
of the Roman Empire.
long anterior to that in which
a history passing back through the vista of centuries into

the regions of fable and myth has a present active meaning, whilst the occupation of the
"
hateful Saxon," extendback

but
three
hundred
ing
years, appears only a thing of
yesterday.
The
Irish peasant to-day, as when first conquered, rethe

English landlord as an alien to his race, his
gards
country, and his religion

respect
is
due
as
his presence
his title to the land
is
one to
is
whom
deemed an
only enforced
intrusion,
and
regarded as being held by a dis-
puted tenure.
Unfortunately, the lapse of centuries has only to a limdegree lessened the asperities created by a union
ited
founded
in force, without elements of
mutual sympathy.
The
English, self-satisfied beyond any other people on earth,

proud of the strength of their country, its enterprise, its
wealth, and its civilization, regard with pitying contempt

the poverty of their Irish neighbors, their sentimentality,
their romance, their brilliant but erratic genius; and this
contempt and pity have been exercised, with that offensiveness of which Englishmen alone are capable, upon a people
AND THE UNITED
STATES.
TI
morbidly and unreasonably prone to take offense even
at a
fancied slight.
From the days
when Magna Charta was wrested by the

hands of English barons from King John at Runnymedc,
to the present time, the tendency of England has been
towards constitutional freedom.
Whilst progress towards
end during the lapse of centuries has not by any

means been uniform, still, with stubborn persistency, the
that
Anglo-Saxon race has kept the goal in view, until at the

present time the Englishman has a government of which,
with all its faults (and they are neither few nor small), he
is justly proud.
With this trait in the English character
the Irishman has no sympathy.
When the head of King
Charles rolled from the block, the Irishman, unlike his
English neighbor, made no consideration of the rights

of a people trampled under foot, constitutional guarantees
broken, and the liberties of the subject threatened, but
only remembered the "heretic" who dared to bid defiance

to a king claiming to rule by divine right and uniting in
himself the rival claims of the houses of York and Lancaster,
with an ancestry like that of their
own
Celtic chiefs,
going back long prior to the time of the Norman conquest.

When James II., affrighted at the murmurs of the English
people, fled in haste from his throne, to him and to his
heirs the Irish heart
went
forth,
and ever ready was the
conspirator found in Ireland for the re-establishment of the

Stuart line on the English throne. This was in part owing
to the fact of the Catholic professions of the family, but
attributable as well to the romantic aspect of the story, and
to the natural antagonism of the Irish people to the

lish
Eng-
government.
The Irishman, chafing under English rule, and denying

the rights of the royal family on the throne of England,
was still further exasperated by the abrogation of the Irish
House of Parliament, accomplished
against the manifest
THE MOLLY MA GUIRE IN IRELAND
12
wishes of the people by the corrupting of its

means of British gold, patronage, and titles.
ness of feeling existing before was
by
members by
The bitter-
this act of so-called
''union" intensified, and conspiracy and insurrection were

the natural consequences.
Again were they thwarted, and
England triumphed not only by force of arms but also by

means of the "spy" and the "informer." Submission to
England was enforced, but the feeling of discontent remained. The political sufferer who met a felon's death
was considered a martyr and a hero, whilst the "informer"
was regarded with a feeling of utter detestation, as a traitor
not only to the traditions of his race, to his country's
honor and his country's future, but also to his family, his
When it is taken into considerareligion, and his God.

tion that they regarded their position as one of subjugation, the rulers
of England as usurpers, the laws
made
without authority, and the lands held by an illegal tenure,

it may be regretted, but cannot be a matter of great wonder, that the detestation of an "informer," with which an
and romantic people were imbued,

should extend to an informer of any kind.
Such, unforhas
been
case
to
a
crime
has in
the
tunately,
inform of
ignorant, prejudiced,
many
instances
as the crime
come
itself,
be considered as great a wtong

and to such an extent has this feeling
to
become a
part of the Irish character,

application, not only to acts mala
prohibita but also to those mala in se.
Owing to this detestation of an informer, crimes without
developed that
and
is
it
has
universal in
its
number have been perpetrated not only
in Ireland but also
which have remained undetected and unwhipped of justice. Repeated murders have been committed in broad daylight before many witnesses, and the
in this country,
murderers have dwelt for years amidst those cognizant of

the crime,
It is not
despised, perhaps, but unbctrayed.
because the Irish people have not
many good and
true
men
AND THE UNITED
STATES.
13
and women among them, or that the majority are not

well-disposed and law-abiding citizens; those who are in
intimate communion with them know it to be the case
that among no other people can there be found warmer
But
friends, more generous impulses, more fervent piety.
they will also know and feel that even among many of the
best of the race, among those whose character no man
dare impugn or gainsay, whose lives are without blemish
or reproach, is but thinly hidden the feeling of detestation
"
informer," who, cognizant of

against the Irishman as an
crime, seeks to bring the criminal to justice by due course
of law.
By reason of this
"high carnival" in
feeling the
Molly Maguire has held
crime, both in Ireland and in the

anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania; and this feeling
must be thoroughly appreciated in order to understand
how
it
is
that a people of kindly, generous,
and
just
im-
may in a civilized land keep the murderer and

>in among them, known, feared, and detested, and
pulses
yet the crimes be concealed and the offenders allowed to

defy the law and the authorities.
The Molly Maguire of Ireland

The history of
of his ancestors.
stands in the birthplace

his race and country, its
wrongs, and his temptations, plead in extenuation of his

offenses, and, while we detest his crimes, claim our pity for
the criminal.
But the Molly Maguire of the coal-fields
of Pennsylvania can enter none of the pleas which may

be urged in behalf of his prototype in Ireland.
Upon
this country he has no natural claim or natural right.
The
genius of our government guarantees constitutional

freedom to the stranger and the alien as well as to the
native-born citizen, and to the stranger and the alien
seeking to make this land their home the full rights of the
native-born citizen are accorded.
The enterprise of the
people,
combined with
a spar^ness of population, the vast
THE MOLLY MAGUIRE IN IRELAND
I4
expanse of territory, the varied climate, the magnitude

of our resources, mineral and agricultural, the extended
of internal improvements and inland navigation,
inducements to the workers of the world, whether
:n
offer
capitalists,
men
all
of science, or laborers.
It is true that
for the suffering and oppressed of
" a
refuge
incidentally
nations"
is
offered; but this only from the fact that
our form of government
is
liberal
and our undeveloped
re-
sources present a field for labor ; but the doors are opened
as wide and the welcome accorded is as hearty to the
and the
stranger
alien
who
has never suffered nor been
oppressed.
Throwing
may be the mere shell
of time-honored but cumbrous forms, adapted to other ages
and other conditions of the people, but seeking to retain
off as far as
the kernel of constitutional freedom inherited from English

and availing ourselves of all the progress of the Old
sires,
World, we take our place young and strong among the

Our aims are high, and we seek no
second place. In pursuit of those aims we welcome the
nations of the earth.
who join us, and accord to them

earnest sympathy, equal hopes, and common rights.
Hut the privileges and advantages of our government
citizens of other lands
and the country, though freely offered to the nations of

the earth, are forced on none
the stranger may come
and welcome, but if he does not choose to come, his
;
The Irish peasant

right to stay away is fully accorded.
seeks this country of his own free will, and, being here, has
the
full
in his
rights of the native-born citizen.
person
is
encouraged
He
is
protected
to acquire property;
his re-
respected ; in choosing the rulers and making the

laws of the land he has a potent voice.
As a laborer, he
has special privileges accorded by laws securing the payligion
is
ment of
his
wages before ordinary and
in the coal regions,
and
what may
through the
be termed the
common
medium
debts,
and
of Labor Unions
" unwritten law of the
AND THE UNITED
STATES.
I5
mines," he wields extraordinary power over the property

of others.
Whatever
rights, real or fancied,
he
may have had
to
he has not even the pretense of claim to

any here, except such as he may acquire by virtue of the
laws of the land.
That under these circumstances the
the Irish
soil,
turbulent spirit which created outrages in Ireland should
develop itself here in repeated and aimless murders, for

years undetected and unpunished, excites unmitigated
horror and condemnation.
This feeling is wide-spread and deep, and the indignation
excited throughput the counties wherein these outrages have
been perpetrated, and through the country at large, can be
allayed only by the complete and thorough disbanding of
the "Molly Maguires" as an organization, and by evoking
and maintaining such a spirit of opposition among the
body of
the honest and true Irish people as will render the
success of such an organization in the future an impossibility.
The murders by the Molly Maguires in the coal regions

of Pennsylvania have been revolting, brutal, and cowardly,
perpetrated in cold blood, aimless, and without justificaor imaginary, and must be ever so regarded.
That such murders could be conceived and perpetrated is
only rendered possible and at all explainable by taking into
tion, real
consideration not only the peculiar training and modes of

thought of the Irish peasant, before explained, but also
certain peculiarities of his residence in the coal regions.
These peculiarities will be hereafter considered.
THE ANTHRACITE COAL REGIONS
,6
CHAPTER
II.
THE ANTHRACITE COAL REGIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
THE existence of a band of miscreants regularly organized for the commission of crime, extending throughout
the anthracite coal-fields, had been suspected for twenty
years past. Frequent and flagrant violations of law, which,
in the
mode
of execution and in the instruments employed,
displayed organization, system, and a defined policy, induced this suspicion. The crime itself, in connection with
mode of its execution, rendered inevitable the conclusion of a grievance, real or imaginary, to be redressed,
a tribunal before which such grievance had been considthe
and the penalty fixed, and an

some kind by whom persons were selected to
ered, the offender judged,
executive of
carry into execution the decree determined upon.

In the years directly prior and subsequent to 1830, when
the value of anthracite coal was fully recognized as a fuel,
an era of speculation in coal lands and coal mining, resembling in its main features the days of the gold fever
of 1849
California,
and the
later
excitement in the
oil
The capitalist,
regions of Pennsylvania, developed itself.
the man of enterprise, and the adventurer rushed pell-mell
to a mountain region theretofore offering but small inducements to the emigrant, all hoping to realize sudden fortunes
from a newly-discovered source of wealth.
Flourishing
towns sprang into existence as if by magic, speculation ran
wild, fortunes were claimed to have been
and
all
the influences affecting a
heat were here in
full
being.
made
mining region
The heterogeneous
in a day,
at
fever
character
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
17
of a population, native and foreign, suddenly thrown

together under an unnatural business stimulus, produced a
degree of lawlessness that would appear, from like results
elsewhere, to be necessarily incident to such a condition
of
affairs.
Violent altercations, sudden frays, contempt

were frequent ; but such
for authority or civilized usage,
violations of law were spasmodic, arising not from organized crime, but from the comparatively unorganized con-
new population gathered from all points of the

compass, acting under undue excitement and not yet settled
into the calm routine of civilized life.
The art of mining
dition of a
was considered,
in those days, as being exclusively within

the knowledge of foreigners, and, as a consequence, the
foreign miner and laborer were soon in full force in the
actual workings of the mines.

The great majority of this
class of workmen, who at that time, and since, have settled
in the coal regions,
have proven good and valuable citizens ;

came the outlaw and the desperado.
but with them naturally
To this last class is owing the reign of terror under which

the coal region for years past has suffered
After the first wild excitement had passed, when society
had become more thoroughly organized, and coal mining
.
had settled into a legitimate business, subject, however, to

alternate periods of great reverses and unexampled prosperity,
a peculiar distribution of population took place,

its parallel in
any other portion
which has not, perhaps,

of the United States.
The anthracite coal-fields of Pennsylvania, generally

recognized as the "Northern," "Middle," and "Southern" coal basins, are comprised within or bounded by a
of mountain, which, forming itself some distance
eastward from Mauch Chunk, takes, under the name of
line
"Second Mountain," a southwesterly course to the

Susquehanna River, leaving the towns of Mauch Chunk,
Tamaqua, Pottsville, and Tremont to the north; thence
the
2*
18
in a northeasterly course, as the "Peters Mountain," to

a point nearly southwest from Tower City ; thence north" Berrie's
Mountain," again crossing the
westwardly, as
thence southeastwardly to Taylorsville, as

"Mahantongo Mountain;" thence northwestwardly
Susquehanna;
the
again, in the direction of the Susquehanna, as the "Line

Mountain;" thence, bearing in a southeasterly direction,
as the
"Little Mountain" (a misnomer), leaving Shamo-
Shenandoah, and Mahanoy City to the south,

Here
Schuylkill County.
the mountain runs almost due north for some, miles as the
kin, Ashland,
to a point in
Union Township,
Catawissa Mountain, when
its
course
is
again changed to
southeasterly as the Nescopeck Mountain ; thence north

and northwest as the Wyoming Mountain, and thence
again in an easterly direction, running north of Wilkesbarre and Scranton, as the Shickshinny Mountain. Within
the area inclosed by this mountain lies all the at present
It embraces
discovered anthracite coal of Pennsylvania.
not only the large basins before named, but also a number
The investiof comparatively small detached coal-fields.

detached
basins to
of
recent
have
these
shown
gations
years
be so numerous and extensive as to warrant the assertion
of but one coal-field, inclosed within the line of mountain
before described, yielding coal wherever sufficient geological height is attained.
Within
this area are inclosed the
coal-producing portions of Carbon, Schuylkill, Dauphin,
Northumberland, Columbia, and Luzerne Counties, and
it
occupied by a series of majestic mountains, the Sharp, the Broad, the Big Mahanoy, the Little
Mahanoy, the Locust, the Green, the Macauley, and
is
to a great extent
others.
In the red shale measures, lying beneath the coal conglomerates, there have been attempts made at cultivation,
and in Luzerne County, where the surface of the ground
is
not broken as elsewhere, throughout the coal region, a
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
19
number of good farms are located in the midst of the coal

The arable land, however, bears but a very
measures.
small proportion to the great mountain-ranges, rich in
coal and other minerals, which present insurmountable
obstacles to the agriculturist in sides of rough, hard conNot only is the amount of tillable land
glomerate rock.
limited, but what there
is
of
it
is
not fully utilized by a
population whose primary aim is the development of mineral resources, who have but little knowledge of husbandry
and
less taste for
the patient toil of the
husbandman.
Not
only are the farms confined to a few localities, but sites for
building-purposes convenient to the mining operations or
collieries are sometimes difficult to obtain, owing to the
rough and jagged surface of the country. This fact those

who have visited Pottsville, Mauch Chunk, and Ashland
can readily understand. The physical formation of the
country, in connection with the nature of the'business of
mining coal, which necessitates the employment of large
bodies of
men
at fixed points, has
gathered together the
immense population of the coal region
in cities, towns,
and large settlements.*

Miles in extent, displaying nature either in
its
original
grandeur or defaced by the hand of the woodsman, frequently intervene, not only between settlements, but be-
tween any habitations of man. This situation of affairs

does not strike the visitor to the coal region with surprise,
for the explanation is patent on the face of the country
itself;
By
but, in connection with other causes,
it
tends to
the census of 1870, the population of the counties in which anthrafound was as follows, viz., Carbon, 28,144; Schuylkill, 116,428
cite coal is
Since the census of 1870 the

population of these counties has very largely increased. No account is
here taken of the population of Dauphin and Columbia Counties, where
Northumberland, 41,444
Luzeme,
160,755.
important coal operations are located, but which are in extent agricultural
rather than mining counties.
20
show
the possibility of a state of affairs there which, in a

rich agricultural country, where every foot of the surface
of the ground is the object of man's care and is made subservient to man's wants, or even in a densely-populated
city, under proper police regulations, would be regarded as
From the midst of a dense population it is

impossible.
but a step to mountain-ranges within whose recesses the
criminal may hide for weeks or months undisturbed and
Not only do the physical character of the
country and the nature of the business employment tend to
render the population gregarious, but this result is also, to
undetected.
a certain extent, necessitated by the additional facilities

thereby gained in obtaining supplies of the necessaries of
life.
The
fuel
but the food
with which they are warmed is before them,

they eat, both animal and vegetable, the
clothes they wear, and all that is required for every other
material want, must frequently be brought from a great
distance. By living in settlements such supplies can there-
more readily obtained.

Not only is the singular feature presented of nearly the
whole population of the coal regions living in cities, towns,
and small settlements, oftentimes called " patches," but the
character and habits of the population in the several settlements differ widely from each other. Scranton, Wilkesbarre, Mauch Chunk, Pottsville, and Tamaqua are all
fore be
business centres, wherein are located banks, manufacturing

establishments, the general offices of railroad and coal companies, large stores, and where, to a great extent, the wealth
of the region naturally clusters.
These cities and towns are
not only business centres, but offer additional inducements,
and religious, to the coal operator and

means enable them to retire from business, in
the selection of a place of residence.
As a consequence,
social, educational,
those whose
they have lost, in a great degree, the distinctive character

of mining settlements, and differ, perhaps, from other
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
2I
places of equal size throughout the country only in being

more cosmopolitan ; this arising from the wide range em-
braced by their business operations and the varied character

Towns such as Ashland, Shenandoah,
of the inhabitants.
City, Minersville, St. Clair, Hazleton, Pittston,
Plymouth, and many others of large population, to a certain degree partake of the character of business and social
Mahanoy
mining classes, being largely in the majority,

Besides these two classes of
regulate and control them.
towns there are a great number of "patches," or settle-
centres, but the
is entirely composed of miners

and laborers and those whose business is either directly or
While the admixindirectly connected with the mines.
ments, whose population
ture of the foreign element pervades every part of the region, in the large cities and towns native-born citizens of
the United States hold control, but at the colliery towns the
power of the foreigner is absolute. In these last still fur-
some being almost exclusively

composed of Irishmen, with natives of Queens and other
ther divisions are made,
In such towns
counties, Ireland, largely in the majority.
not only have the manners, customs, and modes of thought
of the Irish people been transplanted, but even the local

prejudices incident to certain localities in that beautiful
but, in many respects, unfortunate land.
Coming here
from the contest with the landlord and land-agent in

no surrounding influences to teach them their
a prejudice which has grown with their
transfer
error, they
fresh
Ireland, with
growth and strengthened with their strength to the coal

operator and the boss, from whom they derive their subsistence, and under whose direction they work.
Taught
from infancy to believe that as against them capital is never
used except as an instrument of oppression, under the influence, sometimes, of real wrongs, but more frequently
under a mistaken belief of an encroachment upon their

rights, a spirit of resistance is aroused, which wicked and
RELATION OF THE LABOR UNION
22
designing wretches have so used and controlled as to render

the undetected commission of horrid crimes not only easy
That the above
but, to a certain extent, sympathized with.

is
no
justification for such a state of affairs
less, it
is
true
neverthe-
explains, or tends to explain, the possibility of
its
existence.
CHAPTER
III.
RELATION OF THE LABOR UNION AND THE MOLLY MAGUIRE

THE MOLLY MAGUIRE POLITICAL AND OTHERWISE.
FOR
the purpose of showing the possibility of the sucand working of the " Molly Maguire"
cessful organization
association at this period in the world's history, in a section of the country densely populated, and teeming with
mineral wealth of vast importance to the progress and

growth of the nation, where business has settled into legiti-
mate channels, where law
is respected and maintained by

the vast majority of the community, where capital to the
amount of hundreds of millions is invested and wields its
strong arm in maintenance of the rights of person and

property, some reference to certain characteristics and
prejudices of the Irish peasant, created and nurtured in his
native land, appeared unavoidable. It has also been deemed
necessary to explain how, by reason of the physical formation of the coal regions, the nature of coal mining and the
method of carrying it on, settlements have sprung into existence not only composed of Irishmen, but representing
also, to a great extent, localities in that country,
its
local ideas
and
prejudices,
transported to the coal regions.
that
any imputation or
Ireland
It
reflection
itself,
each with
as
it
were,
must not be understood

is
intended against the
AND THE MOLLY MAGUIRE.
23
character of the miners and laborers of the coal regions.

Such laborers are composed in the main of foreigners,
German, English, Scotch, Welsh,

the assertion
in
is
made without
and
Poles,
Irish,
and
fear of contradiction, that
no large laboring community
in the
world can there be
found better citizens or more abiding respect for law and

order than among the majority of the coal miners of the
anthracite regions. Nor is there any intention in any way
To do so
to attack the Irish element or the Irish people.
would be in the face of the fact that Ireland is pre-emi-
nently the land in which
orators, poets, statesmen,
soldiers have claimed a birthplace or to

their lineage.
ous,
As a nation they
and impulsive
to a
fault
and
which they trace
are warm-hearted, generbrave, romantic, and en-
Among no other people can be found examples

No
of greater heroism or of more sublime self-sacrifice.
heart beats more sympathetically to a tale of suffering, and
thusiastic.
no hand responds more kindly to the claim of family,

" Their men are brave and their women
friend, or kindred.
are chaste," has ever been recognized as to them no unmeaning eulogy. In their very faults they oftentimes display their virtues, and those who have examined most
thoroughly into the inside workings of the "Molly
Maguire" organization can recognize
in
many
of their
crimes, dark, foul, and damnable though they are, traces

of a perverted chivalry.
It is from no mean or ignoble
characteristic in the Irish people that has arisen the preju-
dice under the influence of which they class the witness

who testifies as to the commission of crime in which he
had no part with the " informer" who
first
instigates
and
then betrays.
Nor is the impulse wholly bad which stands
in behalf of the honor of old Ireland, of race and of religion,
in
earnest
support
of a criminal
through good
report and through evil report, in whose deeds they have
no
part,
whose crimes they abhor, and whose professions
24
of religion are
felt to
spise meanness,
be a stigma and a disgrace.
to maintain
To
de-
confidence, to revere coun-
and kindred, to uphold religion, are

of the highest order, and yet the perversion of
"
these virtues has rendered the existence of the
Molly
try, to cherish family
all virtues
The order is composed entirely

Maguires" a possibility.
of Irishmen and the sons of Irishmen, professing the
Roman Catholic faith, and yet their crimes are regarded

with intense horror by the body of the Irish people, and
against the order the Church has hurled its fiercest anathits members as outlaws, and denying
them Christian burial. That despite such sentiment of the
people and such action on the part of the Church the society should grow and flourish is to be accounted for, as
before stated, in a romantic and perverted exercise of impulses founded on virtues.
The magnitude and length of the "strikes" in the coal
"
strikes," not
region, combined with the influence of those
on
business
but
also
on
domestic
interests, throughout a
only
very large section of the country, have drawn special attention to the "Laborers' and Miners' Union," and an im" Labor
pression has to some extent obtained that the
emas, denouncing
Union," if not identical, is at least in earnest sympathy

with the " Molly Maguires."
The only color for such a
charge exists in the fact that the great majority of the "Mollies" belong to the "Union," and that the counsels of
such members were naturally for violent rather than peaceable redress, and, further, that most of the notorious out-
rages committed
by "Mollies" were against capital, as

represented in property or in the persons of superintendents and bosses.
It is also true that decrees of the
" Union" were enforced under the influence of a
fear of
violence against the disobedient, whether members of the

"Union" or not," a fear strengthened by the marching
of bodies of men from colliery to colliery, demanding an
25
immediate stoppage of work, and the necessity that has

arisen to call at different times
upon the executive of the
State for the military to preserve the peace and protect

property. Nevertheless, the charge of sympathy or willing
co-operation of the "Labor Union," as a body, with the
"Mollies,"
is
believed to be without foundation.
Public attention has been specially called, as before remarked, to the "Unions" of the anthracite coal-fields,
owing
to the wide-spread effect of their actions
upon the
but in the principles upon which they are

founded, and in their government and general administration, they are nearly, if not quite, identical with the varipublic at large
ous labor and trades unions which have been formed by

almost every branch of labor, trade, and mechanic art in
country and in Europe.

against them of crime by reason of their organization could be brought with equal force against every
this
A charge
and elsewhere, and

would bring up every vexed and mooted question in relation
to capital and labor, the discussion of which would be
It may be observed, howforeign to the present subject.
association of a similar character here
tendency of the age appears to be to

and that capital, which is condensed labor,
is centralized or
combined in great corporations, that
such, corporations combine with one another in furtherance of whatever end may be in view, and that that end
ever, just here, that the
centralization,
may frequently be subversive of the interest of the laboring

man or artisan.
To admit the right of combination for the protection of
capital, and deny it for the protection of labor, would
seem neither logic nor justice, and this view, both statute
law and courts, exercising, as they properly should, a fos-
tering care over labor, have upheld.*

*
A
B
combination of employers
to
depress the wages of journeymen
26
But be the merits of the question what they may, as has

stated, the great body of the miners and labor-
been before
and very
of those foreigners Irish, will compare favorably with
any other large body of laborers, bound by a common interest, and forming the mass of communities, in the world.
ers of the coal region, albeit mostly foreigners,
many
Whether judging wisely or unwisely of their true interest,

very many, and in some sections the large majority, of the
best of such workingmen belong to the " Union."
Nor are these men mere ignorant "hewers of wood and
drawers of water."
Education,
among them
erally diffused
as
it
is
true,
is
not so genthe
among Americans of
present or foreigners of the rising generation, but instances

of a high degree of culture are by no means rare, and
shrewdness and
common
sense are usual.
These men are not murderers, neither do they sympathize with murder, and none more earnestly rejoice than
below what they would be
either side,
by
is
if
there
was no recurrence
Commonwealth
criminal.
vs.
to artificial
Carlisle,
means
Gibson,
J.,
Brightly's Reports, 41.

It
must be evident, therefore, that an association is criminal when its

is to depress the price of labor belowVhat it would bring if it were
object
left
its
without
chance
artificial
in the
excitement by either masters or journeymen to take

... A combination to resist oppression, not
market.
real, would be perfectly innocent.

Ibid., 42.
There are a variety of British precedents of indictments against journeymen for combining to raise their wages, and precedents rank next to decisions as evidence of the law but it has been thought sound policy in
England to put this class of the community under restrictions so severe, by
statutes that were never extended to this country, that we ought to pause
merely supposed but
we adopt their law of conspiracy as respects artisans. Ibid., 37.

Shaw, C. J. The averment is. this: that the defendants and others
formed themselves into a society, and agreed not to work for any person
hi fore
who should employ any journeyman or other person not a member of

such society, after notice given him to discharge such workman. The
manifest intent of the association is to induce all those engaged in the
same occupation
ful.
to become members of it.

Such purpose
Commonwealth vs. Hunt et a/., 4 Metcalf, 128.
is
not unlaw-

they in the belief that a reign of terror
law and order will rule instead.
While
Union"
it
is
that
is
27
over,
and that
not and cannot be denied by the "Labor

many of the "Mollies" belong to the asso-
it is a matter of congratulation that only a few of

those at present recognized as criminals do so.
And yet it may be that from the manner of enforcing
ciation,
"strikes," in the early history of the coal region, arose the

among fugitives from justice, and those who had been
idea
members of kindred organizations when
in
Ireland, of
the practicability of a society for the perpetration of crime

and the defeat of the course of justice.
As has been
when
itself,
stated, in the early history of the coal trade,
speculation ran wild, when

when an El Dorado was sought
was forming
mountains of rock,
society
in
whose geology was then an unsolved riddle and is even

not fully understood, and which offered no attraction
now
except to the angler, the adventurous tourist, or the artist,

scenes of turbulence, crime, and violence were by no
means
But crime was spasmodic, and such as generrare.

accompanies speculative fever in the early days of
mining enterprise.
ally
Since anthracite coal mining has become regularly estabit is doubtful whether any
great interest of the
lished,
country has been so subject to sudden fluctuation as the

In its successful working a very large
coal business.
capital is now and has been required, and yet,
as a rule, the coal operator or lessee of coal land (for the
owner has seldom mined his own lands) has been a man
amount of
of enterprise and dash rather than capital.

At times the
profits arising from mining coal have been exceedingly
large,
and
for the
chances of such periods great risks have

failures have been a
been taken, and frequent and heavy

natural consequence.
With the
fluctuations of the
trade fluctuated the
de-
28
mand
and wages
for,
of, labor.
In periods of prosperity
every available hand was employed, at almost fabulous

rates, and a heavy draft made on the surplus labor not only
In times of reverses
of this country but also of Europe.
occurred long days of enforced idleness, with thousands
out of employment, in a section of country affording comlittle
paratively
agricultural
or other
recourse
beyond
mining.
The adjustment of wages,

open
field for
therefore, has always been an

controversy between the employer and em-
ployed, and misunderstandings and utter estrangement

have too often been the consequence ; the employer look-
ing upon his
men
as totally regardless of his interests or
and the men, on
their part, viewing the

as the representative of capital, ever seeking to
his misfortunes,
employer
degrade and trample under foot the rights of labor. The
few direct points of contact, the different places of residence, the different modes of life and associations, intensified a state of feeling which was frequently taken advantage
of and controlled by
ruffians,
understanding
little
and
caring less for the issues at stake, who instigated deeds of

violence, either in a wanton spirit of evil or to subserve
private ends.
In consequence of large bodies of workingmen residing
communities and at distant points, and between

whose members existed a friendship in many instances
formed beyond the ocean, but who had no acquaintance or
intercourse with any coal operators, superintendents, or
bosses other than their own, a system of enforcing dangerous or unlawful demands grew into being.
For example, a
demand for higher wages being made and refused, the parties
so demanding would remain apparently acquiescent, either
for the reason that no open conflict would be desired with
in distinct
the employer, or that a movement to enforce such demand

did not receive the full sanction of the whole body of work-
29
men, without whose active aid and co-operation it would

be ineffectual.
The next movement would be to*write
letters, delivered by a secret hand, or posted
on the coal-breaker, or other building attached to the
works, warning obnoxious parties, and generally containSuch letters or notices
ing threats of personal violence.
usually contained rude drawings of coffins and of pistols,
and have attained wide-spread notoriety, both in this counIf these notices
try and in Ireland, as "coffin notices."
were disregarded, personal notice would be given, requiring
a " strike," or whatever might have been determined upon,
by strangers from a distant colliery, unknown to all not
anonymous
in the conspiracy.
Upon those still
refusing to obey, further notice was sometimes served, but
at once the full force of social ostracism would be brought
immediately engaged
to bear
upon them
as
enemies of the workingman,
fre-
quently followed by waylayings, abuse, and fearful beatings.

And here let it be remarked that it is a great error
to assume that the evil deeds of the
band of miscreants who
have infested the coal regions have been altogether against

Their iron
persons and property representing capital.
rule was felt by all, the high and the low alike, and many
a poor laboring man has suffered untold hardships, his life
rendered a curse from constant fear, or has met unexpected
death
at their
hands in some unnoticed brawl.
The perpetrators of the outrages were generally disguised

and unknown to the victim, and escape to the woods was
In those rare cases where a clue to the criminal was
found or suspected, and the offender brought to the bar of
" alibi" was
justice, the ever-convenient
ready, and a verdict of "not guilty" was compelled.
It can readily be
easy.
how in such a condition of affairs the peaceable and well-disposed should succumb to the rule of the
desperado and the ruffian, the more especially as the pecuunderstood
liar
views relative to "informers" held by that large class

3*
3o
of the laboring population represented by Irishmen rendered the detection of crime still more difficult.
Nor
is it
strange that crime, being a success, and going
unwhipped of justice, should develop in strength, seek organization, and revel in the madness of Satanic power. A
whisper of such organization spread abroad, and the names
of "Buckshot"* and " Molly Maguire" became household
words, inspiring far greater wonder and terror in the cot of
the laborer than in the mansion of the wealthy or among
the residents of the larger towns.
It is not generally understood, but it is believed to be
a fact, that as some protection against this organization
very many of the best disposed of the miners and laborers
joined the "Labor Union."
Through it they sought a
power by which the actions of an unknown and irresponmen could be controlled, and through it they
hoped to be enabled to have some voice in questions of
labor which affected their very existence.
Such action on
their part was not only natural but proper
their labor was
their capital and their life, and to have some influence as
to its direction was their first desire. The end in view was,
sible set of
however, but partly accomplished. Shortly after the breaking out of the war an era of prosperity in coal-mining
interests commenced, which continued for some years.
Wages were high and

any
labor was in
demand, and
little if
attention was paid to the character of the laborer
em-
ployed.
The "Labor Unions" increased in numbers, combined,

extended their connections, and became arrogant.
This state of affairs gave to the worst element in that organization, the idle, the vagabond,
power and influence.
*The "Buckshots" and "Mollies"
and the criminal, undue
are
identical.
"
adopted in the coal region was that of Buckshot."
can be traced back to 1854 or 1855, and even earlier.
The name first

The organization

natural for
It is
man
31
and the
Encroachment after
to avail himself of power,
power of labor was in the ascendant.

encroachment was made upon the
rights of the employer,
came to be claimed that no man should be employed and no man discharged except as sanctioned by
the "Union."
The manner of working, the hours of
until
it
working, the superintendents and the bosses, were held

to be under their control and subject to their direction.
They claimed a
wages and times of

same time according to the emof refusing their demands and em-
right to fix a rate of
payment, without
at the
ployer the privilege

ploying others in their stead.
Some
of these acts are
which gave them the

power, and others to the pernicious influence of the band
attributable to the circumstances
who foisted themselves among them. Whilst

an act of simple justice to the leaders of the " Labor
Union" to acknowledge that, as a general rule, the true
of criminals
it is
interests of the
workingman, from their stand-point, were

and through compromise,
had the approval of the
sought to be obtained peaceably

and whilst in such efforts they
great
body of the
society,
unreasonable demands were
pressed through the influence and granted through fear of

the "Molly Maguire."
Under
the influence of organization and of general pros" Mollies" increased in numbers and in
power.
perity, the
Throughout the coal regions they completely controlled

the organization known as the A. O. H., or Ancient Order
of Hibernians, and, using that order as a cloak, endeavored
to increase still further their numbers and their influence,
on the pretext that the order is chartered by the Legislature for legal and proper purposes as a benevolent association.
The ambition of
whom
deserted labor and the
genial
and
the leaders
among them, many of
mines
for the
influential positions of small tavern
keepers, kept
pace with their increased
more conand saloon
power.
They
32
" Labor
sought not only to control the movements of the
Union," to inspire whole coal-mining interests with a fear
of their displeasure, but also to have a potent voice
politics, township, county, State,
and national.
in
The most
direct object of their ambition existed in the management

of township affairs and the funds arising from road and
Lands having an immense salable value,

hundred dollars, one thousand dollars, and
even upwards, per acre, were under their influence and
control, as subjects of assessment and the collection of
school
taxes.
as high as five
taxes.
Possessed of but
little
these lands, especially in the
taxable property themselves,

the fund arising from
way of
immense importance in advancing the

of the society.
and
influence
power
A road once constructed on a barren, rocky soil, such as
road-taxes, were of
the coal region as a general rule presents, costs but little

to keep in repair, and yet the taxes assessed and levied have
in some instances been as high as twelve hundred dollars
This money has been used not

per mile in a single year.
only as a fund by dishonest township officials, but also in
the interest of parties who only nominally worked upon the
The misapplication of school funds has not been
roads.
so flagrant
and so extensive
as that of those collected for
has nevertheless been a power in perpetuating the reign of terror under which the coal regions have
been held. In county politics they have, in a number of
road purposes.
It
instances, urged with much force members of the organization as candidates for leading offices, and in Schuylkill
" Mollies"
County succeeded in three instances in electing
to the office of
County Commissioner, an
office
of great
importance, as one of the powers of the Board of Commissioners is that of appointing the collectors of county
In Schuylkill County also, in one instance, a notaxes.*
* In Carbon County two " Mollies" have
at different times held the
33
torious "Molly," now convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors, succeeded in receiving the nomination for
Associate Judge, and only failed of the election by a few
In every
poll of many thousands.
election they have exercised a corrupting influence, by the
demand of money or promises antecedent to their support.
hundred votes out of a
For State and national
townships have been put up
offices,
and the vote delivered ac-
for sale to the highest bidder,
cording to contract. Rumors of a vote to be given on

account of a pardon to be extended to some offender or
whom no perjury could save from the meshes of

the law, have been common; and such pardon, following
quickly after the result of an election has become known,
offenders
has given those rumors a force and effect they would not
otherwise possess.
From both
demanded
in
of the great political parties
exchange
for their support,
money
and
it
has been
is
to be
members of both parties have yielded to their

demands.
With township offices and township
feared that
unjust
funds under the.ir absolute control, with county officials

under their influence, their votes spught and purchased at
State and national elections, their crimes rarely detected,
and when detected often pardoned, it is hardly matter of

wonder that throughout the coal regions crime held high
carnival, that fraud was permitted without question, and
that the
murderer shot down his victim in the broad light
of day and in the presence of

a care for concealment.
many
witnesses with scarcely
The overgrown power of the "Labor Union," and the

burdensome taxation imposed upon real estate through
the influence of the
"Molly" organization, as well as a

of
general feeling
insecurity as to life and property, made
office
of County Commissioner, and a
elected to the State Legislature.

lican party
B*
have been victimized.
"
Molly" also succeeded in being

Both the Democratic and the Repub-
34
the surrender of individual operators to the policy of great

and transporting companies of comparatively
coal mining
The owner of productive coal

accomplishment.
wearied
the
continual
lands,
struggle between his tenby
ants and the men, whereby his income was seriously imeasy
paired, was glad to sell his lands at a moderate figure in

comparison to their true value, whilst the owner of unpro-
ductive lands, borne down by taxes, and seeing no hope

in the future, was glad, at a comparatively small price,
to dispose of property that
was becoming an intolerable
The masses of
the people of this country have witnessed with great misgivings the increasing power of these
burden.
; but, dangerous as their great powers

vested in unscrupulous hands, it may well
through any other means the evils that
overgrown monopolies
may become
if
be doubted
if
had sprung into existence could have been rooted out.

The control and management of the mines, the manner
of their working, the right to employ and discharge hands,
were passing away from the owners, and were fast vesting in,
not the "Labor Union" proper, but the "Labor
Union"
under the direction of the " Molly Maguires."
The great companies combined in a struggle for the

ownership of their property, and in the struggle have
been materially assisted by the prostration of business
under which we
at present suffer; but it is only at this

time, after long and careful preparation, that the blow has
been struck which has broken down an organization as ter-
rible as
any
in the world's history.
The
detailed statement
of events connected with the existence of that organization reads like a horrible tale of a past age, of the Thug
of India, the Bandit of Italy, the Buccaneer of the Spanish
main, of scenes afar from civilization, where law was pow-
defend or punish. That in the second half of the

nineteenth century, in one of the richest and most populous
regions of Pennsylvania, with courts of justice in full force,
erless to
35
citizens ready and willing to execute

the law, property should be held by only a nominal ownership, freedom of action be denied to thousands under fear
and the majority of
of sudden and dreadful death, and the incendiary and

assassin attempt their hellish work in the broad glare of
day, would seem utterly incredible, and yet, difficult as
is
to realize,
it is
it
true.
By the great body of the world ngmen of the coal regions

the maintenance of the rights of property was, if not welcomed, at least cheerfully accorded in. But with the prosto madden in his
become fairly drunken with blood.
Deeds of arson and murder were planned in rapid succession ; some were foiled, but many were executed.
Men
tration of business the
"Molly" seemed
career of crime, and to
for
of
merely acting in obedience to orders, or in the line

Murder was
duty, were shot down like dogs.
official
deemed worthy of reward, and he who committed the

greatest number and most terrible of crimes took the
No man's life was

committees were being formed,
and probably most fearful retaliation would have been
meted out, in which, it may be, the innocent would have
highest social rank in this fearful band.
felt
to be safe; vigilance
suffered with the guilty, when the arrest of the murderers

of John P. Jones, of Lansford, still fresh from the scene of
blood, revived hopes that justice, according to the forms

The result has justified these
of law, was still possible.
hopes.
The
confessions of the criminals, the testimony of
James McParlan the detective, the energetic and thorough

action of the Wilkesbarre Coal and Iron Company and the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and
the firm attitude maintained by court and jury in the discharge of duty, all render evident the glorious truth that
the story of "Molly Maguire" outrages has passed into
history,
and that the power of the organization
broken forever.
for evil
is
SOCIETIES IN IRELAND
36
CHAPTER
IT
is
doubtful whether the "
IV.
AND AMERICA.
Ribbon"
society in Ireland,
record, even in the days of its greatest

a moiety of the power and influever
attained
strength,
ence reached by the "Molly Maguires" of the anthracite
terrible as
is
coal-fields of
This
is
its
Pennsylvania during the past
perhaps owing
fifteen years.
to the fact that the Irish peasant in
the land of his nativity, discontented and turbulent, for

centuries has been held under subjection and control by
the strong hand of England.

Living on the same estate,
and frequently in the same miserable cot, occupied by
generations of his ancestors, poor and down-trodden, his

means of intercourse with distant points were limited and
rendered dangerous through the "spy" and "informer"

in the constant employ of the authorities.
Taught, however, the full value of combination through the various
conspiracies instigated
under the control and
by the exiled House of Stuart,

management of French emissaries,
organizations more or less powerful were effected.
Such
organizations, however, although co-operating, bearing the

same name, and having the same general object in view,
never attained the same power of combination as that

reached by the Molly Maguire in the comparatively limited, area of the anthracite coal-fields, with
its
immense
population and rapid means of transit from point to point.

Among the emigrants to this country, it must be borne
mind, an undue proportion of the discontented class of

found their way. The ravages occasioned by
the potato-rot in Ireland in 1846 were too great to be borne
in
Irish peasants
AND AMERICA.
37
by an overcrowded population already
fearfully pressed by
Naturally they turned abroad for relief, and the
United States, offering a broad field for labor at remunera-
poverty.
tive wages,
was looked upon as a "harbor of refuge."
necessity of some means of relief was recognized by all

classes, the landlord as well as the tenant, and such relief
The
was felt to be in a course of systematized emigration. As

a consequence, on some estates inducements to emigrate
were offered and a portion of the expenses defrayed by the
In some instances emigration was practically
landlord.
required, and where this was the case it can readily be understood that coercive means were applied to the criminal
It was not uncommon to collude in the
or the turbulent.
of criminals from the country, and to offer aid and
advice to those suspected of criminal acts to save themselves from prosecution by a voyage across the ocean.
flight
In
many
instances those
who had been
influence of bad association
lawless
and dire necessity
under the
in
Ireland
have, by counter-influences in this land, developed into

good and valuable citizens. But in too many cases a turbulent spirit of resistance to lawful authority, together with
a morbid suspicion and fear of encroachments upon their
rights and privileges, has developed itself into a wild and
unreasoning cry for justice where no oppression was intended or offered, and has resulted in deeds of fearful
crime, which have tended to sully the Irish name and
thrown a stain unjustly, it is contended and believed
on the
The spirit and genius of our civand laws are not repressive; with us, the most
rules of conduct are enforced by public sentiment,
Irish character.
ilization
effective
stronger far than penal statute, court of justice, or minister

of law, and that sentiment, as a general rule, is overwhelmingly in favor of submission to lawful authority. By reason
of this general disposition on the part of the whole body

of the people, associations and societies, secret and other4
38
wise, for almost every conceivable purpose, are sanctioned
by the law and
are regarded with
no suspicion.
The A. O. H.,
or Ancient Order of Hibernians, a society regularly incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania
as a beneficial association,
and connecting
with divi-
itself
sions of the order throughout the United States and Great

Britain, has been controlled throughout the greater portion of the anthracite coal-fields of Pennsylvania for a few
years past by the class of Irishmen known as the Molly
Through the medium of this order a thorough
guires.
Maand
complete organization of the worst classes throughout the

coal region has been effected.
The avowed object of the
society as a beneficial association has been, so far as can
be learned, entirely dropped, and in the heart of the most
populous towns, before the eyes of the whole community,

conventions have been held in which crimes have been
planned, considered, and approved, and murder agreed to
be rewarded.
It was by means of this organization, through which unity
of action was attainable, that a political influence was acquired that for a time seemed to render the Molly Maguire
omnipotent for evil. That the society has existed in some

form and under various names as far back as 1855, or perhaps before, there is little doubt, but prior to 1862 or 1863
it was confined to particular localities, and, although the
instrument of much evil, had not reached the degree of
arrogant confidence attained in after-years, and only now
shaken by the terrible revelations in regard to its true objects
and character.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians

large
is
a society having
membership throughout the United
Britain.
It is
said to contain
among
its
States
and Great
active
members
men
of high character and unblemished lives, and the

av\vrd object of its formation is not only lawful but good.
There
is
no coaclusive evidence which connects the order
AND AMERICA.
39
outside of the coal region with criminal acts, in this country

or in Great Britain, and it is but simple justice, until the
contrary
is
shown,
to believe that the
name and
charter of
the association were taken possession of by the "Molly"

outlaws in violation of the general principles of the order.*
It is true that it is
spiracy to
" cona matter in testimony in a case of
commit murder,"
tried in Schuylkill
County
in
August, 1876, that the leading officers of the order in the

associacity of New York used money belonging to the
tion to aid a criminal
member
in fleeing
from
justice.
charitable view of the transaction would ascribe so unwar-
rantable an act to individual sympathy of men in what

was seemingly a benevolent act, rather than to recognized
It is alauthority to defeat the ends of justice.
leged, however, that the national delegates at New York
have assessed the sum of five dollars on each division of
official
the order
some
six
thousand in number
throughout the
United States, making in the aggregate the sum of thirty

thousand dollars, to defray the expenses of the defense of
the " Mollies" charged with crime in the coal region. This
has produced open revolt in the case of one division, and
their action in
making the assessment
is
regarded by the
It is, however,
public generally with strong disapproval.
by no means conclusive evidence of either the sympathy or
Men,
complicity of the order generally in criminal acts.
however criminal, are entitled to all the protection the law

affords, and are justly entitled to a fair trial and the
benefit of able counsel.
That some such feeling rather
than a consciousness of common guilt controlled what
must be considered under the circumstances the ill-advised
*
J. Slattery, an influential member, testified at Mauch

"
I have it from members and
21, 1876, as follows, viz.:
John
October
county
and others, that the entire organization from the Atlantic to the
and from the Gulf of Mexico to Maine, is criminal in its char-
delegates,
Pacific,
acter."
Chunk,
4o
action of the national delegates, it is but fair to assume.

That the order throughout this country and Great Britain
has not openly and officially repudiated and denounced

those who in the coal regions have brought a lasting stigma
and disgrace upon the organization, is not so readily under-
To do
so would appear natural as a means of selfthat it has not been done

and
protection
self-justification
is a matter of deep regret to those who are sincerely and
earnestly anxious to believe that no considerable body of
stood.
American
whatever may be the place of their nawith

ruffians, incendiaries, and assassins.
sympathize
the lodges or chapters of any other organization in
citizens,
tivity,
Had
the United States been proven to have used their organization in a manner c6ntrary to the purposes of its creation,
and
to have
been guilty of one
tithe of the crimes already
proven to have been committed under the sanction of divisions of the A. O. H. in Schuylkill, Northumberland, and
Carbon Counties, earnest and open disavowal would have

been instant and thorough, by the official action of the organization at large, and by the individual members of it.
That denunciation has not followed the exposure of crime
in this instance
tire
innocence
is
only explainable consistently with enin view the clannish character
by keeping
of the Irish people, their thorough detestation of the

"informer," and a mistaken sense of honor, which would
characterize the desertion of the coal-region fiends in the
hour of their overthrow as cowardly and base.

It is to be hoped that before these remarks are published to the world such disavowal shall have been made.
That there should be any question whatever on the subject

serves to illustrate to some extent a power and influence of
the
"Molly" organization painful to acknowledge.

Whilst the Molly Maguire of the United States, in his
inception of crime, in his method of notifying the intended victim, and in his mode of perpetration of outrage,
AND AMERICA.
41
bears a striking likeness to his prototypes, the Ribbonman

it is believed that no other
and Molly Maguire of Ireland,

connection
exists.
The Ribbon
Society, whose deeds fill so large a space in

the annals of crime in Ireland, was organized in maintenance of what were claimed to be the just and inalienable
and privileges of the tenants relative to the landed

As has been before stated, the education of the
Irish peasant, his religion, and a prejudice, the growth of
centuries, induces a hatred to English rule, and especially
rights
estates.
The landto that of the family at present on the throne.

lord is regarded as a natural enemy, holding title to the
Under the influence of
land by force, and not by right.
such prejudice and feelings, a certain unwritten code of
came into being, by which the
tenant claimed to possess his leasehold estate without, under
any circumstances, the right of dispossession existing in the
landlord.
The landlord might be desirous of improving
laws, or "tenant rights,"
his estate, or rent
be largely
in arrears; nevertheless,
any
action on his part in maintenance of his right of property,

under the Ribbon code, was to be resisted to the death.
But not only upon the landlord did the Ribbonmen ex-
vengeance; other tenants entering upon

the possession of the disputed property were equally with
the landlords and land-agents the victims of murderous,
and generally fatal, attacks. This society sprang into ex-
ercise their deadly
istence in the early part of the present century, maintained

its unhallowed existence for many years, and only received
permanent check upon the execution of Hodgens and Breen,

convicted of conspiracy to murder Patrick McArdle, at
Carrickmacross, in 1852.
The principal points of operation of this society were in
Tipperary, Kings, Queens, Meath, Westmeath, Louth, and
Monaghan Counties. The numerous murders and other
outrages which they have committed have done
4*
much
to
42
retard the improvement and prosperity of Ireland, to in" absentee"

crease the evils arising from
ownership, and to
prevent the growth of those kindly relations and mutual

interests which should exist between the owner of the soil
and
his less fortunate tenant.
In a
number of
instances
the land-owners for years virtually yielded their estates to

the control of a discontented tenantry.
Strange to say,
ordinary rules in the management of property which

have proven successful in other countries, in Ireland seemed
to excite the most bitter opposition. The landlord anxious
all
to improve his estate
and looking
to the
advancement
in
prosperity of his tenantry, the philanthropist filled with

kindly intentions and anxious to render full justice tem-
pered with charity, were in constant danger and frequently

the victims of the assassin ; whilst the good-natured, foxhunting, drunken squire, having no end in view but his
own ease and the gratification of his own selfish impulses,
yielding to prejudices because too careless and too indolent to run counter to them, was enabled to be guilty of
and at the same time to live in per-
real acts of oppression,

fect safety,
enjoying a high degree of personal prosperity.
A condition of affairs so paradoxical could exist only among

a people where the heart rather than the head is the controlling power, whose habits are eminently social, whose
prejudices are intense, and with whom good-natured, openhearted manners are of more avail than lasting benefits
conferred with a repellent hand.

That the Irish peasant was himself the victim of
many
a high-handed act of oppression well-authenticated tales

It is hard to implace beyond the possibility of a doubt.
agine two classes of men more dissimilar and less likely to
coalesce than the English and the Irish.
The English,
and methodical, prejudiced beyond

any other people, with analytical power to understand such
prejudices and discuss them, with candor and honesty to
cold, staid, unyielding,
AND AMERICA.
43
acknowledge them, and with a magnificent self-sufficiency to

glory in them, regard with sovereign scorn, of which there
is
no attempt
at
concealment, the open manner, the
in-
formality, the impulsive and careless extravagance of their

Irish neighbors. In every prominent characteristic the two
nations are at variance, and in their intercourse, political

social, generally meet with the jagged side of each
and
presented.
own
The Englishman in his own way, and in his

more real philanthropic feeling
fashion, possesses far
than the Irishman
he has an earnest desire to act not only
but even kindly, if he only knew how; but the Irish

question, an unsolved problem centuries ago, still remains
justly,
complex as ever.
That the Ribbonmen as against the English government,
and in defiance of Saxon landlords, should not meet de-
as
On
termined resistance was not in the nature of things.
estates landlords endeavored to maintain their legal
"
rights with all the machinery of the law, and
process-
some
"
keepers," and
"drivers"
were
servers,"
"grippers,"
employed
to serve the tenants with legal processes for the
The " grippers" had in charge the

all
of
tenants
arresting
against whom decrees for nonpayment of rent had been obtained; the "keepers" were
employed to watch the crops, lest they should be carried
collection of rent.
"drivers" were engaged to

upon the premises of the defaulting tenant and lodge them in the pound, from which
they were not to be released until the rent was paid. These
severe measures, sometimes arbitrary, on the part of the
landlord, were met by the most determined resistance on
the part of the tenants; and on the barony of Farney,
County Monaghan, in the year 1843, the "Molly Ma-
off in the night; whilst the
drive
all
the live-stock found
guires" were organized to act as auxiliary to, or in connection with, the Ribbonmen.
There are a number of traditions as to the origin of the
44
AND AMERICA.
One is that the society was

formed under the auspices of an old woman of that name,
and the first meetings were held at her house. Another
account tells of a sort of Amazon of that name who not
name of "Molly Maguire."
only planned deviltry, but also was foremost in assisting to

execute it. Her followers received the nickname of "Molly
The best-authenticated explanation of the

Maguires."
name, however, is that the members were generally stout,
active young men, dressed up in women's clothes, with
their faces blackened, or otherwise disguised, with crape or
fantastic masks, or with burnt cork about their eyes,
and cheeks.*
upon
them
mouths,
In this condition they would pounce
down
process-servers, grippers, keepers, and drivers, duck

in bog-holes, beat, and otherwise maltreat them.
Under such circumstances

inspired terror,
and
to
the very
employ
name of Molly Maguire
officers
of the law was not
It does
only difficult, but in some instances impossible.
not appear that the custom of wearing female dresses was
observed in
now be
Ireland, nor can any instance

where the Molly Maguires have ever done
all localities in
recalled
so in this country.
As has been before remarked,
no connection is known
between the " Ribbonmen" and "Molly Maguires" of Ireland and the "Molly Maguires" of the coal
and of that there is no present proofregion, without
to
exist
such connection should be through the Ancient Order of

Hibernians.
The "Mollies" have often committed outrages here that resemble in the minutest details the crimes
of their prototypes across the ocean, and this, too, without one single mitigating circumstance to relieve their
horrid enormity.
The "Molly Maguire" of the coal region comes into existence without cause, or pretense of
a cause, in the past or present history of this country.
* Trench's
"
Realities of Irish "Life."
CARBON AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES.
45
Standing the equal before the law of any man or set of

in the land, his rights guarded, and even his prejudices
respected, he becomes with fiendish malice and in cold
blood an incendiary and assassin, a curse to the land that
men
has welcomed him with open arms, and a blot, a stain,

and a disgrace upon the character of his countrymen and
the
name of
the land of his nativity.
CHAPTER
V.
CARBON AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES,
l86l
TO
1865.
to, and during the first years of, the

the
war,
development of what is known as the middle anThe construction of
thracite coal-field was in its infancy.
IMMEDIATELY prior
the Philadelphia
and Sunbury Railroad from Sunbury
to
Mount Carmel, and the extension of the Mine Hill and

Schuylkill Haven Railroad over the Broad Mountain to
Ashland,
it is
true,
had opened the western portion of that

Shamokin and Ashland, to enter-
basin, in the vicinity of

prise
and
capital.
But
in the centre of the basin,
where
are located the magnificent Girard estate and other valuable mineral lands, and to the eastward, settlements were
sparse, with but little
anthracite coal trade
improvement.
The
stimulus to the
by reason of the demand created by
the war, and the consequent building of
new
railroad out-
market, have caused this region to spring, as if by

magic, into full development, with an immense population ; and this fact is necessary to be borne in mind in
lets to
order that the shifting of the
"
field
of operations of the
Molly Maguire," hereafter narrated, may be understood.

At the period to *hich we refer, however, the great coal
46
operations were being worked to the west of Pottsville, in

Schuylkill County, in the neighborhood of Summit Hill,
in Carbon County, and in the great upper coal-field in
Luzerne County.
At an early day ill-defined rumors that an order called
the "Black Spots" was in existence in the vicinity of
Pottsville had been afloat, and several outrages then perpetrated seem to bear the marks of criminal organization.
That the order, however, if even in existence, had anything more than a mere local being and short life there is
no reason to suppose. But from the beginning of the year
1862, that a powerful society was exercising an unwholesome influence in Cass and adjoining townships in Schuylkill County, was generally believed, and in Carbon and
" Buckshot" was beparts of Luzerne County the name of
coming a familiar term as applied to the lawless element in

the mining population.
Demand for labor had suddenly
increased at a time
when many of
the best citizens were
absent in the army.

Not only were their places to be
Good and valuable
filled, but a large excess was required.
miners and laborers answered the demand, but with them

also great numbers of the worst class of a floating populaIt is not surprising that to this latter element the
tion.
upon which to form a draft for

would afford an opportunity to strengthen and
increase an unlawful combination already existing.
notice of an enrollment
soldiers
Even
to the best-regulated community there is nothing

or
popular
inspiriting in a contemplated' draft for soldiers.
It is a notice that the answer of the volunteer is not sufficient,
and that every man, whatever may be
his private
obligations, must be prepared to answer to the call of his

From patriotic motive or necessity a draft will
country.
be advocated, approved, and submitted to, on the same

principle that a nauseous dose of physic is taken,
present
discomfort for future health.
TO
i86i
1865.
47
But there are certain persons who, either from thoughtlessness or a natural disposition, regard only the present;
As a
to this class the large lawless element appealed.
consequence, in Cass and other townships in Schuylkill
County, and in parts of Carbon County, active measures
to prevent enrollment were adopted. In Schtiylkill County
and
and judicious treatment prevented an outbreak, and

In Carbon County, where the
the enrollment was made.
careful
"Buckshots" were fully organized, enrollment was also

amid a bitter and violent state of feeling.*
The spirit of lawlessness was aroused. It manifested itself
not only again|t the United States government, but against
all law, human and divine.
The enrollment offered the
occasion for an appeal to the passions of men, by which
criminal organization was strengthened and increased.
In Carbon County at this time, and during several years,
the " Buckshot" was bold, arrogant, and defiant in a career
Fearful assaults, arson, and murder were perof crime.
and
remained to a very great degree unpunished.
petrated,
Not only did the civil authorities seem powerless, but the
strong arm of the United States government, invoked
when possible, seemed to stay only for the moment the
effected, but
spirit
of lawlessness.
ous feeling manifest
To
such an extent did an open riotthat a number of leading coal
itself,
operators were warned to suspend operations until the unlawful demands of those opposed to the draft were acceded
and miners and laborers were notified that if they conit would be at the peril of their lives.
A
large body of rioters armed came to Mauch Chunk, overawed the citizens, forced their way into the jail, and released
to,
tinued at work
It is
but simple justice to these sections of the coal regions to state

war there was an instant response to the call
that at the breaking out of the
and that during the war the volunteers from these parts
were equal to those from any other portion oT the community.
for volunteers,
48
a number of the
summer of 1863.*
On
ried,
This
prisoners.
riot
occurred in the
the i4th of June, 1862, at a meeting held at
Carbon County,
to
make arrangements
for a
Audenmeeting
to be held the following Fourth of July, a party of
became
infurfated at a
man named
F.
W.
S.
men
Langdon,
the breaker-boss at one of the neighboring coal-breakers.

It appears that one of the party present, whether purposely
or by accident is uncertain, spit upon the American flag.
In any event, in the then excited condition of the public

mind such an act would be an opportunity for angry dis-
Langdon, who was standing on the hotel porch

where the meeting was held, denounced in strong terms
the person offending.
This was the occasion of angry
retort and threats.
It is supposed that, independent of
the offense given by Langdon that day, he had rendered
cussion.
himself obnoxious to some of the

as boss.
The
workmen
in his capacity
threats used against him, in connection with
the angry looks with which he was regarded, caused some

of his friends to urge him to remain on the porch and not
to mingle with the crowd.
Langdon did not himself believe that he was in any danger.
He left the meeting,
and, the occasion presenting

tance away from the hotel.
itself,
walked some
little dis-
He
was found alone, severely

beaten with stones, insensible, and in a dying condition.
One mortal blow received seemed to have been given with
a hammer. He died in a short time.
A mob had evidently followed him.
Some
persons were suspected of
* Through the kindness of General Charles

Albright, a number of papers
have been placed at the disposal of the writer, among
them a list of names of a portion of those connected with this riot. The
relating to this period
character of the individuals named is noted in brief.

To publish this list
can answer no good purpose at this time, but the fact is noted that sixty
of the persons named were connected with other
riots, brutal
outrages,
assaults, fiendish threats, or
murder.
1861
TO
1865.
49
having committed the murder, but the requisite evidence

to justify their arrest and hold them for trial was not obtained.
The full details of

many persons but it
;
fourteen years,
Maguire"
is
when
murder are probably known to

only after the lapse of more than
the
is
the terrorism inspired by the "Molly

the organization has re-
passing away and
ceived repeated and heavy blows, that there

of bringing the murderers to justice.
is
a prospect
John Kehoe, the County Delegate of Schuylkill County,

charged with the offense so is Yellow Jack Donahue,
so is John Campbell, and so are others.
The blow supposed to have been struck with a hammer is said to have
been inflicted by Yellow Jack Donahue, with a swingle-tree
which he had picked up. It is probable that before many
months have passed a number of persons will be tried for
is
the murder.
On
the 5th of
murdered
of his family.
November, 1863, George K. Smith was
own house
at Audenried, in the presence

Mr. Smith had been a surveyor and mining
in his
engineer, and at the time of his death was a coal operator.

He was suspected of having given the information by
which the United States government

abled to
make
officials
had been en-
the enrollment in his district.
During the afternoon of the 5th of November he had

been absent from home, and on his return in the evening
complained of not feeling well. He in consequence retired
to his room.
During the evening a man called at the
Mrs.
house, saying that he had a message for Mr. Smith.
Smith told him her husband was not well, but that she
would carry him any message. The man replied, "No;

the matter is important, and I must see Mr. Smith himself."
In consequence of this urgency Mr. Smith was
Whilst he was yet
called, and came partly down-stairs.
on the stairs, a crowd of about twenty-five men, disguised
c
5o
They comwounds which
with blackened faces, rushed into the house.
menced shooting
at
him
at once, inflicting
caused almost immediate death.
But the assassins did not themselves escape uninjured.

Great confusion prevailed, but determined resistance was
offered.
George W. Ulrich, then in the employ of Mr.
Smith, was present at the time, armed with a revolver,
which he shot into the crowd.
He wounded one man,
named John Donahue, afterwards killed at Tuscarora, and

whose body he there identified, and, it is supposed, killed
The marks of blood were found, and a " Molly"
another.
funeral followed shortly, but whose it was has not yet been
discovered.
No
evidence to convict any one of this crime was then

As in the case of Langdon, the proba-
to be obtained.
bilities are that
the offenders, or
some of them,
will shortly
be called upon to answer.
That the lawlessness existing in a portion of Carbon

County in the years 1862, 1863, and 1864 was greater than
in any portion of Schuylkill or Luzerne County at that
The existence of organized crime was
period, is possible.
more fully recognized. But if in Schuylkill County no
such spirit of bold defiance to law was manifested as in
the attack upon the Mauch Chunk jail, the frequency of
crime, and the spirit of lawlessness prevailing there, were
exciting general alarm.*
On the 3d of July, 1862, a
man named Thomas Hogan
* The writer has not

given in detail the outrages committed in Luzerne
"
The character of the Molly" outrages was the same in all parts
of the anthracite coal region. Whilst throughout the whole region the
"
testimony is that the
Molly Maguire" organization is criminal, during
the last few years better influences have been at work in Luzerne than in
County.
As in Carbon and Schuylkill Counties the organization

has been detected and exposed, the details of crime in those counties have
received more special attention.
Luzerne County during the past year
has afforded hiding-places for Schuylkill and Carbon
criminals.
other counties.
County
i86i
was killed
at the
TO
1865.
Otto colliery.
He
51
was stabbed with a
David Kelly, William Kelly,

knife by a Daniel Kelly.
and Lawrence Flynn are said to have been accessories.
That this was a " Molly Maguire" murder is doubtful. It

was the first of a long series of murders in Schuylkill
County.*
On
the
8th of December, 1862, there was an avowed
On that day about two hunoutrage.

dred men, armed with guns, pistols, and other weapons,
made an attack upon the collieries of William Goyne, near
Forestville, Cass Township.
They dragged the fire from
"Molly Maguire"
beneath the boilers, and stopped the engine and pumps. f

They beat seriously about fifteen men employed at the
mines.
Mr. Hopkins,
in the
employ of the Mine Hill
Railroad Company, was severely injured.
They made an
Three shots
attack upon and closed the colliery store.
were fired at the store-keeper, fortunately without hitting
him. Two young men, named Edward Harris and Edward
The ruffians remained at the

Great, were beaten badly.
There was no robscene of outrage for over two hours.
bery committed.
They then left, uttering threats of venthe

men should the collieries be started
geance against
It is not
or the stores opened without their permission.
known that any of the employees of Mr. Goyne were concerned
in the matter,
nor does any cause of complaint on

rioters during the scene boasted
The
their part appear.
largely of an organization called the

* See Appendix A,
list
of
fifty-five
"Molly Maguires,"
murders
in Schuylkill
County
in
over three years, beginning in 1863. These were not all " Molly"
"
murder in the first degree" in all
murders, nor would a conviction of
little
But many of them were brutal, cowardly assaswas neither trial nor conviction.
f By the stoppage of pumps mines below water-level soon fill with
water. This is looked upon as one of the most serious calamities that can
It occasions" loss of time, great expense, and oftentimes
befall a colliery.
cases have been justified.

which there
sinations, for
irreparable
damage.
52
which they belonged, and asserted that

enough to control the whole coal region.
to
From
it
was powerful
time forward acts of violence increased in
this
It is impossible, nor could it be of interest,

frequency.
Suffice it to state
to describe every outrage committed.
that it was a period of lawlessness in certain sections of
the coal-fields.
On
the
of January, 1863, about forty men attacked

John McDonald, in Cass Township. They
nth
the house of
broke
in the
doors and windows of his house, with intenHe escaped. Mrs. McDonald remained;
tion to kill him.
they used violent language against her, but spared her life.
On the 1 3th of the same month, and in the same township,
the
two men, named Conners and Curry, were shot during

the public road.
The whole affair is a
night on
mystery.
On the 24th of February, 1863, Mr. Thomas Verner

was attacked and knocked down by a crowd of men in
Foster Township.
For some time after this attack Mr.
Verner's life was in constant danger.
His sole offense
consisted in the purchase of an interest in a colliery from
Mr. Borda. The purchase did not meet with universal
approval on the part of the men.
On the 2d of January, 1864, James Bergen, of Coal
Castle,
was shot
at
by
five strangers.
days from the wounds received.
He
died within two
The crime was committed
in the daytime.
The reasons, if any, for this murder are
not known. The criminals escaped; no arrests were made.
On the 8th of January, 1864, Mr. Thomas Kear and
Mr. Benseman were attacked at Minersville by a crowd

armed with billies. There had been no provocation given.
Mr. Kear had a pistol, and attempted to shoot. The
pistol,
On
however, missed
the
nth
Gardner was
fire.
of September, 1864, at Lorberry, Robert
killed in his
own house by Dennis Aiken,
i86i
assisted
by two other men.
TO
1865.
S3
The weapon used was an
axe,
with which the head and body of Gardner were completely

hacked. Aiken escaped, but was subsequently arrested,
tried, convicted of
murder
in the
second degree, and sen-
tenced to twelve years' imprisonment. This is not gener"

Molly" murder.
ally believed to have been a
On the icth of August, 1865, Mr. William Pollock, the

then superintendent of the Peach Mountain Coal Company, was riding with his son James, a lad about the age
of fourteen years, from his residence in Pottsville to the
mines of the company, some miles to the east of that
It was in broad dayplace, in the direction of Tuscarora.
light, in a thickly-settled country, and no suspicion of
danger existed. Suddenly the report of a pistol was heard,
and Mr. Pollock discovered

ball
that he
was wounded, a
having passed through the curtains of
pistol-
his carriage
and
lodged in his back.

a
In the flurry and excitement the horse was stopped, and

in front of the carriage, with a pistol,
man appeared
and told them

missed.
The
He again
contained but two
to deliver.
pistol
fired,
but this time
balls,
both of which
had now been fired. Mr. Pollock sprang from the carWeakened though
riage and grappled with the ruffian.
he was with loss of blood and the pain arising from his
his feelings were so thoroughly aroused that he fully
occupied the attention of his antagonist, who was a strong,
He would probably, however, have been
powerful man.
wound,
conquered had
it
not been for the presence of mind and
bravery displayed by his young son.

James comprehended the situation, quickly placed himself in position,
and
inflicted a rapid succession of well-directed blows

on the head of the robber with the butt end of his
He doubtkss saved his father's life. The man
whip.
could neither bear nor prevent the punishment the boy was
inflicting upon him, since Mr. Pollock himself engaged his
5*
54
utmost attention
he tore himself loose, ran for the woods,
and escaped.
Had he been successful he would have gained rich booty.

Mr. Pollock had on his person over eight thousand dollars,
which he was taking to the colliery to pay the men. Notwithstanding the wound received, the two accomplished
the purpose with which they had started from home. They
proceeded to the mines, handed the money over to the
book-keeper, and then returned to Pottsville, where Mr.
Pollock had the ball extracted before meeting his family.
He was confined to the house for more than two weeks.
The robber had
escaped, and has never since been ar-
This attempted robbery was probably an individual

enterprise, but there is little doubt that the perpetrator
rested.
was a "Molly Maguire," and had he been arrested would

have been protected by all the power and influence of the
It is not absolutely certain, but he is supposed to
have been killed at a tavern in the Mahanoy region called
order.
"The
Flour-Barrel."
Mr. Pollock
is
an old resident
of Pottsville, a gentleman of social position, and highly

The matter excited considerable attention at
respected.
the time.
On the 25th of August, 1865, Mr. David Muir, superintendent of what are known as "New Mines," in FosTownship, then belonging to the Forest Improvement
Company, immediately after taking his breakfast walked
ter
down
the road towards his colliery.
When
about
fifty
yards from his house he was attacked by two or three men.

It is supposed that the party came up behind him and struck
him down with
a blow on the back of his head.
He
was
then shot, the ball passing through his heart and right lung.
He received three severe wounds in the body with a dirk.
His death was almost instantaneous.

The murderers after committing the crime were seen to
walk down the railroad-track about one hundred yards.
1861
They then
TO
1865.
55
passed into the woods and escaped.
Signals
were given them from the neighboring hills immediately

after the occurrence.
This murder was committed in
broad daylight, on the highway, within a short distance
of the colliery, where a large number of men were congregated, all of whom must have heard the report of the fire-
whom were probably witnesses of the

But no testimony has been elicited, up to this
time, by which the perpetrators of the crime could be
arms, and some of
act
itself.
brought to justice.
Eleven years have gone since David Muir passed into
No one as yet has been called to answer at the
eternity.
bar of justice for the fiendish act of that day, but his murderers, if now on the face of the earth, after long years of
unbroken security, have uneasy slumbers and live in continual fear of the wrath to
man by
come.
Mr. Muir was a Scotch-
was for many years a resident of Schtiylkill County and in the employ of the Forest Improvement
Company. He was strictly honorable in his dealings, of
birth, but
high character, widely

erally popular,
known throughout
and possessed a large
the country, gen-
circle of friends.*
* The persons murdered are generally spoken of in high terms. This is

not done in the spirit of honoring the dead. They were picked men, many
of them occupying positions of trust and responsibility.
56
SCHUYLKILL, COLUMBIA,
CHAPTER
AND CARBON.
VI.
SCHUYLKILL, COLUMBIA, AND CARBON COUNTIES,
ABOUT seven
866
o'clock in the evening of the
TO
87 1.
loth of
January, 1866, Henry Hawthorne Dunne was waylaid and

murdered about two miles outside of Pottsville, on a muchtraveled road leading to Minersville.
There were a number of circumstances connected with
this murder which tended to excite public attention to an
unusual degree: the character of the man; the position he
occupied ; the locality in which the deed was committed.
Dunne was an
Irish
gentleman, a native of Waterford,
educated, and possessing rare social, moral, and

With strong common sense and natural
physical gifts.
ability, he at the same time sparkled with wit and humor
earnest and strict in the performance of his duties, which
well
were oftentimes unpleasant, he was possessed of a charity

and warmth of heart which formed a part of his every-day
unobtrusive, yet pervading his whole being ;* magnificently developed physically, of great strength and unlife,
daunted courage, the despotic or tyrannical element formed

He had been for a number of
part of his character.
no
years in the business of mining coal on his own account,

but at the time of his death he held the position of superintendent of the New York and Schuylkill Coal Com-
pany,
at that
time the largest coal-mining company
in
the
Both by reason of his social gifts and his business

county.
connections he was widely known and had great influence.
*The
writer can bear personal testimony to
charity on the part of
became
cognizant.
many an
Mr. Dunne, of which he
act of unsuspected
in his professional capacity
TO
i866
1871.
57
But beyond all these considerations, there existed the fact

that the murder, bold and defiant as it was, had been perpetrated but a short distance outside of the borough limits
of Pottsville, where, notwithstanding the continued and
numberless outrages committed in other places, it had not

been supposed that the "Molly Maguire" dared venture.
The
collieries
of the
company
of which Mr.
Dunne
was the superintendent were located about ten miles west

of Pottsville.
He had that day been detained a little later
than usual, and as a consequence had driven fast in order
to get home as soon as possible.
Upon the rise of a hill
near what
is
known
as the
York farm he somewhat slackened
At this moment
the pace at which he had been driving.
the attacking party, numbering, it is supposed, five men,
stopped the *horse and fired at their victim, who, being
encumbered by large gloves and carriage-robes, was prevented from drawing his pistol.
At this time a Mr. Jones, of Minersville, accompanied
by a lady, on their way to the skating-park at Pottsville,
came driving by. They heard shots, and also heard Mr.
Dunne exclaim, "I am murdered !" One of the assassins
stepped up to Jones's carriage and threatened to blow his
brains out if he did not proceed on his way, and he, being
unarmed, could do nothing but comply. Being unable to
rescue Mr. Dunne or arrest the murderers, he did the
next best thing, which was to drive into Pottsville as fast
as possible and give notice of the murder.
When Dunne had been shot four times, twice in his
right arm and twice in his neck, he was dragged from his
carriage and again shot through the cheek, the ball coming
out through his neck.
He was then left lying in his blood
on the public highway. The party, with a shout of exultant laughter, which was heard some distance off, walked
towards Minersville, keeping on the main road.
J.
Claude White, also a colliery superintendent, on his
c*
58
way
to Pottsville,
AND CARBON,
met the men a quarter of a mile from

He was driving fast, and paid no
the scene of the murder.
special attention to them.
the murdered man, his horse
As he approached the body of

became frightened. He made
every effort to get close to it, but, finding that impossible,

hurried on to give notice of the body lying out in the cold
little thinking that he was leaving behind
the ghastly and bloody corpse of one of his warmest
most intimate friends, who he supposed was living and
winter night,
him
and
in the possession of
superabundant strength.*
The murder was not committed
for any purpose of robNeither watch, pocket-book, nor other valuable was
touched.
It is supposed that the motive for the deed was
bery.
revenge for some acts done in the line of his duty as

superintendent.
Large rewards for the detection and conviction of the

murderers were offered by the county and the company
by which he was employed.
An
intense feeling of indig-
nation prevailed throughout the community. Public meetings assembled to consider the situation of affairs, and,
if possible,
devise means of safety.

The New York and
Company set detectives at work, but evi-
Schuylkill Coal
* The night before Mr. Dunne was murdered I passed an hour or two
with him in the drug-store of Mr. J. C. Hughes, in Pottsville. During
the course of conversation, as he was relating some matter which interested me very much, in an animated
height and threw back his shoulders.
physique that
hundred."
"
Upon my
remarked,
soul, I
"
way he drew
himself up to his full

was so struck by his magnificent
Harry, you look as if you might live to be a
I
have no idea of dying
at present,"
he
replied, with
laugh.
"
"
Well, then," said Mr. Hughes,
you should be more careful about
driving out at night."

"
Why, no one would
We
hurt me," was the reply.
and thought that if the social

any man would render him safe, that man was Harry Dunne;
and yet within twenty-four hours he was a " Molly" victim. F. P. D.
felt
the justice
attributes of
of the remark,
i866
TO
1871.
59
dence to convict the murderers could not be obtained.
The magnitude of
the evil was, however,
more
fully appre-
and some idea of the extent of the organization, and

the names of many of the members, who supposed their
crimes hidden, were obtained.
The names of the murderers of Henry H. Dunne are
known to some few persons outside of the " Molly" organization.
One by one they have gone to their last account,
except two wretches, who may yet be called upon to answer
for some of their many crimes.
Of those dead, not one
ciated,
has died a natural death
in fierce
brawl or by accidents in
the mines they have closed their earthly careers.

On the 4th of July, 1866, a dispute arose between an
Irishman and a Welshman, an old man, in Bettinger's
tavern, in
Newtown, Reilly Township,
Schuylkill County.
The Irishman, becoming very
angry, threatened to beat the

old man, and was only prevented from doing so by the
landlord and two young men, named Joseph Berry and
George A. Fisher, who had just stopped there for the

The
purpose of hiring a horse to take them to Llewellyn.
Irishman, enraged at the interference, went out of the house,
and soon returned with about twenty- five men, who surrounded the house, the doors of which in the mean time
had been locked. The crowd commenced stoning the
house.
They soon broke in the doors and windows.
Berry and Fisher were both armed, but retreated to the
second story, where they were followed. They fired upon
who fled. Of the attacking party, a man

Meehan was killed and James Welsh
As to who killed Meehan and wounded Welsh
their pursuers,
named
Patrick
wounded.
is a
It is asserted that they were shot
subject of dispute.
accidentally by their own friends.
Berry and Fisher then
came down-stairs, and attempted to rush through the
crowd and thus escape from the house, but they were again
driven back to the second story.
Their situation was now
60
AND CARBON,
becoming desperate. The crowd below was every minute

growing more excited. The only chance of escape seemed
to be in leaping from the second-story window, which they,
fortunately, were enabled to do without injury and without
being seen.
They managed to get into the woods, and
made their way over rocks and through bushes to Llewellyn,

where, in a state of almost utter exhaustion, they went to
Coleman's tavern.
In the
mean time
their escape
had been discovered.
It
was supposed that they had gone to Llewellyn, and about

ten of the party followed them up, and, going directly to
Coleman's tavern, found them. One of the party, named
Patrick Conners, had a revolver in his hand, which he
leveled at Berry, when a man named Lewis Williams, a
member of a well-known family long resident in the coal
regions, interfered.
Conners, enraged, immediately turned
upon Williams, and shot at him the ball entered the right
nostril and lodged in the head, inflicting a wound from
which he shortly afterwards died. Conners was arrested,
;
but committed suicide in
jail
before
trial.
About midnight of the nth of February, 1867, the

house of Mr. John C. Northall, a coal operator residing
at Tuscarora, Schuylkill County, was attacked by a body
The assailants mostly carried
of about twenty-five men.
fire-arms
one of them had a sword.
They commenced
firing into the window of the bedroom where they supposed him to be; but Mr. Northall was away from home.
:
The
family were
much
alarmed.
Mr. Cole, who lived
with Mr. Northall, managed to arouse the neighbors.

A
servant-girl on attempting to hoist one of the windows
was
fired at, the ball passing
neighbors quickly assembled
through her clothing.

in
force,
when
all
The
of the
named John Donahue, who was

armed with a sword, and still persisted in the attack. In
the melee he was shot and killed.
ruffians left except one,
i866
TO
61
1871.
George W. Ulrich, who had been present at the time

George K. Smith was murdered, and had himself shot two
of the assailants upon that occasion, recognized in the
dead man one of the persons he had then shot. Upon ex-
amining the body the mark of the wound inflicted by

him was found. Another of the murderers of George K.
Smith had met a violent death. For the killing of John
Donahue a man named Thomas Border was tried, but under
the testimony produced was acquitted.
About three o'clock in the afternoon of the i5th of
March, 1867, William H. Littlehales was murdered on the
public road near Glen Carbon, Foster Township, Schuylkill County.
He was shot through the body with a*rifle- or
large pistol-ball. His death must have been almost instantaneous.
He was found by Dr. McWilliams, who had been
just
paying a professional visit

on the side of the road.
at his house, lying entirely
The object of the murder

was robbery. Mr. Littlehales was superintendent of the
Glen Carbon colliery, owned by Patterson & Co., and
was also interested in the colliery store, run in connection
with the mines.
It was supposed that he had with him the
lifeless
money
to
pay
off the
workmen
at the
mines.
The robbers
were, however, mistaken ; all that they gained by the murder was the little pocket-money he had about him, a silver
watch, and his revolver, which he had had no opportunity

of using.
Mr. Littlehales was, at the time of his death, in the

He left a widow and three
thirty-second year of his age.
children, one of whom, a bright boy, had just had his leg
amputated by reason of an injury received on the railroad.
He was born in Schuylkill County, and was familiar with
coal-mining operations. His father, an Englishman, came
to the coal regions at an early day, and had been, prior to
that time, a coal operator for
many
years.
Mr. Littlehales was of unexceptionable character, and

6
62
AND CARBON,
regarded in the community as a rising man. The story

of the dead father lying on one bed, the maimed boy on
another, and the almost distracted wife and mother between
them, excited universal sympathy. The surroundings of

But a little time before, this wife had
the case were sad.
happy present with bright and well-founded

future, and now, without warning, the
"
Molly" bullet had stricken down the lover of her youth,
her husband, her companion, the father of her children,
and had left her almost alone to struggle with the world.
She had been stricken, and was without any redress whatlived in the
the
hopes
for
ever.
The murderers were
known.*
But the
fact
at large,
that aroused
safe,
exultant, un-
the public generally, inde-
pendent of the sympathy excited, was that this was another murder committed in the broad light of day, on a
public road in a populous neighborhood, within but two
hundred yards of a large number of people who must have
had some knowledge of the transaction, and yet no one
seemed to know anything about it. It appeared as if the
murderers were as safe as if the foul deed had been done
at midnight and far from the habitations of man.
Public meetings were held, large rewards were offered,
proposed and discussed, but the
various schemes were
"Molly" was triumphant:
No
arrests
were made.
beginning to be
felt
It
the murderers were at large.

only now that the hope is
is
that, as the secrets of the past are
to the light of clay, the murderers of

Littlehales will have to answer for their crime.
coming
William H.
And
there
"
Although the
Molly
Mnguire" will indorse any crime, murder for the purpose
of robbery was unusual.
But a series of murders for the
purpose of robbery were being committed by "Mollies"
is
some foundation
at this time.
It is
by the same party.
for this hope.
believed that they were all perpetrated

Men are now arrested for robbery and
1866
TO
1871.
63
murder, against whom the proof is overwhelming

whole story will probably come to light.
and the
On the night of Friday, the 226. of March, 1867, a

party of five men made an attack upon a tavern kept
by James Gallagher, in Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill
The purpose
County, known as "The Flour- Barrel."
was robbery. Gallagher had in his possession several thousand dollars, and the fact was suspected. The robbers demanded admission, but were refused. They then took a
large stone and broke in the front door, and immediately
commenced shooting
into the house.

Gallagher seized a
gun, which was loaded with No. 5 shot, and fired at his
assailants.
The entire load entered the abdomen of one
of the men, killing him instantly.

This had the effect of
the
but
assailants,
scattering
they continued firing from
Gallagher seized a pistol, with which he

continued to defend himself. Another of the attacking
party was wounded, two balls hitting him, one in the
different points.
shoulder and one in the
leg.
Whether he was
lagher or accidentally by one of his friends
The
is
hit
by Gal-
not known.
The dead man was carried

man was captured and committed
He gave the name of Owen McClosky. The
party then retreated.
away, but the wounded

to prison.
party was traced the next morning by the blood on the

The dead body had been left about half a mile
snow.
from Gilberton.
It was brought to Pottsville, and identiof Patrick Stinson, of Glen Carbon, a young
about twenty years of age.
fied as that
man
The evening following the attack on "The Flour-Barrel,"
the house of Mr. Henry Repp, a farmer of Union Town-
County, was broken into by four Irishmen,

one other being left outside to stand guard. They asserted
that they were in search of two men who had committed a
murder in Danville. Mr. Repp took a candle and went
ship, Schuylkill
with one of them through the house.
Mrs. Repp, becom-
64
AND CARBON,
ing alarmed, ran over to a tenement-house occupied by

3
Jacob Johnson, and asked him to com* to their assistance.
Johnson came back with her, bringing twu revolvers with

him. At the moment Johnson came in, Mr. Repp had returned to the room.
One of the party then exclaimed,
"It is not murderers we are after we want your money."
A struggle at once began, the gang firing at the family.
Mr. Johnson fired three shots, none of which took effect.
He was then struck by a shot, fired at him by one of the
:
robbers, causing his instant death.
When Mr. Johnson

assailants
fell, Mr. Repp sprang at one of the

and stabbed him with a knife, how severely is not
known, as he was carried away by

party went off without effecting their
treating continued to
fire.
his
comrades.
The
object, but while re-
shot struck Mr.
Repp on
the
forehead, but, glancing off, fortunately inflicted nothing

more than a flesh-wound. He was knocked senseless, but
did not receive permanent injury.

Within a period of eight days there had been three at-
tempts at robbery, probably by the same party, and in no

instance had they met with success.
Two men had been
murdered and one wounded by them. On their part, one

man had been killed, at least two severely wounded, and one
was imprisoned. Their efforts at robbery were evidently
unsatisfactory, for no further attempts in that direction
were made
for several
months.
Lawlessness prevailed in
certain parts of the coal region, but
open robbery was
for
the time abandoned.
During the year 1868 the idea of robbery was again

"
among the Molly Maguires." It is supposed that
in this matter Patrick Hester, a body-master in Northumberland County, and a notorious "Molly," was the lead-
started
ing
spirit.
Major J. Claude White, superintendent of the Swatara

Mines in Schuylkill County, and Alexander Rae, superin-
866
TO
1871.
65
tendent of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company,

whose mines and property were situated in Northumberland,
Schuylkill, and Columbia Counties, at the point where
all join, were selected as desirable parties upon whom
to operate. The execution of these two robberies was fixed
they
at
about the same time.
This was
in the
month of Octo-
Major White, by reason of some circumstances

which came to his knowledge, had his suspicions aroused.
He knew the character of the lawless element, and a long
ber, 1868.
residence
and on
among them had caused him

The "pay," as it
his guard.
to
be ever watchful
usually called,
that is, the money to be used in paying the wages of the
employees at the mines, was to be taken to the colliery
is
i yth of October.
When he went to Pottsville that
On his return,
day, the object of his trip was understood.
James Shoemaker, Esq., also connected with the mines
on the
of which Major White was superintendent, was in the carriage with him. On the road between Llewellyn and Swatara, on the top of a hill, is situated a church, which, like
churches on the roadside, has a large yard

and the road. When White and Shoemaker
arrived at the foot of the hill upon which the church is
located, they observed a crowd of men standing at the
many country
between
it
church-door, but this at the time did not attract their

special attention.
Happening, however, to look through
the glass in the back curtain of the carriage, they observed
a man making signals to the crowd at the church.
In an
instant they both saw the plan,
they were to be intercepted and robbed on the top of the hill.
Quickly arranging their fire-arms, the horse, a free-goer, was started
up the hill at full speed, and the dangerous point was

passed before the party on the hill could reach the road.
The major recognized several of the party, and afterwards
learned the details of the plot.
On the same day an attempt was
6*
made
to rob
Alexander
SCHUYLK1LL, COLUMBIA,
66
Rae, Esq.
AND CARBON,
Mr.
In this there was only. partial success.
Rae had about
sixty dollars in his pocket, as well as a

valuable watch, but the large amount of money intended
for paying the wages of the men at the mines had been car-
He was waylaid between

Ashland and Centralia, within the boundaries of Columbia
County. He delivered his money and his watch to the
ried forward the preceding day.
He fled to
robbers, but they determined upon his death.
He was caught,
the woods, and the party followed him.
and a pistol was placed to his head and fired, killing him
instantly.
His body was not discovered
until the next
morning.
This murder occasioned excitement among all classes of
the community, and wide-spread and heartfelt mourning
Mr. Rae was universally

a position which enabled him to do
kind and charitable acts, and he availed himself of
among
the miners and laborers.
beloved.
many
He
filled
He was
his opportunities.
a resident of
Mount Carmel,
a small town near the mines which were under his control.
He
lived near his
workmen, took an
active interest in their
well-being, was sought for as a counselor, and regarded as

a friend.
The "Molly" bullet has hurried into eternity
many good men, but no shot was more cruel than that
which struck down Alexander Rae in the hour of his usefulness and the prime of his manhood.
Patrick Hester, Thomas Donahue, and Patrick Duffy
were arrested.
Donahue and Duffy were tried for the
murder in Columbia County, and acquitted. The "alibi"
had been gotten up with great skill. It seemed to exonerate Pat Hester completely.
ahue and Duffy, a
nol. pros,
Upon
the acquittal of
Don-
was entered by the court as to
Hester.*
On
Patrick
the 8th of
McHugh
November,
were arrested
1876, Pat Hester, Alexander

for
having been engaged
Graham, and
in this
murder.
1866
TO
1871.
67
Samuel Johns, Esq., a coal operator in the

He was exregion, made a narrow escape.
pected at his mines with the pay, and the robbers were
in waiting.
Fortunately for Mr. Johns, the engine upon
It is said that
Shamokin
which he had come
To
place.
to the colliery did not stop at the usual

that accident he owed his safety.
The robbery of Major White was
delayed, not aban-
At the time of the pay on the following month,

on their way from Pottsville, Messrs. White and Shoemaker
were accompanied by a Mr. Smith and a policeman by the
doned.
name of
Clauser.
The robbers were
in waiting,
not at the
church, but some distance beyond.
They were dressed as

greenhorns.* Both parties were well armed. In the wagon
occupied by Major White the pistols were lying upon one
of the seats.
As soon as the parties came in sight the
firing
commenced, and
the affair was over in a few seconds.
of the parties attacked were injured.

Of the assailants, a man named Finney was captured, having been
wounded in the shoulder by a shot from Clauser. The
None
robbers ran away.

According to the statement of the
major, Pat Hester was among them and received a flesh
wound. A number of the party were recognized at the
time.
The parties tried in Columbia County for the murder of

Rae had been acquitted, but their escape had been a narrow one. It was felt that there might be a possibility of
High crime was for a short time checked.
Three years elapsed, during which time no murder occurred which excited public attention as distinctively a
"
Molly Maguire" murder. But the memory of past danger grew dim, and a new era of crime, with the organiza-
danger.
Since then a
been arrested.
man named
Tully
is
Tully, or Tully Brown, an accomplice, has also

supposed to have been the man who fired the
fatal shot.
Newly-arrived emigrants.
68
tion
AND CARBON.
more extended and more powerful, was
to
be entered
upon.
During the evening of the 2d of December, 1871, MorPowell, a boss of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company, was murdered at Summit Hill, Carbon County.
He had just come out of a store, and was on the way to
Ihe office of the company.
He passed a crowd of men,
one of whom stepped forward and shot him, inflicting a
wound from which he died. The murderer and his conran
federates
ran
to
The perpetrators of this

number of persons. It ocevening, on the main street of the town.
the
murder were known
woods.
to a large
curred early in the

The murderers escaped.*
Notwithstanding the numerous murders committed prior

to the time of the assassination of
Morgan Powell, up to
had never been a conviction of a "Molly
Maguire" for murder in the first degree. Large rewards
had been offered and a large amount of money had been
expended, but the efforts made were spasmodic; crime
was on the increase, and the "Molly" apparently secure.
Nevertheless a power was developing whose influence was
"
felt and feared, but whose policy relative to the
Molly"
organization was not suspected.
that time there
*" Yellow
Thomas
Jack" Donahue has been convicted of this murder; and

Alec Campbell, and others are awaiting trial.
P. Fisher,
COAL-MINING COMPANIES.
CHAPTER
69
VII.
COAL-MINING COMPANIES-THE PINKERTON AGENCY.
THE
panies,
between the great transporting comwas undoubtedly the

the formation in some cases, and the
rivalry existing
competing
for coal freights,
inducing cause for

development on an extended scale in others, of mammoth
land and mining companies, directly or indirectly under
The most extensive

railroad control and management.
and thorough organization of this kind, the Philadelphia
Coal and Iron Company, was conceived and established
by Franklin B. Gowen, Esq., President of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company. The coal produced
from the great body of the lands in Schuylkill and Northumberland Counties was claimed as the legitimate freight
of that company, and the control of that freight was
being jeopardized by the extensions of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad and the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad, from
the east, and the Northern Central Railroad, in the Shamokin and Lykens Valley regions, in the west. Independently of the action of railroad companies already established, there existed the danger of the building of new
market and the further subdivision of the trade.

Mr. Gowen, from his stand-point as president of the
railroad company, saw the absolute necessity of maintainoutlets to
ing the supremacy of his road by and through the control

and ownership of coal lands. He succeeded in impressing
his views in a substantial way upon capitalists, and as a
result established a
now
company with extended powers under
ownership and possession of about

one hundred and twenty-five thousand acres of mineral
its
charter,
in the
7o
land, in
many miles
of which
is
embraced the
largest
body
of anthracite coal in the world.
The
policy pursued on the part of the Reading Compurchase of lands, as well as the influence of
in the
pany
like causes, naturally
induced similar action on the part
of the other great companies, until at this time the largest

and most valuable portion of the entire coal area is owned
absolutely by, or under the control of, great corporations.
Not only in the causes stated but in some others there
existed an inducement for the purchase of lands and the
Whilst the area
formation of large mining companies.
of anthracite coal lands
is
in a
degree limited, the
facilities
under the stimulus offered by increased

consumption during and subsequent to the war had created
a supply of coal largely in excess of the demand. A large
for production
number of
and
ing to
and
individual coal operators with conflicting views

independently or in rivalry, each seek-
interests, acting
make
large shipments, rendered the trade precarious
in constant
danger of breaking down by reason of an

It is true that organization was atcan hardly be said that it worked success-
oversto.cked market.
tempted, but
fully
it
individual and selfish interests and necessities in
most instances defeated the best-devised and most solemnly

adopted measures and compacts in the general interests of
the trade.
The same diversity of views and interests
which defeated the maintenance of rules adopted for the
governance of the trade also prevented judicious and combined opposition to the encroachments made upon the
" Labor
Union," influenced and
rights of property by the
controlled by the "Molly Maguire."
In the case of murder or other outrage committed at any colliery, energetic
but spasmodic efforts would be made to detect the offenders.
But in the effort loth to maintain the rights of
property and to protect person and life it was individual
effort against
organized force.
The " Labor Union," under
the
7I
of high wages and prosperous times, had

and powerful, thoroughly and extensively orseries
from a
whilst the "
influence
grown
rich
Mollies," confident,
long
ganized,
of unpunished crimes, of continued immunity, were boastfully
It
and openly defiant.

was for the purpose, therefore, not only of insuring
future freights to the several railroad companies that the

large purchases of land were made, but also in that way to
so concentrate the business of mining coal as better to
regulate and control the trade and maintain and protect

the rights of persons and of property.
In the accomplishment of these purposes no company
has been more active than the Philadelphia and Reading

Coal and Iron Company, and no one more efficient than
its president, Franklin B. Gowen, Esq.
By reason of previous business association and residence, combined with
courage, honesty of purpose, comprehensive knowledge of

the situation, and wonderful energy and executive ability,
Mr. Gowen, perhaps beyond any other living man, was

to wit, the mainadapted to carry out the ends in view,
tenance and increase of the power of his company; the
regulation of trade
the establishment of law and order
and the protection of the
rights of person
and property
throughout the coal regions.

In the year 1858 or 1859, shortly after coming of age,
Mr. Gowen embarked in the coal business as a member of
the firm of Turner
& Gowen, at Mount Laffee, a small mining
village a short distance outside of the

ville.
Owing
borough of Pottsand the mis-
to the depressed state of trade,
haps to which the coal business
is
at
times subject, the
the enterprise was unfortunate.

He therefore
took up the study of the law, and in the year 1860 he wasndmitted to practice as an attorney of the Schuylkill
result of
County
bar.
Great natural
influential friends, established
ability,
in
connection with
him very shortly
in a large
72
and
lucrative practice.
for several
large
He became
at once the attorney

was in the fall of 1862
land-owners;
elected to the office of District Attorney; acted as solicitor

for the Girard coal estate; and early in his career received
the appointment of attorney for the Philadelphia and Reading -Railroad Company, in which last position he won the
entire confidence of the management of the road, and be-
came its president in the year 1869.

The early connection of Mr. Gowen with the coal business as an "operator," and his intimate social relation with
the people of the coal region, together with valuable knowlas an attorney having in charge coal lands
edge gained
and
as the official prosecutor in the criminal courts, ren-
dered his election
as president of the railroad company of

immense importance. That the overshadowing power of
the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, attained
under
his
management, might
in unscrupulous
fraught with danger to the public
hands be
not improbable.
Sanguine, earnest, and enthusiastic, Mr. Gowen has exercised
that power with entire honesty of purpose, and, as he believes, in the true interests
is
of the community at large.
He
sincerely intends to act justly, but he may be unduly impressed with the rights and interests of his company as
against all the world besides; an error perhaps inseparable
from
his official position,
combined with
a disposition natu-
Before and after his election as president

of the company, the absolute necessity of the acquisition
of coal lands to insure the permanent prosperity of the
rally combative.
company was thoroughly
His energies were

appreciated.
therefore directed to the purchase of such lands, in which
object he was materially assisted by the difficulties presented
by the labor question, and the constant danger of outrages

which the coal regions were subject.
to
Understanding
he has, wherever
fully the
it
condition of the coal operator,

his own views of
was consistent with
THE PIXKERTON AGENCY.
73
duty, rendered the changed aspect of affairs as advantageous to the latter as possible. His position upon the
labor question is open to controversy: he has engaged in
official
a bitter contest, and the immense power of the coal combination in connection with the depressed condition of
He has taken full adbusiness has given him the victory.
vantage of his position as victor in waging war, not upon

the laboring man, but upon the " Labor Union." Whether
justifiable or
not in his course relative to the labor or-
some excuse in the fact that in the days

"
Molly" element,
power, under the influence of the
encroachments upon the rights of property were frequent
ganization, he has
of
its
its
and unwarranted. As a coal operator, an attorney, a prosecuting officer, and a citizen of Schuylkill County, he had
a full knowledge of the reign of terror under which the
coal regions were held.
He
was impressed with the belief
that to render his general policy a success and to maintain

the value of his purchases, organized crime must be rooted
out,
and
Coal and Iron Company being then

He
he initiated measures to that end.
in 1873, tne
fully established,
fully appreciated the difficulties of the position
he had
memory the murder of Harry Dunne and the

intense excitement prevailing at that time, the large rewards
fresh in his
and the earnest but fruitless efforts to detect the

He remembered George K. Smith, Littlehales,
Muir, and Rea, shot down in populous neighborhoods,
without any one being found to bring the murderers to
He knew of brutal outrages without number comjustice.
offered,
murderers.
mitted upon unoffending men, without any attempt made

to arrest or convict the guilty.
Possessing this knowledge,
he
felt
avail,
that the ordinary machinery of the law was of no

and that extraordinary means would have to be
used.
He told the story to Benjamin Franklin, of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and was informed that to effect his
D
7
THE PINKERTON AGENCY.
74
end both time and money would be required. This was at

once agreed to, and a machinery set in motion which was
slowly but surely to undermine an organized band of
criminals in the days of their greatest power and most
unbounded confidence for evil. The Pinkerton Agency
undertook the task of discovering the perpetrators of crime
with the view of prevention when possible, or, where prevention was impossible, to furnish evidence to convict the
criminals.
Among the means used to this end was the
sending of a young Irishman named James McParlan to
the coal region, with instructions to join the " Molly Maguires" and to communicate to the Agency all the facts
relating to the organization.
This detective bureau differs in
some respects from the

Europe and in this country. It
was founded a number of years ago, and has since been
usual system in force in
successfully conducted, by Allan Pinkerton, who, with headquarters at Chicago, exercises a supervisory direction over
the whole.
There are branch
offices
in
New York and
Philadelphia, the latter under the control and direction of

Benjamin Franklin.
It
has heretofore been considered an axiom that "
This
takes a thief to catch a thief."
is
Allan Pinkerton, and holds no place in his system.

force of moral power is believed in and relied upon.
cording to his theory, honesty
is
it
denied in toto by
The
Ac-
the normal condition of
the mind, dishonesty the abnormal ; just as perfect health

is the natural condition of the body, disease the result of
extraneous causes.
Crime and immorality weaken the
system weakens the body.

physically strong holds the man morCrime wears
ally and physically weak at an advantage.
upon the mind as disease wears upon the body, and seeks
mind,
as a disorganized physical
The man morally and
sympathy. The detective, therefore, according

Mr. Pinkerton, should possess not only ability of a high
relief in
to
THE PINKERTON AGENCY.
75
order, but also moral and physical force. He must not only
possess versatility of character and power of adaptation to
circumstances, but must also have strength of mind, force of
Of two men of equal ability

will, and physical endurance.
and knowledge, the one morally strong has the advantage
and can exercise the power. To attain success the detective must adapt his life and conversation to the level of
those with
whom
dence and
to bring
he associates, in order to obtain confiupon the criminal the full force of his
and moral power. According to the

theory advanced, the model detective is one possessing
purity and honesty of the highest order, a person intellectually and morally strong, who can yet be all things to all
men, can appreciate virtue, but at the same time understand the workings of the mind of the criminal and the
He
motives by which he is influenced and controlled.
must touch pitch and not be defiled; handle fire and not
be scorched; bathe in filth and yet remain clean. The
model detective may be as impossible as any other high
ideal of perfection, and yet, acting on this theory, the
superior intellect
Pinkerton Agency has not only in the present instance,

many others, had wonderful success. Ability,
but in very
knowledge, power of adaptation, and
tact are certainly the
prerequisites of a good detective. The only advantage the

criminal has over others in detecting crime exists in the
His testimony, however, must

of his knowledge.
by reason of his previous character, be regarded
But the honest detective, possessing the
as questionable.
fact
always,
he
necessary prerequisites, certainly has the advantage
suffers no temptation, is bound by no friendships, is shack:
led
by no
prejudices,
and
acts directly in the line of his
duty.
dishonest detective would never have exposed the
"Molly Maguires."
derful
power and
The
organization had gained wonand the patience and ability
influence,
THE PINKER TON AGENCY.
76
by James McParlan
him
position in the order
given
in
exercised
to uphold
it
his investigations
offering
had
more inducements
than to expose.
The. question as to the
morality of the detective
strict
an open one. The Jesuit doctrine, "the end

the
means," is held to be false by Christian phijustifies
Entire honesty of word and deed, at all times
losophers.
system
is
and places and under all circumstances, is claimed to be

essential to an observance of the strict rule of morality.
Nevertheless, the rule has always been "more honored in
the breach than in the observance."
The
detective system
has been adopted at all periods of the world's history and

by all nations. The general who wrests victory out of defeat by reason of deception practiced upon his enemy is
not only not regarded as acting in bad faith, but is looked
upon as worthy of the laurel crown and the plaudits of a
The "secret service fund" is deemed

grateful country.
The purity of
an essential to successful government.
all
governmental departments
is
upheld and maintained
through the detective system. The Old Testament tells

tne story of the spy and informer, and St. Paul, speaking
under the new dispensation, approves of his acts.

Are we bound to keep faith with the criminal
in the
prosecution of his criminal acts? Are we placed outside

of the pale of morality if either by implied or express
deceit the murderer and incendiary is detected in his
life and property are preserved thereby ? The criminal certainly has no reason to complain if his
own rule of conduct in the pursuit of evil is applied to him
in the maintenance of right.
If no wrong is committed,
then no cause of complaint exists ; and no man can justly
course of crime and
complain of being wronged who
is
detected in the commis-
sion of offenses or punished for their perpetration.

If no
injustice is done the criminal, if his mouth is closed, then
the rest of the world will readily pardon the breach of
MCPARLAN THE DETECTIVE.
77
morality, if such it be, involved in the deceit practiced by

the detective in the pursuit of his profession.
In the use of such means as those offered by the deagency seemed to lie the only hope of relief from
tective
the fearful rule of a gang of desperadoes and ruffians
who
sported with human life, destroyed property, and set at

defiance all the laws both of God and of man.
By the
use of those means, an era of security such as never before
existed in the coal regions is confidently hoped for.
Gowen has not only the approval of

also the general indorsement of the
but
conscience,
and, in view of the result attained, those least in-
In this matter Mr.

his
own
public ;
clined to favor the principles upon which the detective
system is founded invoke, as to him, the precedent estab-
Uncle Toby (Sterne, book

where "the accusing spirit, flying up to
Heaven's chancery with the deed, blushed as he gave it
in, and the recording angel, as he wrote it down, dropped
a tear upon the page and blotted it out forever."
lished in the oft-cited case of
vii.,
chap,
viii.),
CHAPTER
VIII.
McPARLAN THE DETECTIVE.
THE Pinkerton Agency showed great discrimination in

the selection of James McParlan as the operative to be
intrusted with the difficult and dangerous work determined
in the anthracite coal region.
It has resulted, it is
believed, in giving to life and property there the same
security that they enjoy in other civilized communities.
upon
his instrumentality an era of crime extending

over long years is drawing to a close, and a people almost
Through
7*
78
despairing of relief are seeing light spring out of darkness.

Communities long spell-bound with fear of the torch of the
incendiary and the bullet of the assassin now breathe more

freely, and the law again extends its strong arm in the
maintenance of the rights of person and of property.

It
required a detective of the
first
grade in his profession
to accomplish successfully the result desired.

Ordinary
rules governing and controlling intercourse with thieves,
and murderers in the large cities, are in

the coal region of no avail.
Criminals usually find sufficient motive in an unhallowed desire for gain ; but to a
ruffians, burglars,
Molly Magilire gairi is only one, and that by no means

the most prominent, incentive to cruel and bloody deeds.
Mistaken ideas of honor, of friendship, and of patriotism
mingle with prejudices the most unfounded, with demands
the most unreasonable, with a spirit of revenge utterly unaccountable.
Combined with these feelings are motives
debased as any which actuate the petty thief, and a dishuman life which one would hardly look for
even in the professional murderer who slays for gain.
as
regard for
Peculiar requisites are essential for the detective successfully operating
among
this
class.
With
all
their open-
hearted enthusiasm and recklessness, the Irish peasantry

possess a low cunning that is proverbial, and a suspiciousness readily excited by a word spoken at random or a careTo counteract this a full appreless act meaning nothing.
and understanding of their contrarieties of character,

modes of thought, expression, and
manner of life, only to be attained by an Irishman and
That such Irishman
Catholic, are absolutely necessary.
and Catholic should, in addition to good character and
honesty of purpose, be imbued to some degree with the
peculiarities and even the prejudices of his race, is desirable.
But, while he must be able to adapt himself at will
to their peculiarities of character and modes of life, it is
ciation
their prejudices, their
McPARLAN THE DETECTIVE.
79
absolutely essential that he be cool, wary, cautious, and

methodical.
To find a person who can pass days and weeks
among men who
force conclusions from illogical arguments
and yet who is possessed not only

of great analytical power but also of delicate discretion in
separating the true from the false, matters important from
based on
false premises,
things immaterial, is, however difficult, necessary. To find

a person of so varied and peculiar character was not easy,
even among Irishmen
nevertheless the man possessing
:
these traits, with others equally valuable, was selected

for and intrusted with this business by the Pinkerton
all
Agency.
James McParlan was born
in
County Armagh, Province
of Ulster, Ireland, in the year 1844, and

time (1876) about thirty-two years of age.
about
five
feet
eight
or nine
inches
in
is
hence
at this
He
is
height,
man
rather
slightly built, but muscular;
is of fair complexion, with

dark chestnut hair, regular features, a broad, full forehead,
and gray eyes. His general dress is a plain black suit ;
and presents a gentlemanly appearance.

keen sense of humor,
and is cordial in his manner. He is an Irishman in feeling and sympathy as well as in race, and resents quickly
he wears
He
is
glasses,
social in his disposition, has a
any unjust attack upon
his
countrymen, his religion, or
his
native land.
Upon
the witness-stand his evidence
is
entirely devoid
of passion, and, although feeling proper pride in professional success, he never, for the sake of making a point,
seeks to stretch the truth or give a false color to his recital
of facts.
His brain is logical, his memory wonderful, his
expressions accurate. Whatever he knows he tells squarely,

but he pretends to no knowledge beyond that which is
As a consequence, although he
actually in his possession.
has been a witness in
a large
number of
character in which the same evidence
is
cases of like
continually re-
80
peated, he has defied cross-examination. This affords a sure

test of the truthfulness of a witness.
The best-devised and
most probable story, if contrary to the actual fact, will break

down under the ordeal of patient, able, and repeated crossexamination.
To that ordeal has McParlan been compelled to submit
repeatedly for many hours at a time has
he answered the questions of able counsel, but, ever cool,
calm, and deliberate, ready and clear, he has not lost his
:
head nor has
been in the least degree shaken.

of considerable information, mainly selftaught, having had but a limited education in his boyhood.
His early history is that of many a young Irishman. The
He
is
his testimony
man
son of poor parents, he saw in his native land no opportunities for advancement or for the gratification of even a
moderate ambition. To tear asunder family ties and break

from early associations is always painful, and especially
this the case when the separation is measured by a
mighty ocean. The aged parents give their parting blessing and their sad farewell with but small hope of meeting
the departing son this side of the grave.
The son, more
is
nevertheless
borne
down
under
the memory of
hopeful,
is
early associations, a sad farewell to a childhood's
and a native land, and the

fined future
among
many another poor
future
home
chilling prospect of an unde-
strangers.
But the necessity
felt
upon young McParlan

was before him, and he saw in Ireland no field
lad was
by
his
for
his ambition.
In the year 1863
then being about nineteen years of

England, where he remained for three
years, during the greater part of which time he was employed as a laborer in the Tyne Chemical Works, Gates-
age
hâd.
he
left
He
working
for
traveled
some short distance during
at different points.
When
this period,
twenty-two years of
age he returned to Ireland, and engaged himself as a stockkeeper in the linen manufacturing establishment of Wil-

liam Kirk
&
81
Sons, Belfast, Ireland, where he remained
until the spring of 1867.
His hopes for the future now centring
in the
United
gave their sad consent, and, with little

other means than their blessing and a letter of introducStates, his parents
tion from his late employers to their
American agents, he
Liverpool for New York, where he arrived

in the latter part of June, 1867.
embarked
at
Very soon after his arrival he was attracted by the rehad heard of Chicago, and to that city he made
up his mind lo go when possessed of sufficient means.
Messrs. Anderson, Smith & Co., 38 Park Place, New York,
to whom was addressed his letter of introduction, had no
ports he
place vacant in their own establishment, but in the course

of a couple of months procured him a situation with a man
named Cummins,
of
New York.
he had been
a retail merchant at Medina, in the State
In the
in the
mean
time, whilst in
employ of McDonald
New York
&
City,
Boas, grocers,
attending behind the counter, delivering packages, and
doing any other work necessary or required.

Still having Chicago in view, he remained but little over
a month at Medina, and in the latter part of September
started for, and arrived at, his coveted destination.
During the fall of 1867 and the winter and spring of 1868
he had to "scratch" for a living. He worked as a teamdrove a meat-wagon, was a deck
hand on a lake steamer, and chopped wood in the wilds of
ster for a road-contractor,
He returned to Chicago in the spring, where

Michigan.
he was again a teamster and drover.
The industrious habits and pleasing address of the young
Irishman attracted the attention of Mr. John Alston, of
the firm of Alston, Devore & Co., who employed him as
coachman and has ever since continued

remained in
this position
succeeded in obtaining
D*
'a
his friend.
He
only until July, 1868, when he

situation
more congenial
to his
82
disposition, as policeman
Police
Agency of W.
S.
and detective of the Merchants'
Burbine
&
Co.
Two
years with
agency, and several months a member of the Chicago

city police, he made his first essays as a detective, and met
with such success as to give fair promise of future eminence
this
in his profession.
position in the wholesale liquor establishment of

Messrs. Dodge
Bros., No. 9 South Franklin Street, Chicago, was offered him, and, in the hope of advancing his
&
He won the confidence of his emin adding somewhat to his slender

and
succeeded
ployers
stock of earnings.
At the end of eight months, encouraged and aided by them and other friends, he embarked
in business on his own account by opening a liquor store
at 349 South Canal Street.
His venture prospering, he
condition, accepted.
shortly after increased his business by opening a saloon, in

addition to his store, near the corner of Twelfth Street and
Centre Avenue, and believed himself to be on the road to

competency if not large fortune.
It will be observed that McParlan, although in the
humbler walks of life, had made continual advancement
from the time he arrived in 1867, a poor and friendless
young man, in the streets of New York, until a little over
three years afterwards he is established in a prosperous

business in his own behalf, with influential friends ready
and willing
"man
to assist him, in the leading city of the West.
God disposes." The fire of October 8th and 9th, 1871, laid a great portion of Chicago
in ruins, and with it went his Canal Street store.
Then,
But
proposes,
so far as the liquor business was concerned, as McParlan

himself remarks, he was "extinct."
His saloon not pay-
ing well under the altered condition of
and
in April, 1872,
affairs,
he sold out,
he was employed by Allan Pinkerton,
of the National Police Agency.

However unfortunate the
great fire of Chicago was to McParlan and to many thou-
83
sands of others, its result in forcing him to adopt his former

profession has been of incalculable advantage to the coal
regions of Pennsylvania, and through them to the general
business interests of the country.
Connected with
his earlier career as a detective,
strange, ofttimes thrilling
might be told, which will,

another pen.
Suffice
for
many
and sometimes ludicrous, story

perhaps, some day afford a theme
it
to say here that the ability
which he displayed won the confidence of the Agency to

such an extent that when the arrangement was made with
Franklin B. Gowen, Esq., on the part of the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron Company, to undermine and de"
Molly Maguires" of the anthracite coal regions,
stroy the
McParlan was selected as the operative. The magnitude
of the end in view, the difficulties, risks, and dangers of
the enterprise, the glory of success arising from repeated
failures, and the ample discretionary powers required, rendered the selection a high compliment.
In the month of October, 1873, he arrived in Philadelphia, and reported himself to Benjamin Franklin, the
superintendent of the Agency there, as ready for action.
A general plan was agreed upon, and modes of communi-
cation by cipher and otherwise were established. Frequent

daily, or even oftener when necesreports were required,
sary or practicable.
It
was not in view
at this
McParlan should himself ever become a witness
time that
;
the in-
discover, if possible, the criminals who

infested the coal regions, to learn of their inside workings,
tention was
to
to give notice of intended outrages, so that
when
possible
they might be prevented, and when this could not be done,

to point out the offenders and secretly furnish information
and evidence
for their conviction.
The
character of the outrages committed and the manner of their commission had led to a belief in the existence of a powerful
organization
located
in
the very
84
heart of the
mining operations.
It
was
fully appreciated
move should be made
cautiously; it was fully

understood that by one single error the work of months
might be rendered of no avail, and that by one false step
that every
future operations would be made still more dangerous, if

Before entering on the work, a knowledge
not impossible.
of the various localities and differing characteristics of the
people, to be obtained
through actual observation, was
deemed requisite. This was considered advisable

number of reasons it would render the detective
:
for a
better
able to enter into and understand ordinary subjects of conversation, and would give him a clearer idea of the field
he had to work in. The details of his action and future

movements were left as a matter either of discretion or of
after-consideration.
Under such general instructions, McParlan entered upon

In the month of October, 1873, ne
the scene of action.
took the cars in Philadelphia, with Port Clinton a small
situated on the dividing line between the counties
Here he for
of Schuylkill and Berks as his destination.
the first time assumed the name of JAMES MCKENNA, a
town
name by which he was known during

his residence in Schuylkill
the whole period of
County, up to March, 1876.
Port Clinton, a small but thriving village, a railroad

junction, with some manufacturing industries, frequented by
German element
was soon understood,
railroad hands, but with the Pennsylvania
predominating among
its
residents,
and, to the detective, uninteresting.

Remaining there but
one day, he passed a few miles up the railroad to Auburn.
Here he found the Pennsylvania Dutch in full force. The

town was small, and the inhabitants evidently not bloodaccording to his own account, here it was
as an officer were appealed to.
He
thirsty;
but,
that his
main duties
showed obedience to orders in stopping there, but his discretion told him to leave within a few hours.
A ride of
85
about fifteen miles on the Schuylkill and Susquehanna

branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, through
a beautiful farming country, and he was rewarded by a sight
of the pretty
little
town of Pinegrove.
Not being
inter-
ested in the subject of agriculture nor in search of a pleasant

place of residence, the same day found him on the return
trip to
Auburn, and from there he went

Haven.
still
farther
up the
railroad to Schuylkill
Schuylkill Haven, although outside of the coal region, is

only four miles from Pottsville, is at the junction of the
Mine Hill branch with the main line of the Philadelphia
and Reading Railroad, and
is
also
at the
head of the
Schuylkill Canal.
Although possessing many of the characteristics of a central town in an agricultural district, the
heavy coal shipments on the canal, and the number of

boatmen and railroad hands congregated there, presented
and afforded him opportunities

Here he remained about four days,
subjects for examination,

to
form acquaintance.
visiting the coal wharves, the
company
shops, and the sur-
while here, he availed himself of

the opportunity to pay a visit of a few hours to Pottsville.
From Schuylkill Haven McKenna proceeded to Tre-
rounding country;
also,
mont, which place he made his headquarters for about a

week.
Here he had his first conversations relative to the
"
Molly Maguftes." He pretended to believe an assertion

of the existence of that organization, made in the Boston
Pilot, to be without foundation.
He
was, however, assured
by a railroader named Fitzgibbons and a tavern-keeper

named Donohue, both of whom asserted that they were not
members, that the society had an existence, that Mahanoy
City was full of its members, and that the organization was
bad in its character.
Tremont was in the coal region, and here he made his
first acquaintance with miners and laborers.
Pretending to
be in search of work, from that point he visited Newtown,
86
Swatara, Middle Creek, Rausch's Creek, and Donaldson,

at each place forming acquaintances and extending his in-
He
next passed to the western part of Schuylvisit of some four days to

Tower City and the surrounding coal-mines.
Here he
heard the assertions repeated as to the existence of the
formation.
County, where he paid a
kill
"Molly Maguires," but
the point of their strength was

Mahanoy Valley, north of the
again alleged to be in the
Broad Mountain. From Tower City he made his way back

to Tremont, and from there to Minersville, a town of about
thousand inhabitants, four miles to the west of Pottswhere he remained several days.
five
ville,
McKenna now left the coal region and went to Philadelphia to make a personal report to Superintendent Franklin,
He had obtained
remaining in that city about two weeks.
some idea of the country, had made a number of acquaint"
ances, and had satisfied himself that the
Molly Maguire"
organization was no myth, but a terrible reality.
A course of policy was again marked out, and Pottsville
selected as the proper place for McParlan to make his headquarters, that city being the centre of business in Schuylkill County, the county seat, where were located the offices
of the railroad and mining companies, and as a consequence being frequented by all classes of the population and
residents of
all parts of the county.

Whilst the " Molly Maguires" had not yet attained sufcient hardihood openly to defy law and authority in Potts-
ville, it
nevertheless had a
among
its
citizens,
and
number of members of
the order
several of their places of resort in
It was conceived that at this point a genacquaintance with the order throughout the region
could be best formed, and from there a proper place for
its
very centre.
eral
the basis of future operations be best selected.

It will be borne in mind that up to the time here referred
to,
and throughout the whole of
his operations in the coal
87
region, the system of daily reports was maintained. These

reports, still in existence, and in the possession of the Pink-
erton Agency, form a proud record of the industry, the

ability, and the honesty of McParlan the detective.
CHAPTER
IX.
McPARLAN. CONTINUED.
MCPARLAN,
or
McKenna,
as
he was now called,
re-
turned to the coal region in December, 1873, a ^ter nis

visit to Philadelphia, with the intention, as already stated,
of making Pottsville his immediate headquarters.
He obtained boarding with Mrs. O'Regan, East Norwegian Street,
and at once earnestly entered upon the duties for which he

had been employed. He had become fully satisfied by this
time that if every member of the A. O. H., or Ancient
Order of Hibernians, was not a "Molly Maguire," it was
a pretty well-established fact that every " Molly Maguire"
was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. This
order, regularly chartered by the Legislature of Pennsylvania as a benevolent association, paraded its existence before
the world, and

places of
its
made no
special secret of the times
and
meetings.
Before McParlan
left
Chicago,
it
had been determined
upon by Allan Pinkerton that he was to join the organizaIts memtion, and to do so was a part of his instructions.
bers were known, and very many of them were soon his
friends and associates.
He was "a broth of a boy." He
had, according to his own account, come to the coal region
in search of a job, but, as he had just left a good place in
Philadelphia, where he had saved some money, he was in
88
no special hurry about the matter. He could, according

to the style and taste of those of his nationality, sing a
good song, dance a jig, and pass a rough joke. He was
polite and attentive to the girls, could drink his share of
whisky and pay for it, and was open for a row or shindy
of any kind. Altogether, his manners were those of as
rollicking, impulsive, generous, careless, unreasonable, quarrelsome, devil-may-care an Irishman as could be found in
the four counties.
At an early day after locating in Pottsville, McKenna

formed the friendship of Pat Dormer, a Molly Maguire,
one of the commissioners of the county, and the keeper
of a drinking-saloon and " Molly" resort, called the Sheridan House, on Centre Street.
mer as a fit subject on whom to
He
quickly marked Dor-
commence
operations,
and
consequence, alone or in company, he was frequently

loafing in front of the counter when Pat played the part
as a
own bar-tender. An opportunity for establishing

confidence presented itself. McKenna's boon companions
grew careless, and a toast, the words of which he rememof his
bered, was several times repeated and responded to in his

This was sufficient for the detective watching
presence.
an opportunity when he was the only guest, he treated the
:
mysteriously across the counter,

tipped glasses, and in a significant manner repeated the
words of the toast he had heard.
landlord, and, leaning
" What
!" said
Dormer, surprised,
" are
you one of them
things?"
"That's what they
call
me,"
replied
McKenna.
Dormer, without further inquiry, accepted the position,

and confidence was established between the two. McKenna
told him that he had been a member of the Ancient Order
in Buffalo, where he owned some houses, but that owing
to a crime which he had committed there he had left in a
hurry, and was unable not only to collect his rents, but
MCPAR LAN THE DETECTIVE.
communicate with his sohad some money

get a job of work, and to keep
fear of detection, to
also, for
He
ciety.
89
stated likewise that, whilst he
on hand, he would
like to
The story exHe said that Michael Lawcited Dormer's sympathy.

ler, of the Shenandoah Division, was a personal friend of
his connection with the organization.
up
and that he had no doubt that Lawler would, on his

recommendation, aid McKenna in getting a job at Shenandoah.
Although Dormer had fallen so readily into the snare,
McKenna's path to knowledge was not always strewn with
his,
Dormer, a night or two after the interview just rehim to Michael Cooney as a member
roses.
ferred to, introduced
of the order. Cooney required too much proof. McKenna's

stock of knowledge was soon exhausted, and he floundered.
Cooney became indignant.
to get out of the
McKenna,
scrape, assumed intoxication, called for drinks all around,

apparently took a very big drink himself, reeled, and fell
over on the
floor,
where he lay feigning
sleep.
continued indignant, abused McKenna, and

said that he had a notion to kick him on the head.
Dormer remonstrated. "The fellow is all right," he
Cooney
said
is
still
" he
little
is
good
be able to explain
"
fellow,
and belongs
intoxicated now, but

it all
to
when he
to the order
he
gets sober he will
you."
don't believe it," replied Cooney ; " and I wouldn't

believe him unless he brought a card from his bodymaster."
The situation was not pleasant ; McKenna had made a
I
narrow escape from getting a severe bruising but he had

gained two additional items of information, namely, that
cards were issued, and that the officer issuing them was the
;
body-master.
Several weeks after this occurrence
Lawler,
who was then
McKenna met Michael
the body-master of the

8*
Shenandoah
9o
Division, at the Sheridan House ; they were introduced,

and a strong recommendation of McKenna was privately
given Lawler by Dormer.
McKenna
did his utmost to
new acquaintance favorably, and succeeded.

Arrangements were then made for him to visit Shenandoah
impress his
with a prospect of obtaining work.

Prior to this time the detective had been extending his
His usual
acquaintanceship throughout the coal region.
course was to stop at some hotel or tavern frequented by
workingmen, or to go to some boarding-house suitable for
He stopped about a week in

the purpose he had in view.
St. Clair (three miles from Pottsville) ; then, crossing the
Broad Mountain, he remained a few days at Girardville ;
from thence he journeyed to Ashland, which place he made
his residence a sufficient length of
time to enable him to
increase his acquaintance and enlarge his knowledge of

the coal region.
After his return to Pottsville, his circle of friends not
only increased, but, owing to the spread of the impression
had been formerly connected with the order, he

was enabled to gain a more comprehensive view of its exHis reckless, daring manners, together
tent and power.
with an impression that he was himself creating of an utter
that he
disregard of
all laws,
human and
divine, induced an unusual
He still kept
degree of confidence to be placed in him.
in
that
he
was
search
fiction
of
the
work,
except to
up
some friends, to whom he threw out vague intimations of
his being a fugitive
work,
from
justice.
Avowedly
Mahanoy
Tamaqua, and from there again returned

This was
this
ler,
in search of
remaining several weeks in Pottsville he visited

City, where he made a short sojourn ; thence to
after
to Pottsville.
in the latter part of January, 1874.
It
was
at
time that he made the acquaintance of Michael Lawor, as he was generally called, "Muff" Lawler, and
agreed to go to Shenandoah to get work.

He
bad now made up
9I
mind, and had so reported to

was in the
Mahanoy Valley, north of the Broad Mountain. In the
early part of February, 1874, he made his first visit to
Shenandoah, on his way stopping over Sunday at Girardville, and Monday night at Colorado, a mining town in,
Mr. Franklin, that
his
his true base of operations
that neighborhood.
About the loth of February he arrived at Shenandoah,

which place he thereafter made his home going back and
forth from there, until his position as a police-officer was
discovered and his career as an operating detective in the
coal region had ended.
Shenandoah, a town of about nine thousand inhabitants,
;
has sprung into existence within the last thirteen years. It

lies a few miles north of Mahanoy City, and to the east of
Ashland, and is built upon and surrounded by coal lands

of almost fabulous value. The improvements are commensurate with the value of the lands,
collieries in the
some of the
largest
world being there in successful operation.
Both the Philadelphia and Reading and the Lehigh Valley Railroads extend through the town, severally claiming
The population cona share of the rich deposit of coal.
sists in
the
main of miners and
laborers, although bankers,
store-keepers, lawyers, doctors, editors, ministers, mechanics, and artisans of various kinds constitute an important
element.
The miners and
laborers are, however, not only
the controlling political element, but also the great source

from which directly or indirectly the remainder of the
As a consequence, the
population derives its support.
fluctuations of the coal trade, with their effect
of wages, are quickly
upon the
rate
of the community,
and as a further consequence, not only the " Labor Union"
but also the " Molly Maguire" organization was here openly
felt
by
all classes
and advocated extreme measures, which, although

not generally approved, were maintained against opposition.
defiant
MCPAR LAN THE DETEC7WE.
92
In the latter part of February, 1874, McKenna obtained

at the Indian Ridge shaft, near Shenandoah, as a
work
Here he remained a
laborer.
some
trivial pretext
self at the
little
he threw up
West Shenandoah
over two weeks.
Upon
and engaged himwhere he remained
this job,
colliery,
about seven or eight days.
Some
ludicrous stories are current as to
tempt to work
working
in the coal-mines.
in full dress.
Soon
He
McKenna's
at first insisted
his coat
at-
upon
was thrown aside,
He
perspired and sufunwonted labor, but nevertheless bore

himself manfully.
The work in the mines would soon
have become as pleasant as any other manual labor, but
he found no occasion to test that question fully.
He
quickly discovered that it was not as the skillful miner or
then his vest, and finally his
shirt.
fered under the
industrious laborer that admission to or influence in the
organization was to be obtained.

boarded a week or two with his new friend,
Michael or ''Muff" Lawler, and was by him introduced
to the boarding-house of Fenton Cooney, who was also a
"Molly Maguire"
He
first
member of the order. A very short intercourse with his

new associates convinced him that not only were the rights
of person and of property and the laws of the land regarded with contempt by the "Molly" organization, but
that he
liest
who had committed
the greatest
number and dead-
of crimes and had at the same time evaded the law
was looked upon with admiration and respect. He also

soon discovered that the man who supported himself or his
family by a course of honest industry was held in far less
esteem than the man who had acquired money by fraud or
The great corporations, the land-owners, and the
trick.
coal operators were viewed as enemies and oppressors, who
had no rights, and against whom any advantage, however
The positions of Township Audiunfair, might be taken.
tor,
Supervisor of Roads, Treasurer, School Director, and
93
Tax
Collector were eagerly sought for, and when obtained

the duties were administered with a criminal disregard of
the rights of the public.

Fraudulent, altered, and forged
orders were issued with perfect boldness, and corruption
in the management of public trust prevailed to an extent
that
would have excited the admiration of the boldest

Tweed ring in its palmiest days. It is no
operator in the
exaggeration to say that the frauds in

the coal region were far
many townships
in
proportion to the
amount involved, than any charged to New York or Phila"
delphia jobs.
Many of the Molly" leaders were tavernand saloon-keepers, and their houses headquarters for the
greater,
in
turbulent and discontented, where were devised schemes

by which the different coal operations could be run in the
interest of the organization
and bosses of
by means of superintendents
and by them forced into
their selection
position.
McKenna, upon finding that not only were his purposes

not advanced, but that his movements were hampered and
controlled by being confined as a miner and laborer,
He had
stopped work about the loth of March, 1874.
now gained sufficient insight into the workings of the order
to be enabled to state boldly that he was a member.
He
gave up the story of having accumulated
delphia,
and began,
to
those
money
confidential
in Phila-
friends
who
under no circumstances can keep a secret, to tell of criminal acts which excited even their admiration.
He had
two explanations for his present means of support
one
was that he was in receipt of a pension from the United
:
States government, obtained fraudulently, and the other

that he was "shoving the queer," in other words,
passing
counterfeit ntoney.
To " Muff" Lawler
he told, with more detail, the story

he had already related to Pat Dormer, in Pottsville, relative
to his Buffalo adventures. According to his account he had
94
worked at a grain-elevator there (describing one that had

no existence), and had quarreled with and killed a man
under circumstances of peculiar atrocity, but assigned
reasons that rendered him perfectly justifiable from the
"
He
to
that as
Molly" stand-point.
suggested
writing
Buffalo to obtain a card from the body-master there might
lead to his detection and arrest, it would be better that he
should be initiated over again and become an active member of the Shenandoah Division, of which he (Lawler)
was body-master. The reasons given were satisfactory,
and accordingly, on the i/j-th of April, 1874, the ceremony

of initiation was gone through with at Lawler's house by
reading to him an obligation called the "test," which he
kissed in token of secrecy.
He
was
now
a full-fledged
member
of a society known throughout the coal regions, the

Ancient Order of Hibernians, but among themselves recognized as the dreaded
"Molly Maguires."
He
found the
society acting avowedly under an act of the Legislature of

Pennsylvania, approved March 10, 1871 ; and that its motto
was "Friendship, Unity, and True Christian Charity."

He found, further, that in its written constitution and by-
embodied the purest sentiments of morality and

benevolence, not only as between the members, but as to
all the world besides.
But he also found that the written
laws were
principles for the governance of the order were but a thin
cloak to cover their real purposes in the perpetration and

concealment of crime. Whilst there was no pretense at
carrying out the avowed object of the society as a benevolent association, it was not every new and young member
that was fully trusted
education was sometimes necessary
before entering into full communion.
The chief county
officer, called the County Delegate, was alone deemed
:
worthy of being made cognizant of all transactions; whilst

even in a lodge or division the chief officer, called the
Body-master, and those immediately concerned, were some-
95
times, although not always, alone aware of a contemplated

or perpetrated outrage.
The members of one division
could only under special circumstances be admitted to

the deliberations of other lodges or chapters of the order ;
and
as a
consequence
McKenna
found that he had advanced
but one step towards the object he had in view. He found

that to attain his ends he would have to out-herod Herod
or out- "Molly" a
The
"Molly."
character he had
first
assumed he intensified
he
became
loud, brawling, and boastful of crimes of all grades,

from petty larceny to murder. He was ready to drink,
sing,
dance, court a
girl,
or fight.
He
boasted of the
great benefit that he had been to the order, and was ever
ready to pretend sympathy with the perpetrators of a
its commission, which he had been unable
and the full details of which he was anxious to
crime, after
to prevent
discover.
By
reason of the merit he claimed to himself
he succeeded in being elected secretary of his division,

whereby he obtained a seat in the county conventions; and
he had ambition for
still higher preferment.

In every
hole and corner of the coal-region portions of Schuylkill,
Northumberland, and Carbon Counties (with an occa-
sional visit
to
Jimmy McKenna could at difamong the order, the loudest talker

But
biggest "Molly" of them all.
Luzerne)
ferent times be found
and apparently the
it is simple justice to James McParlan to state that this

was only in appearance
with all his show of devotion
to the order he never asked a man to join it, never by
word or deed suggested or encouraged a crime. To this
:
he has
testified
Counties.
In
in trials
Carbon
both
in
County
Carbon and Schuylkill

desperate effort was
made
to prove the contrary, not only without success, but

with a signal failure that recoiled upon the prisoner.
The
ill success there proved a

warning to the defense in subsequent cases in Schuylkill County, and the effort to prove
THE ANCIENT ORDER
96
him
in
any respect an accomplice has been entirely aban-
doned.
It
may be
in
place to mention at this point that the
hardships endured by McParlan, in combination with the

bad whisky he was compelled to swallow, resulted in a
most singular
effect upon his personal appearance during

All of
the latter part of his residence at Shenandoah.
he lost his eyebrows, and his
the hair fell off his head
;
Seeing him with a slouch hat

eyesight became impaired.
on a bald pate, with green spectacles, rough shirt, and an
old linen coat, swaggering along the streets, the last idea
likely to present itself
was that through
his exertions
new
on
era of peace, of law, and of order was about to

the anthracite coal-fields.
CHAPTER
dawn
X.
THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS.

ACCORDING
to the sworn testimony of McParlan and

"
produced in what are known as the
Molly" trials
in Carbon and Schuylkill Counties, the organization of the
others,
Ancient Order of Hibernians

follows
in the
United States
is
as
The society has an existence in Great Britain as well as

America, the whole being under the control of what is
known as the "Board of Erin," selected from members in
England, Ireland, and Scotland, and from whom every
months the signs and passwords are obtained.
national officers of the United States, with headquarters at New York, consist of National Delegate, Na-
three
The
OF HIBERNIANS.
97
and President of the

Board of the city and county of New York.
These officers are selected by the State officers.
tional Secretary, National Treasurer,
Pennsylvania State
These
officers are selected
The county
Treasurer, and
These
with headquarters at PittsDelegate, State Treasurer, and
officers,
burg, consist of a State

State Secretary.
by the county officers.

of County Delegate, County
officers consist
County Secretary.
officers are elected at
county conventions, consisting of officers of the divisions.

The officers of the several divisions consist of Division
Master or Body-master, Secretary, and Treasurer.
These officers are elected by the members of the divisions respectively.
The requirement for membership is that the applicant

be an Irishman, or the son of an Irishman, professing the
Roman
We
Catholic
faith.
United States there are in the

neighborhood of six thousand divisions, or lodges, of the
"Ancient Order of Hibernians." To even suspect that
are told that in the
this large organization as a
body
is
of the same character
or in any
way sympathizes or has complicity with the

Maguires" of the coal region, is extremely pain-
"Molly
The country and
ful.
the world will be inclined to receive
any reasonable explanation rather than believe
that so
many thousands of Irish-American citizens are faithless to

God and morality, the land of their nativity, and the land
of their adoption.
But the question forces itself, Why is there not instant

disavowal of the acts of the coal-region ruffians by every
division in the country ?
The crimes proven are fearful in
atrocity, the society as organized in the coal region has
not its parallel for evil in the history of the world.
No
obligation
is
sacred to
its
members; possessed with a
fiend-
THE ANCIENT ORDER
98
for blood, arson and murder are but sport and

And yet out of six thousand lodges in America,
pastime.
and a large organization in Great Britain, not one word
ish
lust
of repudiation of these hellish acts, except by part of division No. 2, of Philadelphia, has been uttered.
It requires
a charity that " beareth
all
things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things," to ascribe such

non-action to a national prejudice against the "spy" and
"informer."
That by the passwords of the society no favorable impression is created, certainly as to the general character of
the members in Great Britain, where those passwords origi-
be regretted. The general character of the

to be presumed, can be judged from those
The signs and
given in testimony by James McParlan.
" benefits."
were
entitled
or
passwords
"goods"
nate,
is
to
passwords,
it is
Received i4th April, 1874:

PASSWORD.
"The Emperor of France and
Don
Carlos
of Spain,
They unite together and the Pope's right
maintain."
"Will tenant
Answer.
rights in Ireland flourish
If the people unite
and the landlords sub-
due?"
QUARRELING TOAST. "Your temper is high."

" I have
Answer.
good reason to."
NIGHT PASSWORD. " The nights are very dark."
Answer. " I hope they will soon mend."
SIGN.
The little finger of the right hand to the corner
of the right eye.
Answer. Catch the lapel of the vest with the

and thumb of the left hand.
little
finger
May
18,
1874:
" That the trouble of the
country
be at end."
PASSWORD.
may soon
OF HIBERNIANS.
Answer.
"And
likewise the
99
men who
will not her de-
fend."
"You
QUARRELING TOAST.
should not dispute with a
friend."
Answer.
"Not if I am not provoked."
NIGHT PASSWORD. "Long nights are unpleasant."
" I
Answer.
hope they will be at an end."
SIGN.
The front finger and thumb of the right hand
to
touch the neck-tie or top button of the shirt.

Answer. Right hand to rub across forehead touching
hair.
August
10,
PASSWORD.
1874:
" What do
you think of the Mayo election?
I think the fair West has made a bad
selection."
"Whom
do you think will duty betray?"

QUARRELING TOAST. "Don't get your temper
Answer.
so
high."
Answer.
" Not with a friend."
SIGN.
Putting the
of the pantaloons.
Answer.
thumb of
Putting the
right
thumb of
hand
left
into the pocket
hand on the lower
lip.
October 28, 1874:

PASSWORD. " What do you think of D'Israeli's plan ?
He still keeps home rule from our native
land."
Answer.
" But
still
with good swords and
men
at
com-
mand
We
will give long-lost rights to
our native
land."
NIGHT PASSWORD. "The night looks gloomy."

Answer. " I hope we will soon have a change."
QUARRELING TOAST. "You are very provoking,
Answer.
"I am not to blame."
sir."
THE ANCIENT ORDER
I00
BODY-MASTER'S TOAST:
"
Question.
May the President of France the general so
grand"
"Banish all heresy and
Answer.
free Ireland."
Sign omitted.
n,
January
PASSWORD
Question.
Answer.
1875
" Gladstone's
policy must be put down
He is the main support of the British
crown."
" But our Catholic lords will not
his
:
support
plan,
For true to their church they will firmly
stand."
QUARRELING TOAST
" Don't
give way to anger."
Question.
"
I will
a friend."
Answer.
:
obey
NIGHT PASSWORD
" The
Question.
nights are getting shorter."
Answer. "They will soon be at their shortest."

BODY-MASTER'S TOAST. "Let every Irish peasant
Espousing Erin's cause,
In college green
They may be seen
There making
SIGN.
Nail of the right
thumb
Irish laws."
across the bridge of the
nose.
Answer.
Tip of the forefinger of the
left
hand
to the
chin.
May
14, 1875
PASSWORD
Question.
"What
is
your opinion of the Tipperary
election?
I
think England broke her constitution by

Mitchell's rejection."
0/ HIBERNIANS.
Answer.
"But
IO i
didn't O'Connell resign his oath and
seat?
Yes, and by agitation gained the emancipation."
QUARRELING TOAST
"
Question.
Keep your temper cool."
:
Answer. " I will^not raise it to a friend."

" Here's that
BODY-MASTER'S TOAST.
every Irishman
may stand to
And subdue the
his cause,
British gov-
ernment and
its
coercion
laws."
SIGN.
The
forefinger of the right
hand
in the left sleeve
of the coat.
Answer.
The thumb of
the
left
hand
in the left side
vest-pocket.
November
PASSWORD.
Answer.
4,
1875
" Here's health to

every Irishman
That lives in Ireland,
To assemble round in Dublin Town
In memory of Great Dan."
" When born he found our
country
In chains and slavery ;
He
labored hard to set her free,
But now he's in the clay."
QUARRELING TOAST
Question.
Answer.
"You seem to be getting

"Not with you, sir."
NIGHT PASSWORD
" These
vexed."
Question.
Answer.
SIGN.
" Yes
nights are fine."
we
shall
have a
fine harvest."
Tip of the forefinger of the right hand
hole of the right ear.

Answer. Tip of ih^ forefinger of the
hole of the left ear.
left
hand
to the
to the
THE ANCIENT ORDER
I02
January 22, 1876:
PASSWORD
"
Question.
Home
in
rule
Ulster
making great
is
progress."
Answer.
every Irishman would support the
if
"Yes,
cause."
Question.
"I wonder
Ireland
if
can
tenant-
gain
right?"
Answer.
"Yes,
NIGHT PASSWORD
"
Question.
Answer.
"
if
Moonlight is pleasant."
is freedom."
Yes, so
QUARRELING TOAST
Question.
Answer.
supported by the Irish members."
"Be
"I
calm, sir."
am never too boisterous."
" Here's
to every Irishman that

crossed the Atlantic wave,
That they may return with

heart and hand their native land to save."
Sign omitted.
These were the
fact
last
"goods" McParlan
received, as the
of his being a detective was shortly after this time
suspected, and in the following
March he
left
the coal
regions.*
That the passwords and toasts are imbued with a spirit
of disloyalty to the English government only demonstrates
a fact well understood, to wit, that the Irishman now, as

in years gone by, is chafing under English rule, and has
"home rule," but also for

a matter of regret that the
deep-rooted hostility to England, which appears to be a
part of the nature of Irishmen, should be fostered and
an earnest desire not only for

absolute independence.
* See
in
It
Appendix copy of the
is
test,
and
also additional toasts
and
signs.
OF HIBERNIANS.
103
encouraged in what appears to be a hopeless struggle
still,
so encouraged occasions no surprise.

But the character of the society is placed under susIt would appear
picion by the nature of their passwords.
from them that the universal use of intoxicating liquors
that
it is
the
among
passwords
members
zfre
is
recognized and approved.

be used among
as surely the toasts to
The
memamong
bers over their cups as is the body-master's toast

the chief officers. But by the quarreling toast is also recognized a rough and turbulent spirit among the members,
by the night password is acknowledged traveling by

night in unfrequented places. It would also seem to imply
a ruffianly disposition in the night-time, from the conwhilst
sequences of which the use of the night password would

protect one member against another.
The
follows
case would appear to stand in favor of the order as

reputed good character of many of its members
:
divisions outside of the coal regions; no conclusive

proof of the participation of any such divisions with crimiin
nal acts in the coal region or elsewhere; a charter, in the

provisions of which are embodied principles of benevolence, morality, universal brotherhood, and religion.
To this extent the position is in their favor. On the
other hand, passwords and toasts imply a general habit of

quarreling, and suspicious night journeyings.
quarter does there appear evidence of any acts
of benevolence accomplished in pursuance of the avowed
drinking,
From no
object of their organization ; with but one exception, there

has been no repudiation of the coal-region fiends, and
uncontradicted testimony exists of the participation of
national officers in aiding the escape of a criminal and

using for this purpose society funds.
It is to be regretted that McParlan could not have re-
mained a
sufficient length of
investigated the subject fully.
time in the order to have

If,
as
is
to
be hoped and
THE ANCIENT ORDER
104
the general disposition is to believe, notwithstanding the

unfortunate position taken by the society in making no
public disavowal, the great body of the Ancient Order of

Hibernians are law-abiding citizens, by such investigation
If, however, it
they would have been fully vindicated.
should have been discovered that the society is a disgrace

to humanity and a foul canker on the body politic, not
only
this
country but Great Britain would have been under
the greatest obligations,
for,
understanding the
evil,
the
remedy could be applied.

Taking the most favorable view of the matter, the shield
'of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, inscribed as it is
with the motto, " Friendship, Unity, and True Christian
Charity," has been tarnished, its fair name and fame
clouded, and its existence regarded with suspicion.
If, as
a fact, it is carrying out in good faith the avowed objects
of
organization, it may emerge purified by its present

If, on the contrary, its charter is elsewhere, as
disgrace.
its
in the coal regions, the
mere cloak
to cover lawless
and
criminal acts, the end of the order is in the near future,

and it will soon be but a memory of infamy and shame.
Membership of the "Molly Maguire" society does not
carry with it the right to attend the meetings of any division of the order ; on the contrary, the right of attendance
is confined to the one to which the
membership attaches.
A member
division
in good standing can, however, change his

by bringing a card of recommendation from the
body-master.
When
it is
proposed to use the card out of
the county, the county delegate places upon it his private

mark. The card can be presented to either a body-master
or county delegate.
If to a body-master, he will forward
it to the
county delegate to verify the private mark. In
leaving the State a traveling card is used, which also receives the
mark of the county
The body-master's
toast
is
delegate.
given only to body-masters,
OF HIBERNIANS.
and
is
105
used for the purpose of making one
known
to the
other.
If, after
the use of the quarreling toast, a blow

is subject to be tried and expelled.
is
struck,
the offender
The
practice relative to the commission of crimes was

When an outrage was to be committed in
systematized.
any particular district, the body-master of that district

would apply either to the county delegate or the bodymaster of another division for men to do the work, such
to be unknown to the parties upon whom the outrage
was to be perpetrated. These men or the division would
receive a guarantee that if they wanted a like favor in their
men
locality
would be reciprocated.
it
The men were
either selected
by
direct
appointmen by
the body- master or chosen by lot.

The penalty for refusal to act under the instructor of
the county delegate was expulsion ; but it has never, according to the detective, proven necessary to enforce such
penalty on that account.
member
In case of the arrest of a

the
first
effort is to raise
money
of the order for crime,
to
pay counsel, and the
next to procure witnesses to prove an "alibi."

The commission of crime was determined upon either by
the body-master, by a meeting of the division, by the
county delegate, or by a meeting of body-masters and other

principal
men
of the organization called by the county
delegate.
It
was but seldom that members of another division were

upon to commit highway-robbery or murder for the
called
sake of gain ; but when outrages of this kind were committed by individual members on their own responsibility,
the act was indorsed and the criminal sustained by
at the command of the order.
all
the
machinery
The
usual subjects of complaint were against bosses and

who had refused work to meni-
superintendents at collieries
E*
THE A NCIEXT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS.
106
bers of the order; and this was a special cause of offense when
the work applied for was given to other than an Irishman.
To take possession of a house belonging to a colliery, but
occupied by a member of the organization, or by a friend

of a member, was also a serious offense, notwithstanding
such action was taken by the boss under direct instruction
and the house was needed for the purposes of the work.
To carry out instructions of the coal operator and owner

against the rules established by the men was a serious
offense, and resulted frequently not only in exciting the indignation of the Mollies, but also in the stoppage of the
whole work by the " Labor Union."

The gratification of a whim, revenge
for a fancied slight,
or
pure wantonness, justified beatings,

The actual perpetrator of the outarson, even murder.
personal
dislike,
rage, influenced by no personal feeling against the victim,

to whose very existence he had hitherto been a stranger,
did not stop to ask the cause of offense or in any way to
He obeyed orders
judge the merits of the controversy.
or accepted the chance of the choice by lot.
He applied
the torch which destroyed property worth thousands of
dollars,
against
bringing financial distress and ruin upon men

he had no feeling or cause of complaint, and
whom
throwing hundreds out of employment with whom he not

He waylaid
only pretended, but actually had, sympathy.
and fearfully beat men who had never done him the slightest
injury,
and towards
whom
he had not even an unkind
He murdered in cold blood, with the ferocity

thought.
of the fiend and with the stealth of the assassin, men on
the instant brought to his knowledge, from whom he had
never suffered injury, and regarding whom he did not even
know what was charged against them.

And yet, strange to say, the perpetrators of these outrages were frequently young men on the very threshold of
life,
with hearts capable of being touched by a tale of
THE LONG STRIKE.
107
and with hands ever ready to succor the afflicted

Not even a course of evil life and dissiBorn
pation was the inducing cause of their lawless acts.
of poor but honest parents, and with humble Christian
training, the young man who never tasted liquor, whose
surroundings were apparently pure, and whose character
was unsuspected, would become the perpetrator of a terrible and cruel murder.
Such a course of conduct appears
contrary to every theory of crime, and is the result of false
suffering,
and
distressed.
ideas of honor, false ideas of friendship, false ideas of fraternity, false ideas of patriotism, and a perversion of every
good and noble impulse.

Arrested and before the bar of outraged justice, tender
tokens of affection, and kindly acts of friendship, are manifested, and the sorrowing father, the loving mother, the
clinging wife, are
all
seen.
The
friend stands firm through
good report and through evil report. Heroic fortitude and

unexampled bravery are combined with an utter callousness
in regard to the crime committed
as to it, not one regret
;
apparently felt, there is not one thought of a dishonored

family, of outraged law, of a disgraced nationality, of an
is
angered God.
CHAPTER
THE LONG STRIKE
XI.
McPARLAN, CONTINUED.
in April, 1874, was a member in good standthe

of
branch of the " Molly Maguire
Shenandoah
ing
organization.
Owing to the independent means of sup-
McKENNA,
'
movements were untrammeled.

His acquaintance was now extensive, and the necessity
of a constant change of base in "shoving the queer" acport which he avowed, his
THE LONG STRIKE.
108
The rule of the

counted for his frequent journeyings.
order, which prevented visitors from attending the meetings of other divisions and taking public part in their deliberations, still prevented the easy attainment of his object
to obtain full knowledge of
names and acquaintance of
all
on and the
By means
simulated zeal and
that was going
all
the members.
of his literary qualifications and his
ardor for the advancement of the society, combined with

his apparent willingness to join in the commission of any
however desperate, he easily succeeded in obtaining

the position of secretary of his division.
By reason of
that office, and by loud, boastful talk and self-assertion,
act,
he soon acquired the reputation and position of a leader.

He was also enabled by virtue of his office to have a
county conventions of the order, and to establish
intimate relations with the county delegate, at that time
Barney Dolan. Loud-talking and apparently reckless, by
seat in
his logical
and
power he gained
respect,
and by
his plausibility
not only of being ready

for any enterprise, but also of being a knowing and safe
tact acquired the reputation
operator.
New in the order, with position to obtain, with confidence to gain and strengthen, with its full workings
throughout the region to become versed
in,
with extensive
acquaintance to acquire, during the summer and fall of

1874 he not only attained all the ends in view, but made
rapid headway towards the detection of crimes supposed to
be long buried in the mists of the past.
How much was
accomplished, what discoveries were made, what still re-
mains obscure,
it
is
not proper here to
cases the perpetrators are dead, in
state.
In some
others the veil
may
never be uplifted, exposing to public view the terrible

mysteries of the past, whilst in others the footprints of the
avenger are even now upon the track, and from countries
of the Old World, from the islands of the distant Pacific,
THE LONG STRIKE.
109
from across great waters or from the recesses of rugged

mountains, the criminal, long resting in fancied security,
may be brought to answer at the bar of outraged justice
for deeds done in the past.
In the
summer and
fall of 1874 the "Molly Maguire"

extended power and boastful in a fancied
Tweed in his palmiest day was never more arro-
was reveling
security.
in his
gant nor half so unscrupulous.
number
Not exceeding
five
hundred
Schuylkill, and in about that proportion to

population throughout the rest of the coal-fields, they yet
controlled township affairs in a number of districts, had
in
in
great influence in the management of counties, and were

courted and caressed as a potent political element.
In the control of mining operations the " Labor Union"

under the influence of their most extreme counsels was
The coal operator, wearied out

gaining undisputed sway.
with repeated and continued encroachments upon his undoubted
rights,
had yielded point by point,
until
his
ownership of property his by purchase and by law had

become almost nominal. The land-owner, groaning under
a load of unnecessary taxes, felt himself powerless to stay
the evil.
As a consequence, unreasonable as the " Molly
Maguire" has proved himself, there were during
this
period
but few notorious outrages.

In December, 1874, commenced
the "long strike."

" Those whom the
gods would destroy they first make
mad ;" and this would seem to be exemplified by this illadvised movement on the part of the workingmen.
It is
was inaugurated against the advice of

the leading men of the " Labor Union ;" but, without an
idea of the long struggle then commencing being entertained by any one, the strike became an existing fact.
said that the strike
During the year 1874 the interests of the coal trade,

and with them the interests of the coal region, had been
guided by
skillful
hands.
The
10
failure of
Jay Cooke in
THE LONG STRIKE.
IIO
fall of 1873 nad shocked the country and the world.

Whilst repeated and large failures were reported among
manuoperators in speculative stocks, business houses and
the
establishments,
facturing
those financially
although
much damaged, and
weak ruined, kept on
in the
even tenor
The cry of deof their way, hoping for better days.

r.-d
trade soon came from every branch of industry
and every section of the country. The coal regions alone
sremed
to weather the storm
the coal combination effected
by the great carrying companies kept up the price of coal,

and with it the wages of labor, and the hope was openly
expressed that while a great financial crisis was about to
visit the country, the coal region, generally the first to
suffer, would escape unscathed.
At
this
made
at a
juncture the strike for higher wages was made,

time when the continued decrease in the demand
and increased depression in business imperatively

pointed to a reduction in prices, in salaries, and in wages.
The strike was, however, in the beginning not regarded as
for coal
although at an early day the workmen were informed that not only would their demands not be acceded
to, but that a reduction of wages would be insisted upon.
This was not, however, believed, and matters remained
serious,
good humor, in the first instance, prevailing. The

was inaugurated at a time when the great body of
workmen expected to be idle ; navigation had closed, the
quiet,
strike
winter stock of coal of the East and South had been laid
in
it
was the period of limited demand, of what is termed

work," in preparation for the coming season. As,
the attitude of the "coal exchange" was firm,
<1
came annoyances, in the refusal of the men to

even sufficient coal to be mined for the use of the
furnaces on the line of the road and for the locomotives of
the nilroad companies. In the mean time, the
general busiearly
and manufacturing
interests of the
country were
still
THE LONG STRIKE.
By the latter part of February, 1875, a ^

hopes of even a partial revival of business in the spring had
died out.
Many of the large manufacturing and iron estabmore depressed.
lishments of the country, whfch had struggled through the

on the accumulated capital resulting from seasons
past year
of prosperity, either totally stopped work or ran on half-time ;

whilst the area of the anthracite coal market had somewhat
extended, the uses were being curtailed, and a large falling

off in the demand during the coming year was felt to be a
certain prospect.
The facilities for mining coal created
a supply largely in excess of the demand, and the fact was
no combination of the coalcoal operators to run on

enable
would
mining companies
full time and maintain prices of coal or wages.
As a consequence, in the beginning of March, 1875,
when the policy of the coal operators was fully developed,
perfectly understood that
the struggle began in earnest, the operators maintaining

that the reduction of wages was to them a matter of necessity, whilst
mand
the
"Labor Union" remained
firm in the de-
that at least the prices of the preceding year should
The stock of money accumulated by very

many of the workmen was now exhausted, and a call was
made on kindred associations for assistance. These associabe maintained.
tions sympathized with the struggles of the miners

but they had their own interests to guard,
;
laborers
in
and
and
most instances had themselves yielded to the pressure
of the times.
The
response was, therefore,
made with a
necessarily sparing hand.
Cases of suffering
in spite of the
tained
its
now
appeared.
The " Labor Union,"
murmurs of many of
position.
its
members, main-
Fears of .the dreaded
"Molly"
pre-
vented open revolt on the part of those willing to go to

work, whilst outrage and crime became common.*
* Sec in Appendix the list prepared by the Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron Company, published in connection with Mr. Gowen's
THE LONG STRIKE.
II2
Intense feeling began to manifest itself on both sides.

!>or Union" yielded the position, so far as the
question of reduction was concerned, but, as a question

upon which its existence was involved, demanded to have
numa voice in the settlement of the basis of wages.

ber of the coal operators were willing to commence work
on these terms; but the great coal-mining companies, with
the entire approval of
to treat with the
many
individual operators, refused

at all.
By the action of
" Labor Union"
the great carrying companies in the regulation of freights

this policy was enforced.
About the ist of June, 1875, combined capital, in connection with the depression of business throughout the
country, conquered, and the once powerful "Labor Union"
experienced a Waterloo defeat.
Most of the "labor-strikes" previously inaugurated had
been local in their character, in some instances confined to
particular collieries,
in others to districts,
others, to the coal shipments
by particular
In none of these contests had the
in
suffered
overwhelm-
they had not always, it is true, obtained their

demands, but the result had generally been a compro-
ing defeat
full
men
and again,
lines of railway.
mise, in which their
power was acknowledged, and the
outrages committed either by unruly members of the

"Union" or indirectly resulting therefrom were, to a certain extent,
condoned.
month of January, 1875, however, the organizaof the " Labor Union" was perfect not only was the
In the
tion
association
.
moving harmoniously throughout the coal rebut it was assuming a national character, and
friendly
and profitable relations were established with kindred soci111

But in that which
every section of the country.
red their greatest security existed their
greatest dani>cfore the
aoth and 3oth, 1875.
Legislative Investigating Committee, July
THE LONG STRIKE.
113
The coal product was in excess of the demand, and

ger.
a partial "strike" stopping the mining in a particular section caused an irreparable loss in shipments in such section, whilst
it
inured to the benefit not of the "strikers,"
but of the coal producers of other sections.

By virtue of
the terms of the coal combination in 1874, apportioning
to each region its share of tonnage, this result was not so
manifest as usual
nevertheless, rival interests
and
conflict-
ing claims, both as between the shippers and the miners

and laborers, had the effect of hastening compromise. The
"strike" of 1875, as
^^
been remarked, was
ill
advised
on the part of the "Union." It was ill advised not only

by reason of the depressed condition of business everywhere existing, but also in the abandonment of the de-
The conclusion, it is true, aptailed system of fighting.

peared rational, that if from the partial combination of
labor partial success would result, from complete combiThe error in the
nation complete success would follow.
combined action on the part

calculation was simply this
of the men induced combined action on the part of the
whole body of anthracite producers. The strike extending
:
throughout the whole region, the rivalry of capital was at

As no anthracite coal was shipped, one section of
the region had no advantage over the other, and the market
rest.
could only be partially supplied by the product of the bitu-
minous
coal-fields.
As has been
stated, the situation was, as a general rule,

with
good humor, until the latter part of February
regarded
or the beginning of March, when the position was first fully
appreciated by the
coming
struggle.
sension existed
men and some conception had
It is true that
among
men
"Union"
the
prior to this time
of the
some
dis-
themselves, occasioned by
requiring that all "dead

work" should cease; but a compromise with the coal operthe resolution of the
ators in time for the spring trade Was confidently expected.

10*
H4
THE LONG STRIKE.
The
by the coal operators, and

by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company and the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, excited in the minds of the workmen, according
firm attitude assumed
particularly
to their locality, extreme indignation against their respective presidents, Franklin B. Gowen and Charles W. Parrish,
hardly necessary to say that both these gentleappreciated the situation, were determined to
maintain their position at all hazards and at any sacrifice,
Esqs.
men
and
It is
fully
in that policy
had the
full
indorsement of their
re-
spective companies.
Against these companies, therefore, intense opposition
was manifested by the whole body of the " Labor Union,"
and the outrages committed by the lawless and turbulent

became frequent.
In February, 1875, tne shaft -house, at the large shaft on
the outskirts of Pottsville, was burned to the ground,
the
work of an incendiary.
more wanton outrage it is hard
to conceive.
Owing to the great depth of the large veins
in the vicinity of Pottsville, and for miles east and west
from that point, and the consequent expense of opening
mines, the larger coal operations are located in sections
of the country where the coal is more easy of access.
Mr.
Gowen, however, appreciating the great value of a supply

of coal, almost unlimited, at the head of the main line of
the Reading Railroad, and being able to command the
large capital required, directed the sinking of the shaft,
whidi was successfully accomplished, under the direction

of General Henry Pleasants, the able chief
engineer of
the Philadelphia and
This resulted
Reading Coal and Iron Company.
in
completely establishing the truth of the

generally accepted theory of the coal formation in its appliration to the southern coal-field.
The mining operations
in
full
connection with
this
shaft,
when completed and
in
operation, will give at least five thousand of an addi-
THE LONG STRIKE.

tional population to the
motive
115
neighborhood of Pottsville. Any

advancement of this enterprise
for interfering in the
would appear
to be
wanton, and the destruction of the shaft
reward of
building was therefore specially malicious.
ten thousand dollars was offered for the conviction of the
offender, with a guarantee on the part of the Coal and Iron
"informer."
known, has been without effect, and the transaction itself, in the crowding and
terrible incidents of the year, has almost passed from
Company
to insure the personal safety of the
This reward, so
far as is publicly
memory.
In the
month of March scenes of
only of daily occurrence, but
number on
by unknown
a
in
many
lawlessness were not
instances there were
Men were beaten and robbed

the same day.
parties, the repairsmen on the railroad were
stopped from their work, train-hands were threatened,
rail-
road-tracks obstructed and barricaded, engines and cars

thrown off the track, cars unloaded, property stolen and
destroyed, houses burned ; mobs riotously assembled, took
possession of engines and trains, displayed fire-arms, and
men from their work.

The lawlessness displayed
drove
in March continued during the

months of April and May ; threats, notices, beatings, burnings of houses and breakers, mobs, railroad obstructions,
and other outrages increased in number.
As can be readily imagined, during this period " McKenna," or McParlan, was fully occupied. He had during
the month of January attended two conventions of the
"Molly" organization as an officer, the first on the 4th
and 5th of January, at Lafferty's Hall, Girardville, and the
other on the
nth
of January, at the
Town
Hall, Pottsville,
and was becoming recognized throughout the order as a

leader. Affecting to be in entire sympathy with, and ready
for the commission of, any outrage, however horrible, he
obtained a knowledge which he, with great tact and plau-
THE LONG STRIKE.
u6
/
sibility in his
way of reasoning, used
in the prevention of
contemplated crime.
When he found this impossible, he often occasioned delays, and by his early and frequent reports to Superintendent Franklin, at Philadelphia, enabled parties interested to
be on their guard, and thereby, in numerous instances,

saved individuals from murderous attacks and valuable
The comparatively slow course
property from destruction.
of even a cipher telegraph was found inadequate.
fide his
knowledge
To
con-
would have inevassociates, who were
to the civil authorities
itably, in a very short time, led his
ever morbidly suspicious and cunning, to a knowledge of

his true position, and would not only have ended his sphere
of usefulness, but would have cost him his life.

It was therefore determined
by the Pinkertori
give
him a coadjutor, who was found
Agency
to
R.
J.
in the person of
Linden, the assistant superintendent of the Agency at

Chicago. About the ist of May, 1875, Mr Linden appeared on the scene of action in the coal regions, where
he has remained ever since, and has been, next to McPar-
one of the most effective instruments in breaking the

"
power of the dreaded
Molly" and bringing the perpe-
lan,
trators of crime to justice.
Mr. Linden was born

1835, ancl
is
in
consequently
Brooklyn,
now
New York,
in the year
in his forty-first year.
He,
hip-carpenter by trade, and has passed a life of travel
and adventure. During the war he was on the South Atlantic
Since the close of

squadron, engaged in his trade.
lie has been connected with the Pinkerton
Agency
the war
at
Chicago.
Upon coming
to the coal region his connection with the
He was sworn into the Coal and

Iron Police, and given the
He acted
position of captain.
njunction with Marshal Heisler, who was known as a
Agency was concealed.
most
efficient police-officer,
honest,
brave almost beyond
THE LONG STRIKE.
117
conception, thoroughly efficient in action, but with little

or no power as a detective.
The appointment of Captain Linden was another evi-
dence of the sagacity of the Agency in the selection of its

men. Long-headed, sharp, and untiring, he yet possesses
a sociability of manner and real warmth of heart that have
rendered him extremely popular, even with the parties he
has assisted in arresting and been so efficient in convicting.
Under instructions from Superintendent Franklin, Mc-
Kenna now,
in addition to making his usual reports, conferred with Captain Linden, who, in case of an emergency,
had authority to act promptly and on his own responsi-
Frequent secret meetings between the two were

necessary, which in their arrangement required skill and
bility.
ingenuity.
As outrages increased
in
number,
still
more
fre-
quent meetings were required, and, for the purpose of

warding off suspicion, a system of making appointments
was resorted
to, in
which Malachi Cleery was made the
innocent agent.
To effect this was, however, attended not only with great

The meetings
inconvenience, but also with great danger.
would take place sometimes in the bush, sometimes at
The risk
Schuylkill Haven, sometimes even at Reading.
was run, every time they met, that the secret intercourse
would be discovered, in which case the life of McParlan
would have been the sure forfeit. Another plan of operaA plan of open intercourse was artions was adopted.
One evening, at
ranged and successfully carried out.
Malachi Cleery's drinking-saloon in Shenandoah, a large
number of Mollies being
present,
McKenna among
the
Captain Linden walked in, and, going up to the bar,

McKenna was, as usual, talking loud
asked for a drink.
rest,
and making himself conspicuous. Linden entered into

conversation with one of the by-standers, of whom after a
while he inquired,
"Who
is
that fellow?"
THE LONG STRIKE.
Ilg
The man hesitating in his reply, Linden continued,

" His voice reminds me, although he don't look like him,
named Jim McKenna, whom I used to know."
"His name is Jim McKenna," was the answer.
Linden now stepped up to that portion of the bar where
of a fellow
;.m
was standing, and said,
Ain't you Jim
time
in
McKenna, and didn't you
live at
one
Buffalo?"
" That's
my name,
and there's where
McParlan, gruffly; "but

"Don't know me! Is
don't
it
I lived,"
answered
know you."
possible
you don't remember
Linden ?"
McKenna
delight
treating
at
instantly recovered his
memory,
affected great
renewing the acquaintance, and

round.
all
insisted
Various reminiscences of
on
by-gone
times were recalled, and Linden, also seemingly gratified,

memory of other days. The captain
took the opportunity of informing several parties in confi-
stood the drinks in
McKenna well, and that he was " a bad

had known him in Buffalo, where he worked
on the elevator (which had no existence except in fancy) ;
that he had been one of the best "shovers of the queer" in
McCartney's gang, but that as he had once killed a man
who was threatening his (Linden's) life, he did not want to
dence that he knew

lot
;" that he
arrest
him.
Besides
this,
he considered him a good fellow.
This answered two good purposes it indorsed McKenna

in the description he had given of himself, and it accounted for a certain good-fellowship existing between the
:
two, by means of which information could be given and

received, and arrangements made in the midst of the
crowd without detection or suspicion.

"
Cleery was not himself a
Molly," but was popular with
the order, and was to some extent under their influence,
his house being with them a favorite resort.
It was
mia's loafing-place.
McKenna informed him
confi-
U9
THE LONG STRIKE.
dentially that he had a suspicion that Linden was after

him, and that he did not want to meet him when he could
avoid
He
it.
therefore
requested
that
should
Cleery
Linden when he was about, he should let him

happen
(McKenna) know, in order that he might hide himself.
This occurred on several occasions. McKenna would retire, apparently frightened, to a side room.
Captain Linden would saunter in, and in asking for a drink, or in
some casual remark, by preconcerted system, inform the
listener where and when a meeting should take place.
to see
The % lawlessness that existed during the period of the

long strike of 1875 was not by any means confined to the
"
Molly Maguires," although in the actual perpetration of
crime they were active in throwing the balls prepared by
other hands.
The " Labor Union" as an organization did not countenance flagrant violations of law ; there were not only too
many good men connected with it who would have been
shocked by the perpetration of crime, but their leaders
were men of more than ordinary ability, capable of appreciating the force of moral power and the necessity of obBut the contest
taining and retaining public sympathy.
fierce one ; the ambition to win was great, want and
was a
suffering in the absence of
work had become common, and
men who
ful
themselves would not be willing to do an unlawor criminal act were perfectly willing to have it done,
and
in
some instances
rectly, its perpetration.
to suggest indirectly, in others di-
As an
illustration, in April, 1875,
connected with the "Molly" organization interviewed McKenna and others on the subject of burn-
parties not
McKenna was apwas suggested that as

his organization was in the habit of doing such things, the
burning of the bridge would advance the labor movement.
It was urged that a large amount of coal for the Western
ing one of
proached
the
Catawissa bridges.
as a leading
"Molly."
It
THE LONG STRIKE.
I20
market was being transported over this bridge, and that its
lion would be a severe blow to the corporations.
:<
MrKenna
pretended to consider the proposition favorably,

it was necessary to have the matter brought
before the society. In the mean time, the Pinkerton Agency
was in full possession of the facts, through Captain Linden
and Superintendent Franklin, and arrangements were made,
but said that
in case there should
be an attempt to carry out the scheme,
to arrest the parties concerned while in commission of the

The enteract, McParlan, or McKenna, among the rest.
prise was, however, stopped.
Before the time of the meet-
McKenna had
a private talk with Frank McAndrew,

ing,
then body-master of Shenandoah Division, and others.
He suggested that the thing was a trick, and done with a
view to have them arrested, and thereby get glory for the
"Labor Union" and degrade the "Mollies." ~ This was
evident, he said, from the fact that,
if
the burning of the
bridge was so important, they might do it themselves withThis view of the subject aroused
out calling upon them.
suspicion, and although, when the meeting was held, the
first impulse of the majority, that of McKenna seemingly
among
the rest, was to
had suggested
to
do what was asked, the view he

the scheme
McAndrew was advanced, and
fell
through.
In other instances the "Mollies" were
ments
made
the instru-
the perpetration of wrongs which cooler heads

had cither hinted at, suggested, or advised ; but in a numin
ber of cases violence and turbulence occurred in which

It needs no criminal
they took but a secondary part.
organization to lead an inflamed and hungry people to
s of
riot
during a long strike, and the "Molly" ormany of its own undoubted sins to
ganization has far too
answer
for
of others.
without having placed upon
it
the misdeeds
THE LONG STRIKE.
CHAPTER
T2 i
XII.
THE LONG STRIKE, CONTINUED-THE MAJOR MURDER-MAHANOY CITY CONVENTION.

DURING
the
month of May, 1875,

The end was
"strike" was broken.
combination of
railroad
t^ 6
force
of the
inevitable.
The
coal-mining
companies, and individual coal operators was too powerful
The number of "blacklegs,"
for the "Labor Union."
men
companies,
great
and Laborers' Benevoand willing to work, increased.

The leaders in that association saw that under the circumstances their power was gone, and advised that the best
or
outside of the "Miners'
lent Association," ready
made by the miners at their respective

Nevertheless, whilst under the severe pressure
of want, and consequent loss of heart for further contest
terms possible be
collieries.
in a hopeless cause, the great majority
mence work, the

means of threats,
To
offset
lawless few
still
to excite fear
were ready to com-
retained the power, by
and delay resumption.

and Reading Coal and
this the Philadelphia
to secure protection for such parOn the strength of this

desired to go to work.
promise several mines in the neighborhood of Shenandoah
Iron
Company promised
ties as
and Mahanoy City commenced operations, but not

handed, on the ist and 2d of June.
full-
This excited deep indignation
among the remaining

During the night and early in the morning
of the 3d, the mob began to gather upon Glover's Hill,
near Shenandoah, from Lost Creek, Colorado, Griscom's,
and various other small mining towns, all the way to
malcontents.
Locust Gap, to the number of about one thousand.
The
THE LONG STRIKE.
,22
outburst was not so hearty as the number would indicate,

many who had no heart or soul for the enter-
since very
pri>e
had been forced into the ranks.
is just opposite the West Shenandoah colin

and it was upon this colliery that
then
operation,
liery,
it was intended the first demonstration should be made to
Glover's Hill
compel the men to quit work. Preparations for protection

\\cic, however, made.
Captain Linden, with a force of
twenty-four of the Coal and Iron Police armed with WinAbout
chester rifles, was on hand early in the morning.
six o'clock some five hundred of the mob which had assembled on Glover's Hill moved over to the colliery,
where they were met by Captain Linden, his force drawn
up
in line
of battle.
No engagement took place; the firm

men kept the whole crowd at
six hours the mob was turbulent and
stand of a few determined
bay
but for about
threatening.
About twelve o'clock the rioters retreated, and joined
the party on Glover's Hill.
line was then formed, and,
preceded by a drum corps, they marched to Mahanoy City,

some five miles distant, gathering force as they went along.
At Mahanoy City they met the sheriff of Schuylkill County

and his posse. The sheriff attempted to protect the work-
The excitement
ing collieries.
increased.
Shots were fired
several of the rioters injured. The sheriff

was, however, compelled to retreat, leaving Mahanoy City
on both
sides,
in possession
work
and
of the rioters.
The
lock up was broken open,
and
all
line
was then again formed, and the
in
that locality stopped for the day.
mob
left
The
Mahanoy
with the avowed intention of stopping the work at West

Shenandoah. Loud threats of vengeance on the workmen
and the Coal and Iron Police were heard,

Captain Linden and his gallant little
better counsels, prevailed, and before they
at that colliery
but either fear of
band, or
reached that point the
mob
was dispersing.
THE LONG STRIKE.

As might be expected, McKenna was
I2 $
in the midst of the
of everything, but to
as wild an Irishman as that crowd of wild
rioters, taking notes
On
all
appearances
contained.
men
the afternoon of the same day the sheriff
made
his
requisition for the military, which was promptly responded

to by Governor Hartranft, and on the following day
Colonel Caldwell's regiment (a coal-region organization)

to the Mahanoy Valley, where it remained several
was sent
weeks, with headquarters in
Mahanoy
The end was accomplished. Day
City.
after day,
and week
week, work was started at different points, without

disturbance, until very soon the coal regions presented
after
their usual
But
if at
appearance of busy
life.
the end of the " strike" the
"Labor Union"
was paralyzed, the "Molly Maguire" was in full being.

During the preceding months the opportunity for the
commission of crime had been daily, and in its perpetration he had had the implied and sometimes expressed sympathy of large masses of people who, as a general rule, were
Crimes had been committed with impunity,
his enemies.
and he had come to believe that as there was but small

danger of punishment, little concealment was necessary.
not certain that at any period in the history of the
"Molly Maguire" organization the commission of murder
It is
was regarded with any compunction, or that any value

whatever was placed upon human life other than their
own. Whether or not at any time there was any repugnance
to the commission of
murder or any other crime,
it is
tain that in this country, as in Ireland, neglect to
cer-
comply
with an unwarranted demand was always considered a

ficient reason for the sacrifice of life.
suf-
As an illustration a few years ago, a boss at a colliery

under the superintendence of a gentleman comparatively
new in the region was warned, through a coffin notice, to
Rather than endanger his life, the boss gave up his
leave.
:
THE LONG STRIKE.
I24
himself out of
position, thereby throwing
all
losing
means of support.
He
employment and
was a good man, under-
stood his business, was faithful to his employers, and in the

emdischarge of his duty entirely just to the workmen
The
ployed.
superintendent, unused to such a
method of
conducting business, was shocked, especially as every workman he talked to professed to have no cause of complaint.
Speaking to one of them of the wickedness of the proceeding and the injustice of the action, not only to the employer, but to the man himself, in so driving him out into
" Sure
the world, he was astounded at receiving the answer,
and didn't the man have notice?"

In that was told the whole story. No account was made
of the fact that no right of law, religion, or morality gave
them any authority whatever over the property and persons
of others, and yet loss of life was considered only the just
forfeit of disobedience to their commands.
If the notice
was disregarded, the party notified was at fault, and no

moral responsibility rested on those who accomplished
his destruction.
This sentiment was widely spread, and the fact just

its counterpart in many another incident
stated has had
almost identical.
In this instance the remark made a strong impression
on the superintendent, a comparative stranger, a pure and
good man, a Quaker by nature and education, taught that
even
for the
punishment of the darkest of crimes
for the strong
But
at
arm of
the law to take
the end of the
"long
human
it is
error
life.
strike" even the "coffin
notice," although sometimes given, was not deemed essential.

An utter disregard of all the rights of person and of
to pervade the organization.
Arson and
1
murder were not only considered
The
as not criminal, but as
thy of high praise.

Indian boasts of numerous
scalps
and of
acts of
THE MAJOR MURDER.
125
savage butchery, but the scalps he shows are those of his

enemies, and his cruelty is against strangers to his blood
and
his tribe.
The "Molly" commits
his crimes against
whom
he has been in daily and apparently

friendly intercourse, or against his employer, from whose
injustice, if exercised, he is protected not only by just
those with
laws but also by the force of public sentiment.

the boast of the savage was not more exultant.
And
yet
In the
"
Molly," conscience appeared dead, and no ghosts of murdered victims arose to disturb the repose of an assassin superstitious
by nature and education.
Strange to say, whilst this disregard was felt and exercised so far as the lives of others were concerned,
among
themselves there
is
a love of existence almost over-
regarded with unmixed horror, and retaliation, however just, occasions a loud but heart-felt wail
of mourning.
Their superstitions are intense and unrea-
strained, death
is
That with this intense appreciation of life they

should so readily commit murder in revenge for a fancied
wrong, a slight, or to gratify a mere whim, presents an insonable.
explicable contrariety of character.

Before entering into a narration of stirring events occur"
ring within a little over three months succeeding the
long
strike" of 1875, a proper understanding of the subject requires some reference to the murder of George Major, the
Chief Burgess of Mahanoy City, in the autumn of 1874.

Mahanoy City, containing a population of between six
and seven thousand inhabitants, is also a town of recent
It is situate in the valley of the same name; is
growth.
about twelve miles distant from Pottsville, lying a few
miles to the east of Ashland, and southeast from Shenandoah. It was laid out about the year 1861, by the
Burd Patterson, Esq., so widely and favorably known

not only as a pioneer in the coal region, but also as one
efficient and active in the development of the iron manu-
late
u*
THE MAJOR MURDER.
I2 6
torturing interests of the State.

primeval forest, but the Broad
The country was then

Mountain and Mahanoy
Railroad, of which he was an active projector, shortly

afterwards built, and similar railroad enterprises following,
have made it one of the wealthiest and most densely-
Near by is situated
populated sections of Pennsylvania.
some of the most valuable land of the Girard estate, and
of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.
Mahanoy
attained the
City, although several
growth of
years older, has
not
neighbor Shenandoah, but,

nevertheless, does not present as many features of an exclusively mining town.
Manufacturing interests are more
fally
full
its
developed, and the influence of the miners and

is not so paramount.
The "Labor Union" has
laborers
not had so
full
a control
and resistance to " Molly Ma-
guires" has, with a class of the population, degenerated

into a bitter hostility against Irishmen.
This feeling has
been growing for some years past, and has been fostered by
sharp political contests and the formation of rival firecompanies.
A party of the rougher element, inspired with this ani"

mosity to the Irish, received the nickname of
Modocs,"
nnd bitterness of feeling on both sides rendered the danger
of a collision imminent.
During the evening of October 31, 1874, a peculiarly

turbulent feeling manifested itself. A fire, about the centre
of the town, in the early
night brought both engine-companies to the ground, and a general fight soon began.
Shots were exchanged, several
persons were injured, and
I.ijor, the Chief Burgess, received a wound which
in a few hours occasioned his death.
Daniel
a
Irishman
who was
present at the
fire,
Dougherty,
and who was
wounded by a pistol-ball which

lodged in his face,
vrc.ted for the murder.
An intense feeling was cre-
himself
'
-ugherty steadfastly asserted
his
innocence.
THE MAJOR MURDER.
127
number of persons
present at the time swore positively to

the
By reason of the excited state
perpetrator.
being
of public feeling, the court of Schuylkill County, upon
his
application, sent the case to Lebanon County, where

tried during the month of April, 1875.
it
was
Messrs. John. W. Ryon, Lin Bartholomew, and George

Troutman, Esqs., of Schuylkill County, and Josiah Funk,
of Lebanon, represented the Commonwealth, and Hon.
F. W. Hughes, O. P. Bechtel, H. M. Darling, Esqs., of
Schuylkill County, and Hon. John W. Killinger, of LebaThe case was hotly contested and very
non, the defense.
before his Honor Judge Henderson.
tried
both
sides
on
ably
The testimony
was
as to the killing of
direct, positive,
Major by Dougherty
and unequivocal, not only from one,
but from six witnesses, whilst proof as to his innocence,

with the counter-assertion that Dougherty was shot by
William Major, was equally overwhelming. Testimony

was produced showing that, the morning after the shooting, an Irishman named John McCann appeared before
one of the justices of the peace at Mahanoy City and
asked for a warrant against George Major on the charge of
assault and battery with attempt to kill, stating at the same
time that he had shot Major, but that he was himself injured, and he wanted to be the first in getting out a warrant.
Upon
being informed that
if
George Major was not
already dead he was dying, McCann left the office, and

shortly afterwards the county.
Eleven witnesses swore to the fact that John McCann
shot Major; but the credibility of the witnesses so testify-
ing was attacked, and the position taken that the story was
manufactured, and that McCann was a myth, a creation of
the fancy.
Mr. Hughes, on the part of the defense, became fully satDougherty was innocent of the offense charged,
and also that he was not a " Molly Maguire."
Upon the
isfied that
THE MAJOR MURDER.
I2 g
first
point, that
is
to
say, relative
to the
innocence of
cases has proven

Dougherty, subsequent testimony in other
has also proven
it
but
his
conclusion
of
the correctness
;
that Dougherty was at the time a member of the organization.
of Dougherty had never, up

been extracted. According to the
theory of the defense, the ball had been fired from George
this fact
Major's pistol by William Major, and to establish
was of great importance, as it would render the innocence
The
ball
lodged
to the time of the
in the face
trial,
of the prisoner manifest.
The
extraction of the ball was
a painful and somewhat dangerous operation, but Dougherty, by the urgent advice of Mr. Hughes, submitted.
During the time of the trial the operation was performed ;

the ball was extracted, and exhibited to the jury ; it fitted
George Major's pistol, thus establishing the theory of
innocence, and Dougherty was triumphantly acquitted.
McKenna, immediately after the killing of Major, had
He met John McCann within

investigated the matter.
two days afterwards, who told him the whole story and
acknowledged himself to be the guilty party. The movements of McCann (who instead of being a myth was a turbulent, brawling fellow, and well known) were watched
by McKenna
for some months.

No action could, however,
be taken on his part the prosecution had got on the wrong
course, and the aid that could have been secretly ren;
dered to convict
hand, he was
McCann was
not available.
On
the other
aware of the evidence of Dougherty's innocence, and was much surprised to learn of the direct and
ive
fully
testimony produced on the trial tending to estabIt was

very important at this time that Mc-
lish his guilt.
Kenna should not be known, but, if other means had failed,

Agency would have prevented in
doubtless the Pinkerton
way the execution of Dougherty. Dougherty, al"

though a
Molly Maguire," was considered a young man
THE MAJOR MURDER.
129
of good character, and up to the time of his arrest had
never been admitted into
full
communion
relative to the
He
was being educated. Notwithstanding his acquittal, his innocence was questioned by a
large portion of the community, and by the "Modocs"
commission of crime.
wholly denied.
Threats of vengeance against him were freely uttered,
but, being a man of nerve and relying on the "Molly"
power, he determined to maintain his residence in his old
home near Mahanoy City. The bitterness of feeling prevailing was intensified not only by the acquittal of Dougherty, but also by the numerous outrages committed during
"
long strike." On several occasions, when Dougherty

ventured out in the evening, shots were fired at him, in
the
one instance the
balls passing through his clothing; his

was
miraculous.
escape
This was during the month of May, 1875. The defiant
and aggressive position maintained by the "Modocs" of
"
Mahanoy City exasperated the Mollies." The order was
exceptionally powerful in that section of country, and it was

felt by them that a startling movement, sufficient to inspire boundless terror,
was necessary to retain undisputed
sway.
"
Complaint of Modoc" defiance was made to John Kethe
hoe,
County Delegate of Schuylkill. As he has himself stated, the idea that suggested itself to his mind was to
assemble the entire " Molly" organization under his direction, with them to proceed armed to Mahanoy City, and
then to shoot down those recognized as " Modocs" in broad
With this plan in view, he

daylight, in the open streets.
visited Mahanoy City (his residence being in Girardville,
where he kept a drinking-saloon) and consulted Dougherty,
as the party in the greatest danger.
Dougherty, however,
expressed the opinion that if William M. Thomas, known
as " Bully Bill," and William and Jesse Major, the brothers
F*
THE MAJOR MURDER.
J.JQ
of the murdered George Major, were killed, he would be

md matters would become quiet.
On
hoe
the 26th of
May, 1875, McKenna
at his saloon in Girardville.
visited
John Ke-
In the course of conver-
Mahanoy City was disKehoe stated what his original idea had been as
making a combined attack, and the conclusion he had
sation the situation of affairs in
cussed.
to
arrived at to call a meeting at Michael Clark's, in Mahanoy

As the
City, on the ist of June, to consider the subject.
matter might assume such a form that aid outside of the

county would be required, he had sent Thomas Donahue
(acquitted in Columbia County of the murder of Alexander
1
I '.
to Locust Gap, to request the presence of Dennis

Canning, County Delegate of Northumberland, at the
meeting.
As a matter of course,
terest in the subject,
McKenna
and promised
to
manifested great ingo over to Mahanoy
City to examine into the situation of affairs for himself;

which the second day afterwards he did. He there met
Michael O'Brien, whose views were not in exact accordance with Kehoe's. O'Brien's plan was to get about six
good men, strangers in Mahanoy City, armed with navy
revolvers,
who, under guidance which he would furnish,
could shoot in one night all the persons that might be determined upon. The escape of the parties committing the
This interview McKenna
art, he thought, would be easy.
reported to Kehoe the same day, in the presence of John
Clair.
i, of St.
ussion arose as to the selection of proper parties to
whatever act should be determined upon.
Kehoe
nit
know
the condition of the
Shenandoah and
St.
Divisions as regarded men "good on the shoot."

Mi Kenna replied that the Shenandoah men were
young
Cl.iir
and inexperienced
in the business, and would

hardly suit.
Regan thought he had one good man, named Clark. Both
MAHANOY CITY CONVENTION.

McKenna and Regan were
invited to attend the
131
coming
ist of June, and McKenna

meeting,
received further instructions to notify Michael O'Brien the
to
be held on the
next day.
At the time appointed, the meeting was held in a secondThe
story room of Michael Clark's hotel, Mahanoy City.
meeting was opened with prayer, and organized by John

Kehoe, County Delegate of Schuylkill. There were present, Dennis F. Canning, County Delegate of Northumberland, Michael O'Brien, Body-master of
Mahanoy City, John

Donahue, Body-master of Tuscarora, James Roarity, Bodymaster of Coaldale, Christopher Donnelly, County Treasurer, William Gavin, County Secretary, Frank McHugh,
Secretary of Mahanoy City Division, and James McKenna,
or McParlan, Secretary of Shenandoah Division.
In opening the meeting,
of
Kehoe described
the condition
Mahanoy City, the aggressive disposition of

"Modocs," and the attempted assassination of Daniel
affairs in
the
Dougherty.
The presence of Frank McHugh, who was a nineteenyear-old boy, was objected to by Chris. Donnelly, but at
the request of Michael O'Brien, his body-master, he was
allowed to remain and act as secretary of the meeting.
McHugh then went out for paper, and, on his return, made
fictitious notes of the proceedings of the meeting. This was
done
for the purpose of being prepared with a plausible

account of the object of the meeting, should it ever be
called in question.
it was then agreed that
Dougherty should
Dougherty appeared, showed his coat bulletridden, and stated that he believed that it was Jesse Major
who had shot him, and that he had come to the conclusion
that the Majors were determined to kill him.
He thought
that if they and "Bully Bill" (William M. Thomas) were
Upon motion,
be sent
for.
put out of the way, he might then have peace.
MAHANOY CITY CONVENTION.
I3 2
Dougherty was then requested to retire ; and the businow conducted in a conversational
ness of the meeting was
wiy.
in
Christopher Donnelly, the co inty treasurer, stated,
furnish
regard to the killing of the Majors, that he would
two men and go himself. In reply to this, John Donahue
with a
(Yellow Jack) remarked that the Majors, together
man named Ferrel, were at work near Tuscarora, mining
coal, and that it would be very easy to get them ; nevertheless,
he desired that Donnelly would not move in the

when he would send a
matter until the following Sunday,
man
act.
to Pottsville to
To
The
meet him and
let
him know how
to
this
Donnelly agreed.
question relative to the Majors was
now
considered
and both Donnelly and Donahue said that as they

would take care of their side of the mountain, Roarity,
O'Brien, and McKenna should look after theirs, and dispose
that this was
Bill."
Kehoe
of "
settled,
of Thomas.
street
on the three
named
to dispose
suggested that the best plan was to get a
well armed, who should go right up to him
last
He
men
couple of
on the
right, saying
agreed
Bully
that the duty devolved
and shoot him down by daylight, or
at
any
time they could get him. To this course O'Brien objected ;

he suggested that some men should be provided, for whom
he would get a boarding-house, and that they should lie in

wait upon the railroad between Mahanoy City and Shoe-
maker Patch, where Thomas
lived
the expenses to be paid
out of the county funds of the society.

This plan was ind by Dennis F. Canning, the County Delegate of
Northumberland, and was agreed upon.

Canning then
eel to know if
if
any men were required from him
could furnish them.
Donnelly replied that, as the
;
a light one, there was no necessity of troubling

also stated that in carrying out the plan
adopted there need be no cull upon Canning.
!
him.
it
Kehoe
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.
133
Shenandoah Division, in
the absence of the body-master, and Roarity, the bodyas secretary of the
McKenna,
master of Coaldale, were instructed to
call
meetings of
their respective divisions, to notify them what had been

done at this meeting, and to see what action they would
take.
he would send a
Hairy Man, living near
McDonald, he claimed, was a good man for a
Kehoe, on
his part, further said that
man named McDonald,

Pottsville.
alias the
''clean job."*
No further business being before the meeting, an adjournment was moved and carried, and the party proceeded to
take their dinner at the tavern where the meeting was held.
Other matters were discussed
socially.
CHAPTER
XIII.
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF WILLIAM
M.
THOMAS.
THE participation of James Roarity,f the body-master of

the Coaldale Division, in the contemplated assassination
of "Bully Bill"
He became
(Wm. M. Thomas)
stopped
at this point.
further involved, however, in the conspiracy
to assassinate the
June was active
two Majors, and during the month of
in arranging the details of other crimes
of like nature, hereinafter explained.

It will be borne in mind that at the time John
Kehoe
* McParlan defines a " clean job" as signifying the shooting of a man, or

him well, or the burning down of a place, or any other outIf a man was sent to do a job of that kind, and did it according
rage.
to instructions and got off, it would, in every sense of the term, be "a
the beating of
clean job."
f Convicted of the murder of policeman Benjamin F. Yost, of Tamaqua.

12
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION
I3 4
committee together to consider the question of the

Mahanoy "Modocs," the "long strike" had drawn to a
called a
and work had started under the arrangement made

by the Coal Exchange for the protection of the workmen.
As a consequence, the first steps taken to prepare for the
close,
murders determined upon were during a period of great

excitement, and at a time when the last efforts of the malThis
contents of the " Labor Union" were being made.
prevented any meeting of the Shenandoah Division before
the evening of the 4th of June, and enabled McKenna to
give to the Detective Agency full reports relative to the
convention held
at
Mahanoy
City.
He
was also enabled to
confer with his coadjutor, Captain Linden ; but the threatening dangers, and the riot which occurred on the 3d of
June, occupied the
full
attention of the whole available
McKenna was
police force.
therefore, to a great extent,
He was required not only to

prevent, if possible, the contemplated murder, but also at
the same time to maintain and even still further advance his
thrown on
his
own
resources.
position as a leading
The
fact that
member
of the order.
Kehoe intended
to call a
committee meet-
consider the position of affairs

ing
Mahanoy
"
there, and that the murder of the Majors and
Bully Bill"
at
City to
would probably be determined upon, was no secret among

the "Mollies" throughout Schuylkill County.
The subhad been generally discussed for some time before the
j
meet ing was held. When, therefore, McKenna, on his return
<
Shenandoah, acting in place of Frank McAndrew, the

body-master, called his division together, without further
explanation the object in making the call was readily unto
od.
The policy determined upon at Mahanoy City
had, however, been explained to Monaghan, Gibbons, and
The meeting of the division was held on the
Hurley.
after the "Labor
;ig of the 4th of June (the
day
Union"
riot), in
the bush on
the
Ringtown Mountain,
OF WILLIAM
north of Shenandoah.
M. THOMAS.
The members
135
present were
Ed-
ward Monaghan, constable of the borough of Shenandoah,

John Gibbons,* Thomas Hurley,f Michael Doyle, Thomas
Munley,J Michael Durcey, Patrick Garvey, and James
McParlan, alias McKenna. The purpose for which the
at once, Garvey remarksuppose yez all know the object of the meeting?"
to which there was a general assent.
meeting was called was discussed
ing,
"I
Gibbons, Doyle, and Hurley, all very young men, volun"do the work," but insisted on McKenna being
one of the party, to which he without objection consented.
teered to
The
next evening (Saturday) was fixed upon as the time

"
murder.
It was expected that
Bully Bill" would
be in Mahanoy City at that time, as usual, on a spree. The
for the
place of rendezvous was fixed at Michael Clark's tavern,

where the committee had met three days before. The
parties
ment.
met at Mahanoy City according to this appointFrank Me Hugh and Michael O'Brien came into
the tavern shortly after their arrival.
McKenna had matured
his plan of action.
He
took
O'Brien out of the house, and walked with him down the
street. He suggested to him that it would be a very foolish
Thomas that night, that the military was in

the town, that soldiers were patrolling the railroads and
He remarked that Thomas
guarding the coal-breakers.
thing to shoot
could not be shot without making a noise, which would

inevitably lead to capture, and, said he, "one of our lives
is
worth a hundred such
as
Bully
Bill's.'
"
O'Brien
re-'
garded the arguments as very forcible; indeed, so ingeniously did McKenna play upon him, that he almost came to
the conclusion that the points had been suggested by himself.
* Convicted of assault
and battery with
intent to kill
(" Bully Bill").
f Fugitive from justice.

J Convicted of the murder of
Thomas Sanger.
Wm.
M. Thomas
I3 6
On their return to the tavern, O'Brien called the party

together, and in an earnest way, using the arguments by
which he had himself just been affected, advised that the
enterprise be given up for the time, and that they return
to their homes. O'Brien was body-master of the Mahanoy
Division, had arrived at mature years,
and the enterprise
was under his peculiar direction ; as a consequence the

young men were readily convinced, and, with a promise
of their being notified
present
started
itself,
McKenna
when a
on
favorable opportunity should
their return to
Shenandoah.
time was not only making frequent

reports to Superintendent Franklin, but was also in constant communication with Captain Linden, endeavoring,
so far as
at this
his
information
enabled him, to frustrate the
perpetration of the numerous crimes then contemplated.

The heroic aspect of the case, from the "Molly" stand-
now fully taken possession of the minds of young

Hurley and Doyle, and they were determined to carry the
On the loth of June, Gibbons being
enterprise through.
present, they called on McKenna at Shenandoah, and told
him that they were on the road to Mahanoy City, where
they hoped to see Thomas.
They asked him to go along.
point, had
The
proposal was sudden ; he had no opportunity to report ;

on the fact that they would first have to meet
O'Brien and arrange matters, he made some trivial excuse
but, relying
On the nth he succeeded in making his

arrangements to follow them, and on the I2th he did so,
He found Hurley and
taking Gibbons along with him.
Doyle boarding with a Mrs. McDonnell, with whom O'Brien
had placed them.
They reported that they had not, as
and declined.
succeeded
in
meeting Thomas, but as their board was

had no work, they would wait. McKenna
tried to convince them that this was
useless; but O'Brien
sustained them in their determination,
saying that he had
yet,
paid,
and
as they
no doubt they would be
all right in
a short time.
OF WILLIAM M. THOMAS.
137
McKenna and Gibbons then left Mahanoy City. They

drove to Mahanoy Plane, where they met William CallaGibbons wanted
han, the body-master of that division.
to know from him why he had not sent some men over to
" Modocs."
to shoot some of the
Callahan replied that some weeks previously he had lent
Mahanoy City
"Friday" (James) O'Donnell for

some other of the
done yet.
McKenna and Gibbons then proceeded to Girardville,
where they called on John Kehoe, who seemed well satis-
two navy revolvers
to
the purpose of killing Dr. Bissell and

"Modocs," but that nothing had been
matter was moving right.

As might have been expected, the result of Hurley and
fied that the
Doyle's
visit to
Mahanoy City was an
utter failure, so far as
Thomas was never found

the main purpose was concerned.
in an exposed condition. On the 151!! of June they returned
to Shenandoah, bringing Patrick Clark with them to call on
McKenna. They were still anxious to effect the murder of
Thomas, and, contrary to the advice of McKenna, but
urged on by Gibbons, who lent them a shot-gun, which he
said he had loaded enough to blow "Bully Bill's" head
they started out, hoping to succeed in their purpose by
watching along the railroad. They were again unsuccessful.
off,
On
the 23d of June,
Michael O'Brien,
in
company
man named John McDonald, came to Shenandoah

see McKenna, who was sick at his boarding-house.
with a
to
Doyle was there at the time, and asked if they should then
go over and shoot Thomas. O'Brien replied that this was
a good opportunity that he was working at the same colthat Thomas was on the day-shift, and
liery with him
generally came out of the mines about two o'clock in the
afternoon. This fact was borne in mind, but arrangements
McKenna excused
could not be made to start at once.
himself, and the others, although willing to go, consented
;
to defer the job
still
further.
12*
38
On
Frank McAndrew, the body-masShenandoah Division, who had just returned from
Luzcrnc County, together with McKenna, met John Kehoe.
The conversation turned on the Mahanoy City matter.
McKenna stated that O'Brien had been over to get men ;
the 24th of June,
ter of the
that he could not himself go, on account of the condition

This was conof his health, but that Doyle was ready.
sidered, so far as concerned McKenna, a valid excuse for
not having gone ; but Kehoe then instructed McAndrew

that when he appointed men to do anything and they did
not do
that
it,
he should expel them from the order at once

should attend to this business.*
McAndrew
On
Sunday, the 2yth of June, Thomas Hurley, John

McAndrew, and Michael Doyle were at
Morris, Frank
McAndrew asked if Morris,

Hurley, and Doyle were going over to Mahanoy City.
They replied that they were. McAndrew then sent Carey
McKenna's boarding-house.
after
The two shortly afterwards returning

" These men
Gibbons.
gether,
McAndrew
said,
to-
here, Morris, Doyle,

to shoot Thomas in
and Hurley, are going to Mahanoy

the morning as he is going out to work, and they want
to know if you are going along."
Gibbons replied that
he was.
Carey volunteered to work in Doyle's place during his

absence, and it was arranged that a man named Daniel
Sweeny should work for Morris. It was agreed that the
parties
doing
"
the job" should each receive a day's wages
out of the society treasury.

On account both of his sickness
and of the rapidity of

the movement, McKenna was unable to
give warning in
time and thus secure their arrest whilst in the commission
of the crime. The party started at once for
Mahanoy City,
*
An expulsion under such circumstances not only

destroyed the social
standing of the expelled member among his associates, but also
placed
his life
and property
in constant danger.
OF WILLIAM
THOMAS.
M.
139
which place they met O'Brien, who took them to a

boarding-house, where they remained during the night,
but left early in the morning for Shoemaker's Patch, where
Thomas lived. Thomas came out of his house about halfat
the morning, and went to the colThere he remained, talking to the stable-boss
and some teamsters. During this time Hurley, Gibbons,
Doyle, and Morris were sitting at the mouth of the drift,
past six o'clock in
liery stable.
waiting for Thomas to appear. Becoming impatient at his

not coming, they all proceeded to the stable where he was,
and commenced firing at him through the door. One shot

hit him in the breast, another in the hand, and two in the
He
neck.
either
fell
or threw himself
among
the horses,
where, covered with blood, the would-be assassins left him,

thinking that he was dead.
Fortunately, however, his
wounds were not fatal, and his recovery was rapid.
The
They
perpetrators of the crime sought safety in flight.
left
at
Kenna and
once
told
for
him of
Shenandoah, where they met Mcall they had done.
Gibbons shortly afterwards
left
the county.
John Kehoe
gave him a dollar and a half; Thomas Donahue gave

him two dollars, and took him to the railroad-station at
Rupert.*
No
were made of parties engaged in this outrage

had elapsed. It was being buried in
the mists of the past, and only remembered as one of the
arrests
until nearly a year
"
Molly" outrages for which there seemed to
long list of
be no redress or punishment.
"Bully
Bill," in the attack
made upon him which has
For
just been described, had barely escaped with his life.
some reason he was specially obnoxious, and his murder
was still earnestly desired. On the evening of the i5th of
* Gibbons has since been convicted of
William M. Thomas.
tent to kill"
"
assault
and battery with
in-
I4
July following, as he was getting on the train at the depot

of the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Mahanoy City, another
He was fired at by a party

attempt was made to kill him.
of strangers, but fortunately the shots did not take effect,
either
upon him or upon any of the by-standers.

it is a
subject of congratulation that William M.
Whilst
Thomas was
regret
not killed, his escape renders but deeper the

good fortune had not befallen the
that the like
other victims of "Molly" outrages;

Henry Dunne and Alexander Rae, with high
many
intellectual
that
men
social gifts
powers, should have been stricken
like
and
down
in
George K. Smith, dreaming of

wrong to no man, should have been shot down on his own
hearthstone like a dog; that Littlehales, and Muir, and
careers of usefulness; that
Morgan Powell, acting

and against
whom
in the full discharge of their duty,
no word of just reproach,

should, in the pride of their manhood and their strength,
have fallen victims to the bullet of the assassin ; that many
there was
another honest and true man, whose murder remains un" Mollies"
avenged, should have incurred the hatred of the
and
fallen a victim
who
to their wrath.
William M. Thomas
his friends rejoiced, and the hundreds of fiends

knew that his assassination had been planned, with
escaped
Jack Kehoe at their head, mourned the failure of a "clean
job."
The preliminary movements attending

murder have been given somewhat
this
attempt at
in detail, as they clearly
illustrate the character of the

the utter want
organization,
of moral perception on the part of its members.
Jack
Kehoe opened the Mahanoy City
meeting of the ist of
First
JUIH- with prayer.
and then murder! Was
prayer,
this
Was
blasphemy? Or was it an open

defiance of a great Creator, whose
edict, delivered amidst
clouds and thunders and fires on the
top of Mount Sinai,
hypocrisy?
"Thou
shalt
it
not kill," has been

recognized in
all
ages
OF WILLIAM M. THOMAS.
141
in all climes, in lands enlightened and in nations barbarous, by the meek and lowly Christian and by the veriest
unbeliever who says in his heart, " There is no God"?
and
No
bad
as
this terrible organization,
is
and
still is,
tion.
No
It
it
has no
the answer
parallel in the recorded annals of the world,
was simply an utter want of moral perceprules of conduct by which mankind in
The ordinary
general are influenced seem to have had with these men

no application. The answer of the Delphic oracle, " Know
thyself," for thousands of years has governed the student
of human nature, but it is to be hoped it offers no key to
"Molly" impulses or "Molly" crimes.

The terrible object of the meeting just referred to was
known and indorsed by very many members of the society.
Jack Kehoe had no fear of shocking the moral sense of the
organization when he proposed to summon all his cohorts
in Schuylkill
County
to
drench the
streets
of
Mahanoy
Neither did Dennis Canning see aught in

City in blood.
the conduct of the meeting or in the object proposed but
what was proper and right ; he cordially offered the assistance of old Northumberland ; but the work was light only
three men were to be killed ; a city of neighbors should
:
remain exempt from general slaughter.

and
Roarity
Donnelly and Yellow Jack Donahue expressed their sympathy, and promised the active aid of
for the time
McKenna, as directed, called a

meeting of his division, and volunteers, active and earnest
as if for a gallant and noble enterprise, sprang forward,
their respective sections.
thirsting for the privilege of
and a bloody murder.

and furthered the work
committing a
cold,' a brutal,
How quickly McAndrew indorsed'

How gracefully William Callahan
excused himself for not killing a few men, under the plea
that he had lent his pistols to others to do the deed, which
he regretted had not yet been accomplished
With
the
stray guest at a tavern or the casual visitor to a sick friend,
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.
I4 2
or abroad, the matter was discussed with all the

carelessness and freedom of the most ordinary every-day
home
at
urrence, provided such discussion was within the limits

of a society holding as its motto "Friendship, Unity, and
True Christian Charity." Nor was there any particular
<>rc
caution exercised in such intercourse
they held a com-
munity bound with a chain of terror, and wide-spread

knowledge of criminal acts did not present any danger of
information or punishment.
Courted by the politician, dreaded and feared by the

community, and denounced by their church, they sought
to cheat their God.
Cognizant of, and participants in,
crimes of the deepest dye, many of them for the time being
would not take the " goods" or " benefits," and under that
shallow plea would deny their connection with the order.
The communion-table might thus be reached, the priest deceived, and the solemn confession rendered. But all would
be of no avail the foul wrong was bare in the eyes of Him
:
who
is
omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent.

In the attempted murder of Thomas, as in most other
outrages, the scheme was devised by the older, the cooler,

the wickeder, and the more cautious heads, whilst the
actual perpetration of the crime
who
was committed to mere
early years of manhood had

been imbued with perverted ideas of heroic action. As a
necessity, those of more mature years were often compelled
boys, or those
in the
to act as guides, but they sought not the

act itself.
"
glory" of the
John Kehoe, the County Delegate, is about forty-five

of age; O'Brien and Donnelly are in the same decade, but the first is older than Kehoe, and the second
younger.
Canning, Garvey, and Roarity are each about
These were
thirty, Yellow Jack Donahue about fifty-five.
among the wiser heads controlling and directing. Thomas
Hurley, John Gibbons, Michael Doyle, and John Morris,
OF WILLIAM
M. THOMAS.
143
who were the active perpetrators of the crime, at the time

were of ages varying from nineteen to twenty-three. Frank
McHugh, who acted as secretary of the meeting at which
the killing was determined upon, was nineteen years old.
If fancy should picture these
and
men
ill-looking scoundrels, fancy
as
dark-browed
would
be, as
it
ruffians
often-
The
great majority of them present

no appearance of murderers or assassins ; on the contrary,
several of them are handsome, have pleasing, attractive
times
is,
mistaken.
and many men with more of the look of criminals

They are, in fact, men who,
not naturally bad, might well, had their lives received a
different bent, have been good citizens and honest men.
features,
are held in universal esteem.
Yellow Jack Donahue and Donnelly are notable exceptions:

they look their character.
Jack Kehoe is a large, well-built, handsome man, but
with a cold, cruel eye.
This, perhaps, would only be observed by those possessing a knowledge of his character.
Neither O'Brien nor Canning presents anything in his
looks to indicate his character, the appearance of both men
Roarity has a countenance that grows
being ordinary.
worse upon acquaintance this may be accounted for by

the fact that in the face of the most, damning evidence of
guilt he shows a feeling partaking of perfect indifference.
:
Hurley, Gibbons, Doyle, and Morris look like young Irish

boys, but, with the exception of Hurley, give no outward
The last-named is a bad fellow, was
indications of vice.
badly reared,
is
a liar and a thief, false to those
whom
he
He has not a
regards as his friends as well as to his foes.
and his character is, to a certain exsingle good instinct
;
tent,
marked
in his face.
Doyle is quite small, scarcely over five feet in height;

he has been kicked from pillar to post all his life, is a bad
It is possible
fellow, but has kindly traits of character.
that under different circumstances and better training his
MEETING IN THE BUSH.
144
evil nature
might have been restrained.
He
is
now
a fugi-
national officers
justice, aided in his escape by
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians with society funds.
tive
from
Gibbons and Morris are of good families, and respectably

They have not shown, except by their connec"
tion with the
Molly Maguires," any natural predilection
for crime
they seem to have been wholly moved by what
to them appeared the heroic aspect of the case, and sought
to win the meed of praise and honor from their fellows.
nurtured.
Young Frank McHugh
has received careful Christian edu-
He
was induced to join the order, and received the

He some time
and
training of Mike O'Brien.
patronage
since severed his connection with it, and may, and it is
trusted will, break the force of the bad influences by which
cation.
he was for a short time surrounded and controlled, and

become a good and respected member of society.
CHAPTER
XIV.
MEETING IN THE BUSH THE MAJORS JOHN
J.
SLATTERY.
IT will be remembered that at the meeting called by

John Kehoe at Mahanoy City, on the ist of June, John
or Yellow Jack Donahue, of Tuscarora (a small town about
four miles west of Tamaqua, on the Schuylkill Valley branch
of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad), and Chris.
Donnelly were appointed to compass the assassination of

William and Jesse Major. Donnelly, the County Treasurer of the order, resided at New Castle, a small town about
four miles from Pottsville and about fourteen miles from
.irora.
James Roarity, the body-master of Coaldale,

a point some four or five miles east of
Tamaqua.
Yellow Ju<k Donahue, who will be remembered as the
was
at

murderer of Morgan Powell
the worst,
villains
if
who
at
Summit
Hill,
145
and
as
one of
not the very worst, of the many hardened

have infested the coal regions, immediately
assumed the leadership.
He
requested, at the time of the
Donnelly should furnish him two

men, but that they should not forward any until he should
hear from him, which, he said, would be on the following
Mahanoy meeting,
that
Sunday.
Donahue
shortly afterwards requested Roarity to send
Immediate compliance with this request was

promised. Roarity was as good as his word. He came over
to Tamaqua, bringing the two men with him to commit
the assassination.
They stopped at the Union House, the
"
Molly" headquarters at that place, kept by James Carroll.
Upon their arrival Carroll handed Roarity a dispatch or
letter from Donahue telling him not to go to Tuscarora at
that time, and not until he was again sent for.
Roarity
returned to Coaldale, and, not receiving further message on
the men.
the subject, dropped the matter.

There is some confusion here as to dates.
Yellow Jack
Donahue
called a meeting of the Tuscarora Division on

either
the 6th or the i3th of June.
The arrangeSunday,
ments with Chris. Donnelly, of Mount LafTee, at the time
of the meeting had already been made and two men named.
Jerry Kane and a man named Stanton were to be forwarded,
and actually did put
in
an appearance ready for the work.
James Kerrigan, the body-master of Tamaqua, who has

since obtained wide-spread notoriety as an "informer,"
was present by special invitation. The meeting*was held
in the bush, on Little Mountain, near Tuscarora.
Early on the Sunday afternoon a party, among whom
were John Donahue, Jimmy Kerrigan, Michael Doolan, and
Michael Somers, practiced shooting at a mark with a Springfield rifle belonging to Charles Mulhearn.
Kerrigan was
the best shot, and
G
it
was determined that he should use the

13
I4 6
Doolan
rifle.
offered the services of a shot-gun
which he
party of men, seemingly fully aware of what

oing on, sat near by, playing cards.
After this matter was settled, the meeting was called to
owned.
r
L,
little distance from where the party

had been shooting at a mark. There were present Yellow
]ack Donahue, James Kerrigan, Michael Somers, Michael
Doolan, Charles Mulhearn, John Slattery, Matthew Donahue, John Malay, John Coleman, Pat Smith, Joseph Ryon,
As was the invariable custom, the
anil perhaps others.
meeting was opened in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost, and the Holy St. Patrick of Ireland,
each person present making the sign of the cross. Yellow
order at a point some
Jack Donahue officiated.

Donahue is about fifty-five years old, of medium height,
black hair and eyes, regular features, and muscular frame,
and yet there is that about him which is intensely repul-
He
sive.
looks the villain that he
a fiend in
is,
human
dark, cold, bloody, relentless, without a feeling of

form,
love for his kind, a spark of pity for his victim, a care or
regret for his crimes, or fear or dread of God or devil.
Yellow Jack then stated that at a meeting called by Jack

at Mahanoy City it had been determined to kill the
Krhoe
two Majors, then working at Middleport (four miles distant),

and Bully Bill that Donnelly, the County Treasurer, and
that Donnelly was
himself had taken the Majors in hand
ready with two men, and that Jimmy Kerrigan was willing
;
Who would volunteer?

There was a pause. Donahue continued, "Are you a lot of
to assist.
okl
women
irles
'
'
Jack Kehoe ought to take your charter away.

Mulhearn, one of the older and more hardened
?
laughed, and, prompted by a feeling of dislike to

John Slattery, with whom he was on bad terms, said, "If
were not at present lame I would go.
Let John Slattery
villains,
let
ted."

Slattery
is
over
fifty
He had
years of age.
147
enjoyed a
good character for many years, when in the spring of 1872,

weakly yielding to importunity, he joined the Ancient
Order of Hibernians, persuading himself, against not only
judgment but also his actual knowledge, that there
was nothing wrong in the order.
He had acquired in the
of
thousand
dollars, and had in the
twenty
neighborhood
his better
fall of 1871 been the Democratic candidate for Associate

Judge, but was defeated by Judge Seitzinger, running on
the Independent judiciary ticket.

He had yielded to temptation.
His
fall
had been rapid.
The means of revenge

proved too much for him, and he
by the society
was the willing confederate, if not an active participant in
their crime, of those who burned the store and dwellingoffered
man named O'Hara, his personal enemy.

had groaned in spirit under the net-work of crime
weaving around him ; and, being not only not naturally
bad, but possessed even of many good and amiable traits of
house of a
He
character, he was suspected, and subjected to annoyance.

He had attended the meeting under the influence of fear
of his associates, and the proposition for him to volunteer

to commit murder, thrown at him in sheer malice, shocked
him.
The
and with
own person
own hand, he had never dreamed of, but he
idea of committing murder, in his
his
understood the character of his confederates, and he dared

not absolutely refuse.
a
^1 cannot go," said he, "but I will give five dollars to

man to take my place."
"I will go," volunteered Michael Doolan, a young and
very handsome Irishman.
"And I," said Matthew Donahue.

Yellow Jack grinned approvingly
his division was
emerging, in his opinion, from the disgrace in which a
momentary hesitation had placed it. He announced that
he, too, would be of the party.
;
I4 8
was then determined that
It
if
possible
the
murder
should be committed on Tuesday morning following ; that

Michael Somers should watch the movements of the Majors
and report, and that

party should take
near Middleport.
its
if
everything proved favorable the

Monday night in a grave-yard
position
Kerrigan should in the mean time
re-
Tamaqua, to be recalled by a telegraph from Yellow

Jack when all was ready.
For two days Somers reported that the Majors did not
go to work as usual. On Tuesday, however, Yellow Jack
became impatient, and determined to run the chances of
turn to
He
meeting them.
Tamaqua
therefore telegraphed to Carroll at
" Don't send
"TUSCARORA, June
the
boy over
15, 1875.
to-night.
"JOHN DONAHUE."
This meant that Kerrigan should start at once.
had, however, been at work during the day,
tired, and concluded he would not go.
Jimmy
If
it
were not for the
fact that
with these
felt
men human
held so cheap, their conduct would be utterly incomWith alacrity they consent to engage in the
prehensible.
murder of a stranger, against whom they have no feeling
life is
and whose person is unknown. They will gloat over the

death-agonies of such a one, and in fiendish glee tell of
the last mortal cry of the poor,
dying victim ;* they will
destroy the God-given gift of
the cold, senseless corse ; and
a
momentary dislike for

make them refuse to join
Jimmy Kerrigan:
'
it
human
life, and then mangle

whim, a freak of fancy,
exertion, would have sufficed to
yet a
the enterprise.
It was thus with
was not the aroused influence of a
of the murderers have declared in effect that the

pleasure of
a murder was almost gone if the victim did
"
not, as they termed it,
squeal."

dormant conscience
hitherto
it
149
was no sudden pity
for
men condemned to a horrible death, whom he did not

know and against whom he had no complaint it was no
;
good or virtuous
feeling,
impulse, that actuated
he had been
that was
at
work
nor even the semblance of a good
him
go that night
and he didn't feel like it,
in his refusal to
that day,
all.
;
they did not go to work when
expected, and the arrangements for their murder for the
time being fell through.
It was not, however, given up.
The Majors had warning
Mike Doolan came
to Slattery and insisted upon borrowing

and Slattery loaned it; unwillingly, it is true, but
loaned it, knowing full well the hellish work designed.
Their efforts, however, met with no success the Majors
his pistol,
displayed such a degree of caution as to lead to the conclusion that they had been warned, and suspicion fell on
Slattery that the warning had come from him.
Slattery was a school-director, and, it is but justice to
to state, active and earnest in the discharge of his
He is a man of considerable intelligence, and
duties.
him
married to a good wife, the daughter of the

for
in
many
New
years favorably
known
Philadelphia.
a woman of influence.
The widow was
Widow Kelly,
as the mistress of a hotel
She controlled
Blythe Township politics, but her reign was an honest one.

She had her opinions and her prejudices, but she repudi-
Her life was pure,

ated mercenary and corrupt action.
her influence over the many wild men with whom she came
in contact
was
for
good, and she reared her family well.

owes it to his wife that he has
Slattery in a great degree
His connection with the

"Mollies" was to her a never-ending source of sorrow;
but the toils were around him, and the terrorism that pre-
not fallen lower than he has.
vailed prevented
any open revolt against the order on
part.
'3*
his
5o
Samuel Major, an uncle of the murdered George Major,

and of the two brothers intended to be assassinated, was a
school-teacher at Tuscarora.
"
the school board, under
After the
Molly"
trial
of Dougherty,
influence, turned vindic-
on Major. Slattery sustained him, contending that

he was a capable teacher ; but his efforts only had the effect
of injuring himself by still further increasing the suspicion
tively
which was rife in the minds of the " Mollies" against him.
Samuel Major himself confirmed this suspicion by informing Kerrigan that he had been told by Slattery that
the Irish were opposed to him.
This assertion confirmed
Donahue and others in the idea that Slattery had informed
the Majors, through their uncle, of their danger.

meeting of the order was called by Yellow Jack.
Slattery was notified to attend.
Jimmy Kerrigan was his
accuser; the charge being of his intimate relation with

Samuel Major, as developed in the assertion made to him
by
Slattery relative to the feelings of the Irish people.
The charge was

death,
and
Slattery was expelled from

expulsion of this kind meant
death at the hand of the assassin, sudden and unsustained,
the Tuscarora Division.
An
warned, as he well knew, and, willing and anxious as both

his wife and himself were that his connection with the
order should be severed, he did not dare to let this feeling
appear.
He
appealed to the general convention of the
order, and his case, together with others that came before
that body on the
of
will be considfollowing
25th
August,
ered in another place.
was now one of constant terror. It was

although he strenuously denied it, that the Majors
had received warning of their
He
danger through him.
had not spoken to Samuel
Major himself, but had to his
Slattery's life
true,
ifr,
iving words of
the nephews, put them
warning which, quickly reported to

on their guard, and saved their lives.
Conscious of the truth of the

charges made against him,
JOHN
SLATTERY.
J.
15 j
and feeling that through his connection with the order he

had done much wrong, and would still continue in wrongdoing, he was reduced almost to utter despair
which way to
He
he knew not
learned from Charles Mulhearn, who, notwithstand-
had some feeling for him, that his

Michael Doolan and Yellow Jack
compass his assassination. He was afraid per-
ing their quarrel,

life
turn.
was
still
in danger, that
intended to
He
sonally even to close the shutters of his dwelling.
an
to
of
intention
man
named
a
learned, through
Cafierty,
burn down
all
and he knew not the moment

might be the forfeit. His anxiety
his property,
when property and
life
was therefore intense.

by reason of his connection with this terorganization, has done some very criminal things.
he is not naturally a bad man. For many years he
for reinstatement
John
rible
Still,
Slattery,
won by a blameless life the respect of

Once a member of this organization, his
all
who knew him.
downfall was rapid.

He yielded to temptation, became cognizant of fearful violations of the law, and was the intimate associate of ruffians.
His better nature urged him to break loose, but the immense power of the organization, its apparent immunity
from punishment, the individual power he could by its
means control, the danger of opposing it, all influenced
him to drift along from evil thoughts to evil deeds, until
the result was his ruin.
His story is told briefly

in a casual conversation.
"I
lived," said he,
"
by himself
in a few sad
twenty-eight years in Schuylkill

all parts of
who knew me. In

County, respected by
that county are men, known as among our first
all
for that period will indorse
said
it
a tear rolled
down
my
conduct
his cheek)
"
it
citizens,
who
but" (and as he
joined this order
was good ; its constitution and

which they showed me, seemed to prove it.
thinking
words
its
by-laws,
found
it
THE MURDER OF POLICEMAN
I5 2
my
diabolical, but for

I
life I
lived in constant terror.

'
the
Mollies' have
it.
dared not leave

I
will
life
my
wife,
it,
yet in
it
had acquired property, and
had a good character, and
gone, and the strong walls of the

If I ever get out,
YOST.
who
is
jail
only give
now my
me
it is
safety.
earnest adviser,
go with me to some spot where, old as we are, a

can be entered into."
new
John Slattery is an elderly man, with judgment matured,

and yet he fell. The " Molly" seeks recruits for the order
among young and impressible boys, whom it makes assassins
in cold
The
blood before the age of twenty.

murdered victim is a terrible one in
story of the
the widowed wife, the children cast

surroundings,
unprotected on the world, and a society spell-bound by fear.
But it is not so sad a tale as that of the murdered souls
all its
and darkened
lives of many young and innocent boys.

Influenced by the older villain who tells of cruel deeds
done as heroic acts, their judgment has been obscured,
their enthusiasm aroused,
body the
its
slaves of the
and they have become
soul
and
Ancient Order of Hibernians, under
specious motto of "Friendship, Unity, and True Chris-
tian Charity."
CHAPTER
XV.
YOST.
JAMES KERRIGAN, body-master of Tamaqua, is now

about thirty-three years of age. He is of Irish parentage,
born at a small settlement near Tuscarora. Motherless at
the age of three months, and abandoned by his father, he
grew to manhood without training, physical, mental, or
moral.
It would not be correct to
say that he was badly
YOST.
153
treated in his childhood, for that would imply some degree of care and attention ; he was utterly neglected.
He never went to school a day in his life ; is unable to
read or write, and has been forced to

childhood.
shift for
himself from
earliest
Kerrigan is scarcely five feet in height; is well built;

has black hair and sharp black eyes. He is quick in movement and rapid in speech ; has an excellent memory, good
and fine perceptive faculties.

He is careless,
and ready at repartee. Whilst not repulsive in appearance, he is not handsome ; the little fellow is, nevertheless, vain, and with opportunity would develop into a
dapper little dandy. He grew up drunken and worthless,
and has shown an amount of wickedness beyond all prointellect,
jovial,
portion to the size of his body.

children.
He
is
a married
man
with
During the war he was in the Union army. He is said

good soldier, of unquestioned bravery. He
received an honorable discharge, came home, fell into his
old way, and became a member of the "Molly Maguires."
During the year 1874 and part of 1875, Kerrigan was in
to have been a
the habit of frequent intercourse with a man named Thomas

Duffy. This arose from no similarity in their general char-
from the fact that both belonged to the organization and both were fond of hard drinking.
Duffy is the
younger man of the two ; is about twenty-five years of age ;
acter, but
is of medium
height, strongly built, dark, heavy features,
looks like a Spaniard; is reticent of speech, and revengeful.
He
was steady
his
cups.
as a workman.
Duffy was quarrelsome in
Kerrigan was noisy, reckless, ready for anyThey had both more than once been arrested by
thing.
the Tamaqua night police, and imprisoned in the
lock-up.
In the years 1874 and 1875 there were two night watchmen
in Tamaqua, one named Barney McCarron, an
Irishman,
and the other Benjamin F. Yost, of Pennsylvania German
G*
I54
YOST.
In making arrests, Kerrigan had several times

been severely handled before he would submit, and on
one occasion, during the fall of 1874, Yost beat Duffy
club.
severely on the head with his policeman's
extraction.
This excited in Duffy a feeling of intense and bitter

He brought a prosecuhatred and a desire for revenge.
tion against Yost for assault
and battery;
this case was,
however, amicably settled. But his hatred to Yost increased with time, and he determined to accomplish his
death. This he proposed to Kerrigan, who, nothing loath,
Kerrigan would have agreed under any circumagreed.
stances, but in this matter he
had
his
own
was specially willing; he
grievances to avenge.
Kerrigan was at
this
time the nominal body-master of
Tamaqua Division, but the real head was James Car"

Molly" headroll, who kept the Union House, a sort of
the
quarters.
Carroll
is
about
is
man between
five feet
thirty and forty years of age ;

seven inches in height, of slight build,
dark hair and eyes; an attractive and rather handsome

He does not look like a bad man, and until within
face.
three or four years past his general reputation was good.
At this time, however, he was fully imbued with the spirit
of Molly Maguireism and active in advancing their plans,

whatever might be their nature.
To Carroll, therefore, as the real head of the division,

the proposition to murder Yost was submitted by both
Kerrigan and Duffy.
Carroll, although it does not appear
that he had any personal feeling in the matter, engaged
and soul in the

month of June, 1875.
heart
enterprise.
This was during the
After the matter had been determined on, Duffy hapto meet Roarity, the
body-master of Coaldale Di-
pened
He spoke to Roarity of the murder in

contemplation, and offered to give him five dollars if he
vision, at Carroll's.

would accomplish
it.
that, if he did not
do
YOST.
I55
Roarity consented at once, saying

himself, he would send over two
it
men who would.*

Coaldale
bon County
is
located in Schuylkill County, near the Carand but a short distance from the villages
line,
of Lansford, Ashton, Storm Hill, the three being parts of

the same town, and Summit Hill, the latter the western
This section of
terminus of the Switchback Railroad.
is, to a great extent, populated with employees of
the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, and, as a consequence, the villages named have close social and business
country
relations.
The
leading
"Molly"
in this section
of the country,
al-
though not at this time holding official position, was a man

named Alexander Campbell, a liquor-dealer and saloonkeeper at Storm Hill.
Campbell had been for years well
acquainted in the neighborhood of his present residence,
but had kept the Union House, Tamaqua, immediately
before the same was taken by James Carroll.
Roarity, after his interview with Dufly, mentioned that
the Tamaqua Division had in contemplation the murder of
Policeman Yost, and the request made that he should do

It so happened that at this time the "Mollies"
the "job."
in the neighborhood of Storm Hill and Summit Hill had
also
determined upon a murder,
the intended victim being
Jones, a boss in the employ of the Lehigh and

Wilkesbarre Coal Company, holding the position formerly
John
P.
by Morgan Powell, whose murder has been already

The idea of an exchange of " Molly courtesies" at once suggested itself.
This murder was in strict accordance with "Molly"
filled
described.
ethics.
Charles Parrish, Esq., president of the Lehigh and
Wilkesbarre Coal Company, equally with Mr. Gowen, un* This
is
Kerrigan's evidence.
I5 6
YOST.
derstood the necessity, for the successful operation of his

"
company, that the Molly" organization should be broken
He
up.
understood
fully the practical
working and man-
agement of mining operations and the evil consequences

of " Molly" control.
two men named William Mulhall and
to belong to the organization,
known
Hugh McGeehan,
had rendered themselves obnoxious. They were placed on
the " black-list," no member of which was employed by
At Summit
Hill,
Unable to obtain work, they blamed John

them "black-listed." They made
having
Jones
complaint, and their cause was advocated by Campbell, a
man of determined will and more than ordinary ability.
the
company.
P.
for
Campbell is tall and straight, of slight but sinewy perhas dark hair and eyes. He was money-making, am;
bitious of power, and a controlling spirit.
He understood
perfectly the importance of "Molly" ascendency to his
business, and had it in view that the operations of the
son
company located
at
that
point should, by bosses under
be run in the interest of his liquor-store.

The
murder of John P. Jones, who was an avowed enemy of the
order, was therefore in accordance with his views.
his control,
The agreement was made. Men were to be furnished

from the neighborhood of Summit Hill to kill Policeman
Yost in consideration of Carroll and Kerrigan sending men
from Schuylkill County to dispose of John P. Jones.
Mulhall and McGeehan, as parties specially interested, were
on the part of Summit Hill. Yost was to be killed
selected
first.
The Fourth of July, 1875, fell on a Sunday. The

5th of
July was therefore the national holiday.
Roarity had
come over to Tamaqua, and, about eleven o'clock in the
morning, met Kerrigan at Carroll's.
They drank together
and the question of the proposed murder
was discussed,
It was
agreed that it should be accom-
several times,
YOST.
157
that night ; but Roarity insisted that Kerrigan

should walk with him to Storm Hill, and they would then
plished
come back
together.
objected to this arrangement, both on account

of the heat and also for the reason that he had no money.
Jimmy
Carroll insisted
upon
to pay expenses.
Hill
is
about
five
his going,
The
and gave him two dollars

Tamaqua to Storm
distance from
miles.
Upon
arriving at that place,
InRoarity and Kerrigan went at once to Campbell's.

but
and
Mulhall
was
made
for
McGeehan,
Campbell
quiry
had not seen them that day.

Roarity hunted them up, and reported to Campbell and
said he
Kerrigan that they had agreed to go to Tamaqua that

night for the purpose intended, and that he would guide
them over. His pistol, he said, had already been sent to
Carroll's.
Word had been
received at Campbell's that Mrs.
and he now went home to see what was

the matter.
Kerrigan remained some little while engaged
in conversation, and then went back to Tamaqua alone.
The point for the assassination of Yost had been already
selected by Carroll, Duffy, and Kerrigan during a Sunday
afternoon walk. It was at a lamp-post at the upper end of
the town, opposite Yost's house, and the last one usually
extinguished by him, and when extinguished, that portion
of the town was in darkness.
It was arranged that all parties should meet at Carroll's
early in the evening.
Duffy, who was an engineer, had
been at work that day up to three o'clock, pumping water
at the mines where he was employed, about two and a half
Roarity was
sick,
miles to the west of Tamaqua.

After that time he dressed
himself and started for Tamaqua, stopping on his way with
two picnic-parties. He arrived at Carroll's in the evening,

and walked directly back into the kitchen. Carroll, Kerrigan, McGeehan, and James Boyle soon came in and
joined them.
14
I5 8
YOST.
Ronrity bad been kept away by the sickness of his wife.

Shortly after Kerrigan had left Storm Hill, Campbell and
McGeehan, in talking over the matter, came to the conclusion that, as Mulhall was a married man with a family, he had
home, and James Boyle, who was convenient,

was asked to go in his stead, and had consented to do so.
Here was again illustrated the general policy of getting
better be left at
young men to do the actual work.

presents one of the most singular
McGeehan
himself
of the Molly
Mamiire organization. He is uneducated, but is generally
correct in his habits, does not use a profane word, and has
results
never touched a drop of liquor in his life.

He is only
about twenty-two years old.
Nevertheless, whilst he has
not the look of a criminal, he has given no indication to
lead to the idea that he
him
to be,
is
other than the testimony paints
cold, hard, ruthless,
and
relentless.
Boyle is also a young man, was of dissipated habits, has

rather an amiable look, is irresolute, impressible, and controlled more by association than by any natural inclination,
good or bad.
During the greater part of the evening the conspirators
occupied the kitchen, although at intervals they all showed
themselves in the bar-room, and Kerrigan in different parts
of the town. The others only went out once before they
In order to explain fully the plan in view, Duffy

walked with McGeehan and Boyle up the street and past
the lamp-post.
They then returned to the hotel.
A difficulty arose from the want of pistols. Neither
M< (ieehan nor Boyle had brought one. The
only effective
left.
weapon on hand was the Roarity pistol. Carroll sent Kerborrow another, but he met with
no success. It was finally determined that McGeehan
rigan to several places to
should use the Roarity pistol, whilst

Boyle would have to
routent himself with a small
single-barreled pistol belonging to Carroll.
YOST.
159
Kerrigan during the evening met both policemen, and

He discovered that they
took a drink with McCarron.
Both he and Carroll were, or pretended

did not separate.
Carroll argued that, as both
to be, alarmed at this fact.
policemen were together, the undertaking was dangerous,
and had better be postponed. Kerrigan, on his part, asserted that it was well known that he had had difficulties
and quarrels with McCarron, and there was great danger

that he would be suspected.
Young McGeehan, however, would not entertain any
proposition as to the postponement of the work on hand.
He said that it was the second or third time that he had
come over to do a job of this kind, and he would not be
put off; it must be done then or never.
Boyle was indifferent, and ready to take whatever action might be agreed
upon.
It was discovered, how and when does not appear, that
the lights were to be turned off first in the eastern part of
the town, in McCarron's district.
By
this
arrangement
the gas-light in front of Yost's house would be the last
extinguished.
was decided that Kerrigan should go home, in order

might arrange to get in afterwards without trouble.
Duffy was to lead McGeehan and Boyle up the back streets
It
that he
to the cemetery, there to leave them and return to Carroll's, where, in the event of his being suspected, he was
to prove that he had remained during the

This
night.
plan was carried out.
Kerrigan went home, came out,
leaving the door unlocked, and returned to the cemetery,
bringing with him a bottle of whisky.

McGeehan and Boyle awaiting him.
Kerrigan
now led
There he found
the two to the street-lamp, and placed

For over an hour the
them under shade-trees near by.
lurking miscreants lay in wait before the two policemen

their appearance.
made
160
YOST.
was ever a bloody and cold-blooded murder conNot only was it predetermined
templated, this was one.
If there
and
deliberate, but in the stillness of the
midnight hour
additional time was given in which, with their minds fully

bent on the object in view, the ghastly nature of the crime
might be presented in all its naked enormity.

But no thought of pity touched the heart of any of the
three ; no idea of relenting ; no sudden remorse of conscience
and yet there was no deadly hatred
in the heart
As
against the intended victim.
the huntsman follows the fox or the woodsman the deer,
of either of the three
so were they in the pursuit of unresisting
ment was more
intense, their joy
they had in view was
human
game ; their excitemore exultant ; the game
life.
All three were worthy children of the "Molly Maguire;"

all three were bent
upon a common object, and yet between
the three were marked distinctions.

careless, reckless, feasted
on crime
Kerrigan, wild, bold,

he did on liquor ;
as
he loved the wild and mad excitement so far as revenge

was concerned, a curse would have sufficed him. Boyle,
with little purpose or ambition, did as he was bidden,
without one ray of conscience or thought of care except for
;
the whisky in Kerrigan's bottle.
But McGeehan was young and ambitious; he felt the

upon him ; he knew what was exHe did not hate Yost, but he was impected of him.
responsibility that was
pressed with the heroic aspect of the matter; he earnestly

desired to be considered "a
good hand for a clean job."
Yost and McCarron came

up-street, but, instead of putting out the light at once, as
went into Yost's house for
had been expected, they
first
something to eat. The sight

of the prey maddened
Kerrigan ; he insisted upon having
a hand in the
play himself; as he had no pistol, he would
take two rocks, and when Yost fell he would
beat his brains
out.

But McGeehan meant work and not
YOST.
idle talk.
He
6i
told
Kerrigan that he should take no stones ; that he (McGeehan) intended to do the job ; that he had five charges in
his pistol, and that if either Kerrigan or Boyle moved an
inch whilst the murder was being committed their lives
would be the forfeit.
At last the two policemen came out of the house, and

Yost proceeded to the lamp-post and mounted the ladder,
McCarron remaining some distance off across the street. At
this moment McGeehan and Boyle stepped forward and discharged their pistols. Boyle missed his mark, but the ball from
McGeehan's
pistol inflicted a fatal
wound
in the right side.
Yost staggered from the ladder, exclaiming,

God! I am shot! my wife!"
The murderers, under

Carron ran
returned.
"Oh! my
the lead of Kerrigan, fled.
Mc-
two shots, which McGeehan

They kept on the main street, which led them
after
them,
firing
out of the western part of the town, then, leaving the road,
they crossed over to the, Sharp Mountain.
They then re-
Kerrigan took them through unfrequented paths, then again turning into the town they
passed through alleys and back streets to the eastern limits
versed their direction.
of the borough.
The hour was late and the lights extinguished, and thus
far they had met no one.
Kerrigan continued with them
until they
his
loons.
his
were certain of their road, and then returned to
own home
unnoticed.
Kerrigan tore his black pantaThis seems to have made as much impression on
mind
as the
murder.
Boyle and McGeehan met but one person, a young Irishman named Robert Breslin, at one time a member of the
order.
This was not deemed of special importance. The
deed was regarded as a "good job well done," hidden

from view, ranking with the many murders and outrages
of the past, undetected and unavenged.
14*
62
YOST.
But the meeting with Breslin had a significance little

dreamed of then. It completely overthrew the "alibi"
which in course of time was attempted to be set up.
Robert Breslin, a young Irishman, was in the employ of
He resided
the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company.
with his father in the Bloomingdale Valley, about a mile
He had been at a picnic at
southwest of Summit Hill.
the last-named place the day and night of the 5th of July.
He remained at the party until late, and, thinking it not
worth while to go to bed, he threw himself upon a porch
and slept until daylight. He then started for home, and

met on the way McGeehan and Boyle. This was shortly
after four o'clock.
Breslin was surprised to meet them,
and said,
"Where the devil are you coming from this time in the
morning?"
One of them
Chunk we were
"We
replied,
are
coming from Mauch
there last night at a ball."

Breslin remarked, "You have had a hard tramp."
"Yes," was the reply, "we have lost our way." (This
was to account for the fact that they were on the road
;
leading to Tamaqua.)
"
No,"
said Breslin;
I will give
" Is there
any water about here?"
" but if
you come back to the house
you some."
Boyle refused, saying,

to work."
"
We
have not time
we must go
he had been a member of

;
was a good workman, and held
It was thought that in any
employers.
Breslin was not fully trusted
the order, but had

in esteem
by
his
left
it
event, on account of his
own safety, he would keep quiet.

Mrs. Yost was sitting at the window of her room at the
time her husband was shot.
She was an eye-witness of the
ly, had a glimpse of the murderers, and heard their
Almost frantic, she rushed down4ing footsteps.
meet her husband mortally wounded on the
pave-
stairs to

ment.
die!"
YOST.
163
In agony, he exclaimed, "I am shot, and I must

He requested that the doctor should be sent for.
bitterness of death was upon him, and he steadied

himself upon the clinging form of his young wife, and
He then repeated that he
said, "Sis, give me a kiss."
The
must
die.
The
shot
wife exclaimed, "
Oh, Frank, do you know who
you?"
"No," was the answer; "but there were two Irishmen,

and one was smaller than the other." McCarron stepped
forward, but could give the desperate wife no answer as to
who were the murderers of her husband.
The shots had aroused the neighborhood, and
in a
few
minutes a number of persons had collected in the house.

Dr. Solliday arrived, examined the wound, and was forced
avowed
to confirm Yost in his
wounded. Death did

in the
In the
morning.
belief that he
was mortally
not, however, occur until ten o'clock
mean time he conversed with Dr.

Conrad F. Shindel, and with
Solliday, with Squire Lebo,
Daniel F. Shepp, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Yost.

He repeated that he did not know the men, but that they
were Irishmen, and that one was smaller than the other ;
that he had seen
night with
them
intended to shoot
at Carroll's as
he passed there that
Barney was the man they had

that he had been afraid of them, and
McCarron
that
had asked him to go with him when he put out the lights,
and that Barney had in turn accompanied him, and the
mistake had thus occurred.
The
character of Duffy and Kerrigan, and their diffiwere well known, and they
culties with the police-officers,
were in consequence at once suspected. Yost was repeatedly asked if these two men were not the murderers, but
he said, " No !" But he again said that he and Barney had
seen them the night before at Carroll's, and in the presence
of Dr. Solliday asked McCarron who the men were, and
HfCPARLAN AT WORK.
!6 4
to this
McCarron answered, "Oh, they were men from

Summit
the other side," meaning from the direction of

Hill.
An
It was apparently
appeared from McCarron's testimony
that he did not know the strangers who were at Carroll's
Yost died.
without
result.
that night.
were made
belief that
inquest was held.
It
Months passed by ; no arrests for this murder

and the public was gradually settling into the
it was but another tale of murder open and
defiant, but impossible of detection.
CHAPTER
XVI.
McPARLAN AT WORK THE MURDER OF GOMER JAMES.
THERE were many
circumstances which tended to call
He
public attention to the murder of Benjamin F. Yost.
was at the time of his death about thirty-three years of age,
enjoyed a good character, was kindly in nature, popular in
manners, and had served his country during the war in
the Forty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.
His
family was an extensive one, old residents of that part of
County lying outside of the coal region. His

a young and attractive woman; her countenance
She is a daughter of
displays refinement and amiability.
Joshua Boyer, an old and respected citizen, for several
Schuylkill
widow
is
terms a
member
of the State Legislature from Schuylkill
County.
The murder had been an exceedingly daring one, committed on the main street of a town regarded as almost
exempt from "Molly" influence and as entirely exempt
from " Molly" control. As a consequence, intense excitement prevailed. In the large towns of the Mahanoy
region
MCPARLAN AT WORK.
^5
on the one side, and in Carbon County, around Summit

and Storm Hill, on the other, the frequent occurrence of
outrages had to a certain extent rendered them familiar.
A murder of this nature, however, in Tamaqua, where the
proportion of the mining population was comparatively
small, inspired horror and surprise at the evident power
of the suspected organization ; but at the same time a determined spirit of resistance, and intense and bitter desire
to bring the guilty parties to justice.
The borough
authorities were active,
and determined,
if
Nothing of very great

possible, to discover the murderers.
importance had been elicited at the inquest. The testiCarroll, that Duffy was at the hotel during the
and
the
night,
dying declarations of Yost, that neither Duffy
nor Kerrigan committed the act, apparently exonerated
them.
Nevertheless, Michael Beard, Daniel Shepp, and
some others, could not rid themselves of suspicion. Yost
had not, to their knowledge, except these men, an enemy
in the world, and a murder entirely motiveless was beyond
It was determined by Daniel Shepp
their
comprehension.
and Michael Beard to employ the Pinkerton Agency, if
necessary at their own expense ; and Benjamin Franklin,
the Philadelphia superintendent, was applied to.
He took
mony of Mrs.
the matter in hand, but he did not disclose to
them the
he made no unnecessary confidants.

He readily arranged with the Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron Company relative to the use of the coal-
details of his operations,
region detectives in this matter, and McParlan received

instructions on the i4th of July, 1875, to investigate and
McKenna, on the i5th, made his appearance on
report.
the scene of action, and, as might be expected, conducted
prudence and sagacity. He

be the Molly headquarters, and,
once, for the first time formed the acquaint-
his investigations with great
knew
the
Union House
going there at
ance of James Carroll.
to
MCPARLAjV AT WORK.
66
Carroll had heard of McKenna as one of the leading

"Mollies" of the Mahanoy Valley, and treated him cor-
McKenna referred to the murder of Yost, but

Carroll pretended to know but little about it ; he said he
had heard of the murder, and that Mrs. Carroll had been
dially.
a witness at the coroner's inquest to prove that Duffy had

at their house on the night of the murder.
remained
McKenna
curiosity
understood perfectly that to betray the least

would arouse suspicion ; he therefore asked but
few questions
at the time.
He
determined, however, to
cultivate an intimacy with Carroll, believing that, sooner
From
or later, he should gain the object he had in view.
what he had learned, and from what he understood of the
method of proceeding by the organization in like cases, he
was satisfied that the murderers had come from either Carbon County or the Mahanoy Valley, and that Carroll would
know
all
about
it.
That they did not come from the valley he believed, for
the reason that, in such case, he would himself have been
likely to hear of it. His first impression was that the proper
He
person to reach was the County Delegate of Carbon.
therefore went that afternoon to Storm Hill, where he called
on Alec Campbell, a leading member at that place, with
whom he had previous acquaintance, and who he thought
might know something of the transaction. He made pretended business an excuse for visiting the County Delegate.
Campbell volunteered to walk with him to Summit Hill to
see
Thomas
P. Fisher,
who then occupied
whom McKenna also

On the way McKenna
with
the position, and
had previous acquaintance.

introduced the subject of the
Yost murder, assuming, as a matter of course, that it had

been perpetrated by parties from that section. This Campbell admitted, said it was "a clean job," but that they
would never have taken it in hand except on a trade.

McKenna had now discovered what he before suspected,
~PARLAN AT WORK.
that he was in
167
communication with one of the parties un-
derstanding the whole transaction. Not venturing to make

direct inquiries, he remained with Fisher that night, but
learned nothing further.
He
returned the next day to
Campbell's, at Storm Hill.
Exercising caution, he only

strove to increase his intimacy without asking any further
On his part he was apparently open, talked

questions.
freely of the terrible deeds which he pretended to have committed himself, and strove to create the impression that there
was nothing he was not willing to attempt. McKenna at
all times had been anxious to maintain the character of a
desperado without doing any desperate act ; he would strike

a man with his fist on small provocation, and at a moment's
by so doing he could make a point. He had

way acquired a reputation for courage which commanded respect and induced confidence. His apparent
notice, if
in this
and dashing, jovial manners excited admirahim popular. He remained at Campvisiting around the neighborhood, until Sunday, the
He had on the lyth opened the matter cautiously
recklessness
tion and rendered

bell's,
25111.
Mike McKenna, son of Pat McKenna, a saloon-keeper

Mike had not been concerned in the
transaction himself, but knew the names of the parties con-
to
and body-master.
cerned.
He
gave
McKenna
his
information relative to
the matter, which was in the main correct.
On
the iSth,
Hugh McGeehan was
introduced by Campbell in a complimentary way as one of the Yost murderers. During the
next few days he obtained no further information.
On
the 25th he returned to
Tamaqua, determined
to con-
tinue his investigations there.

On the afternoon of that
day he called at Carroll's, and found him in a more confidential
mood
than on the occasion of his
first visit.
stated the difficulty in relation to the pistols,
He
and that a
large one of Roarity's was used and a small one of his
own that Duffy, Kerrigan, Roarity, and himself knew all
;
MC PAR LAN AT WORK.
,68
He
did not, however, give the names

McKenna
committed the crime.
the Columbia House, but now concluded
about the murder.
who
of those
was stopping
to
make
On
actually
at
Carroll's his loafing-place.
man named
the zyth, a
Pat McNellis came into
and asked where he could see James Kerrigan,

stating that he had been sent over by Alec Campbell.
He was told where Kerrigan lived, and it was suggested
That
that he^could find him at home during the evening.
evening McKenna made a friendly call on Kerrigan.
Carroll's
McNellis paid
full
Whilst the
time suggested.
interview were not discovered at this
his visit at the
details of the
time, Kerrigan giving only partial confidence, the fact of

the intended assassination of John P. Jones, boss of the
mining operations of the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal

Company at Summit Hill, was discovered also that Kerrigan had the matter in charge, and that it was postponed
;
for the time being.
On
this occasion
Kerrigan sent the
which he had borrowed a few days pre-
Roarity
pistol,
viously,
by McNellis
to
its
owner.
The
Not
position of affairs was now becoming critical.
only did the duty devolve upon the detective to investigate
the murder of Yost, but he had also to prevent, if possible,
the contemplated assassination of John P. Jones.
To cultivate intimacy with both Carroll and Kerrigan
was necessary.
In the matter of Carroll this was easy ; his
hotel was his natural loafing-place.
For oft-repeated
visits,
Kerrigan's house an excuse was requisite.

It presented itself to McKenna in a most agreeable
form.
Kerrigan was a married man, and his wife had a
at short intervals, to
Ann
sister,
Miss Mary
visited
him frequently.
Hegins,
who
lived near
by and
Miss Ilcgins was a young and good-looking Irish girl,

and her conquest of the too susceptible McKenna was on
the instant.
He was her most devoted admirer and con-
MCPARLAN AT WORK.
slant visitor.
his heart
He made no
was irreparably
169
concealment of the
lost,
and
that
fact that
Mary Ann was
the
fair enslaver.
This sudden passion on McKenna's part not only gave

relations with Kerrigan, but also furnished a
him intimate
valid reason for his protracted stay in
On
Tamaqua.
the afternoon of the 4th of August, Alec Campbell
stopped at Carroll's.
inquiries after
McKenna was
very particular in his
McGeehan, whom he pretended
to
admire
on account of the "clean job" he had done.

Campbell said he and Mulhall were at work in Tuscarora,
but that McGeehan had done so good a thing in killing
Yost that he intended to start him in a saloon, and he asked
McKenna if he would not come over to the opening.
He went on to say that Kerrigan was to have come over
on the 29th to kill John P. Jones, but that he was so small
he would be conspicuous, and he had therefore sent him
to come over at that time.
McGeehan to get first settled in his
word by McNellis not

he wanted
that,
Besides
saloon.
When
he and Mulhall got settled steadily at work he

wanted men from Schuylkill County to come over to kill
John
P. Jones, in consideration of their having sent
over to
After
"You
kill
Campbell had
see
"
men
Yost.
McKenna
left,
said
knew all about the Yost matter."

knew you did, but it was not my
to
Carroll,
Carroll an-
place to tell
then
a
detailed
the affair,
of
you."
gave
description
explaining why it was that Boyle had come over in place
of Mulhall.
He thought it a "clean job," and it would
swered,
He
never be found out.
Kerrigan came into Carroll's about
seven o'clock in the evening, when McKenna spoke of

Campbell's intending to send word to Carroll of the time
of McGeehan's opening, and that both he and Kerrigan

must go over. The two commenced a conversation about
the Yost murder.
From
Carroll's they took a walk to the

15
MC PAR LAN AT WORK.
170
Catholic cemetery, where Kerrigan gave a detailed descripand also talked of the
tion of the commission of the crime,
contemplated murder of John P. Jones.

McParlan had now the confessions of three of the prinof the contemcipals in the Yost murder, and a knowledge
It was thought best, espeplated assassination of Jones.
of
for
the
arranging for the safety of Jones,
purpose
cially
that there should be a personal interview between Superin-
This was
tendent Franklin, Captain Linden, and himself.
fixed to take place on the pth of August, at Onoko Glen,
two miles to the north of Mauch Chunk.
result of the interview with Superintendent Frankand Captain Linden, John P. Jones was made aware
through the Tamaqua authorities of his danger, and was,
As a
lin
during the succeeding nights, in the constant company of

Coal and Iron Policemen.
Mr. Franklin returned to Philadelphia, and Captain

Linden and McKenna stopped at Mauch Chunk. Whilst
together they saw Campbell and McGeehan on the other
side of the street.
Campbell hailed McKenna and asked
him to take a drink. McKenna immediately dropped

Linden and joined him, and on being asked why he did
not bring his friend along, denied the acquaintance, saying
that he was a fellow full of beer who had asked him the
way to the Mansion House.

The parties had been successful
han 's license, and it was settled
in
arranging for
McGee-
that the opening should
take place on the i3th or i4th.

Campbell was very enthusiastic on the subject of McGeehan's execution of the Yost
murder.
He said that he was the best man in Carbon
County the job was a clean one. Boyle had been along,
but Mf (leehan had done the work, and he deserved to be
p in business for the manner in which he had performed it.
M< (leehan received the compliments with the
et modest air of a virtuous and noble
youth re;
MCPARLAN AT WORK.
171
ceiving just praise from a respected superior for heroic and

magnanimous conduct.
McKenna
returned with his
"Molly"
friends over the
Captain Linden was again encounMcKenna talked loud, and called both
Switchback Railroad.
tered in the cars.
Campbell and McGeehan by name,

would be able to recognize them.
It
was the object of
in order that
McKenna now
to receive the con-
fessions of all the Yost murderers, if possible.
McGeehan and Roarity was
of approaching
He knew
Linden
His method
ingenious.
which occasioned Yost's death was

from a No. 32 cartridge. He went over from Tamaqua to
Campbell's on the 13111 of August, to attend the McGeehan opening, but found that it was postponed for one day.
On the 1 4th, at McGeehan's saloon, he called him aside
and asked him if he had any No. 32 cartridges; that he
had a pistol carrying that sized ball which he had stolen
from a man in Tamaqua, and that he was afraid to purchase
that the ball
the balls at any store for fear of being suspected as the

thief.
McGeehan
fell
pistol carrying
was the
into the trap at once
such a
pistol with
ball,
he said he had no
but Roarity had,
which he had killed Yost
in fact, IT
that Roarity
himself cautious in regard to cartridges,
;
was
and he was not positive whether he would have any. The
conversation being on that subject, McGeehan, encouraged
for this reason
by McKenna, narrated with particularity and at length the

manner in which the murder had been accomplished.
On the 1 5th, McKenna broached the subject of the pistol

to Roarity, referring to his conversation with McGeehan.
Roarity said he did not know whether he had any cartridges
left;
that his was the pistol with which Yost was shot,
had been afraid to buy any since that time.
that he
and
He
conversed freely with McKenna on the subject.

McKenna had obtained up to this time the confessions
THE MURDER OF COMER JAMES.
I7 2
of Campbell, Kerrigan, Carroll, McGeehan, and Roarity,

and there remained only two, Duffy and Boyle, who had
not confessed their guilt to him.
Before McKenna could develop any plan by which they
could be reached, the Mahanoy regions claimed his immeIt was now fully a month that he had
diate attention.
been absent investigating the Tamaqua matters,

success had certainly been wonderful.
On
and
his
he received news which hurried

large picnic had been held on the i4th of
The "Mollies" were there in
August, near Shenandoah.
"
force, although it was not by any means a
Molly" picnic,
the
him home.
6th, however,
there being present persons of all nationalities resident

in the town.
During the evening there were a great
many drunken men, and
considerable disorder prevailed.
Towards midnight, the great majority of those present

were Mollies or young Irish boys. Gomer James, a young
Welshman, watchman at a small coal-drift near Shenandoah, was still on the ground, and was waiting behind
At about one o'clock at night, Thomas Hurley
the bar.
walked up to him, drew a pistol, and in presence of the
assembled crowd shot him, inflicting a wound from which
he died in a few moments. The murder was bold, open,
and in the presence of many witnesses. In the neighborhood of two hundred people were there at the time. There
was not only no attempt at concealment, but Hurley openly
boasted of his crime.
The
for
assassination of
some months.
He
James had been determined upon

had offended young Tom Hurley
(before described as connected with the attempted assassination of Bully Bill), and his death had been resolved
upon and a time fixed. This had, however, been within
the knowledge of McKenna, and from information
given
by the Detective Agency, and precautions in
consequence
taken, he had been for the time being kept out of danger.

As soon
as
McKenna
173
heard of the murder he started for
Shenandoah, stopping on the way at Mahanoy City, where he

had heard a man also had been shot. He arrived at Shenandoah about nine o'clock in the evening, and there he met a
number of his friends. They went up to Monaghan's saloon.
John Morris,* Ed Monaghan,f McAndrew, Ed Sweeney,

Muff Lawler, and others were present. He was soon in
possession of the facts of the case, told by Hurley and discussed by the others. Hurley was the hero of the evening,
and received universal applause. It was generally conceded
that for so brave and gallant an act he was entitled to reward. Muff Lawler suggested that as McKenna had plenty
of time he should go to Girardville and see John Kehoe, the
County Delegate, and ascertain if a good reward would not
be paid by the organization. Hurley and Morris also uiuvd
McKenna to do this. He, pretending to be as enthusiastic
as the others, consented, and on the following day (the lyth
of August) went to Girardville to see Kehoe.
Whilst he
was carrying out the instructions he had received to that
extent, he was determined,
be introduced by Kehoe.
if
possible, to let the subject
McKenna started the conversation by saying the Saturday night had been very rough up the valley. Kehoe assented, and then immediately commenced talking about
the murder of Gomer James.
He was enthusiastic the
job had been a clean one; Hurley was entitled to a large
reward for an act of that kind he ought to have three
hundred dollars or five hundred dollars. He said he did
;
not wish to take the responsibility of ordering so large an

amount himself from county funds, but he would call a
at Tamaqua on the 25th of the month, and
there present the matter and have the approval of the organization to a large reward.
convention
* Connected with the attempted assassination of

f Constable of Shenandoah.
Wm.
M. Thomas,
I74
McKenna
of course assented to the justice of Kehoe's
to Hurposition, and, returning to Shenandoah, reported

would attend the convention at
ley, who at once said he
Tamaqtia on the 25th.

The terrorism which the "Molly Maguires" had infrom punishspired, and their belief in their immunity
ment, are in no act better illustrated than in the murder of
Corner James.
is
The deed was perpetrated
late at night,
it
very large number of witwere boys and others not members
true, but in the presence of a
nesses, many of whom

of the society.
Hurley, during the night, had openly
boasted of his crime, and never dreamed at that time of
On the contrary, he was a
being a fugitive from justice.
hero and an object of admiration.

It was felt that the whole organization could with perfect
safety be trusted with what might scarcely be called a
secret, and that his conduct would be regarded with uni-
and unqualified approval. The question of reward

was to be submitted to the leaders of the order. Their
belief as to Hurley's safety was apparently well founded.
versal
No
witness of the bloody deed at that time dared report to
the authorities.
of his crime.
Vainglorious and triumphant, he boasted

assumed airs of superiority, vaunted his
He
own
courage, and was critical as to the past and present

capacity, as "good hands for a clean job," of other members of the order.
not credible that the very
many persons who, either

through the open confessions of Hurley,
knew him to be the murderer of Gomer James approved
of the act. But the terrorism existing, the fear of personal
It is
as eye-witnesses or
It was not until months after,

danger, sealed their lips.
when unlooked-for dangers to the order arose, that Hurley,
terror-stricken, fled
from the coal regions and the country.
JACK KEHOE.
CHAPTER
XVII.
JACK KEHOE MURDER OF GWITHER ATTEMPTED MURDER OF

RILES.
THIS openness and frequency of crime were to a great

degree owing to the counsel and influence of John Kehoe,
County Delegate. Kehoe had been for sixteen or seventhe order, either under the name
"Molly Maguire," and regarded with
fast-growing influence under the name of the
teen years a
member of
of "Buckshot" or
pride
its
"Ancient Order of Hibernians."

He is a large, rather handsome man, with a cold gray
eye, but there is nothing in his appearance to indicate the
incarnate fiend which recent developments have shown him
He
to be.
is
man of
great determination of character,
of an intense selfishness, that permits neither friend nor foe,

kindred, family, religion or country, native or adopted, to
stand in the way of his wishes or his safety.
His disregard of
conceivable.
The writer of
human
fiction
life is
simply appalling and in-
who should
sketch such a character
would be regarded as unnatural and "sensational" beyond

excuse.
Yet that there are many in the order fully as
wicked and insensible as he to all ties, human and divine,
there
He
is
just
is
reason to believe.
man
of plausible address.
In his intercourse
with those outside the order, he argued with great earnestness and seeming sincerity that it was a benevolent association, regularly incorporated,
and
that
its
objects were
not only lawful, but in the highest degree in accordance
JACK KEHOE.
I7 6
He spoke of the crimes of the

Molly Maguires" with deep regret, and resented with
great show of indignation any charge or even innuendo
that there was the slightest connection between that dread
with Christian morals.
"
power and the society of which he was County Delegate.

As has been before asserted, high crime is generally
committed under the influence of sudden passion, of jealunder pressure of poverty or instiousy, or of revenge
Either of these motives would justify,
gated by avarice.
according to "Molly" ethics, a murder, and one or the
other sometimes entered into it, but none of them were
;
requisite.
simple request, without a statement of the
reason or even the name of the intended victim, was sufficient.
Kehoe took
great pride in the terrorism inspired
by the order, and the mystery with which, to the outside

It gave him with his felworld, its action was enveloped.
lows a power and position in which he delighted.
His
uniform advice for open and desperate measures increased
not only his popularity but the admiration with which he
his rough associates.
He advised bold
was regarded by
crimes not only by reason of the natural cruelty of his

hope that in this way he could
character, but also in the
firmly establish his position as against Barney Dolan, from

in a sharp contest, he had wrested the
position of
whom,
County Delegate.
Dolan is sharp, shrewd, and an antagonist by no means
to be despised.
He had been very popular, but used his
office to increase the political
power of the order, and by
that means his own, and to attract custom to his
drinkingsaloon.
Kehoe, acting on the assumption that Dolan had been

rdly and weak in his direction of the order, endeavored to contrast with such former
policy his own boldness
and daring. Kehoe entirely under-estimated the force of
the opposing elements to the
organization.
He
had no
JACK KEHOE.
77
For this, however,

had known of crimes committed
for years throughout the anthracite coal regions and the
criminals escaping punishment
he had known of commuidea of the strength of moral power.
he has soma excuse.
He
for the moment on the

some startling outrage, and then, the first
excitement past, it would be apparently forgotten.
He had seen townships misgoverned and fraud triumphHe had
ant, and people submit as to an inevitable evil.
seen members of his order in the State Legislature and
high in county offices. He had himself been courted and
caressed for political favors, and the politician, Republican
and Democrat, was specially careful of his feelings in utter"
ing no word against the
Molly Maguire."
Association with criminals was avowed
earnest symnities roused almost to
madness
perpetration of
pathy for criminals was expressed ; favors for criminals

were asked; and yet, in the heat of the contest, the politician pandered to their vices and acceded to their lawless
demands.
Jack Kehoe, with many others, discarded the authority
and teachings of the church in which he was reared ; and
yet that authority he had been taught from his cradle to
reverence, its teachings were pure and good.
Having no
faith themselves, can it be wondered at that with their p;ist
experience with others neither he nor his desperate associates could dream of the slumbering volcano over which
they rested in apparent security, nor of the force of a
moral sentiment, rising high above party ties and petty

ambitions, that would crush them as between the upper
and the nether millstone? No! Jack Kehoe in his inter-
men had seen no evidence of moral sentiment,

but he had firm reliance in his political influence. He believed that with any plausible defense to crime any member
course with
of the order was safe.
His bold policy and

H*
his counsels were,
however, occa-
MURDER OF
I7 8
G WITHER.
sioninp: crimes with such a degree of rapidity that terrible
retribution must soon have been the consequence.

The idea of murder was now familiarized to an extent
never before dreamed of even in this organization.

A number of murders were contemplated in the imme-
some of which,
diate future,
vented.
fortunately, have
been pre-
During the evening of Saturday, the i4th of August,

1875, t ne same night that Gomer James was shot, a personal difficulty occurred in Girardville between a man
named William Love and Esquire Thomas Gwither, in the
office of the latter.
It
appears that Esquire Gwither, in pursuance of the

had issued a warrant against Love.
duties of his office,
Love, outraged
at
what he chose to consider a violation
of his rights as a citizen, called at Esquire Gwither's office

about ten o'clock that evening and became abusive.
The
Esquire ordered him out of his office, and, upon Love's

Love became furirefusing to go, put him out by force.
ous,
and
left
for his
home near
by, uttering threats of
vengeance.
Gwither, it is supposed, was going to his own house for
means of protection. Whilst still in the street, Love came
rushing out, armed with a gun, followed by his mother,
who, much alarmed, was endeavoring to control him. The
excitement attracted a crowd of people.
When within a short distance, Love fired the contents
of his gun, loaded with shot, into the breast, arms, and
abdomen of Gwither,
Death
inflicting about sixty wounds.
was almost instantaneous.
The murderer then rushed down the street past his house
and escaped.
He is still a fugitive. It would have been
'le
for
him
to
of his crime.
remain
for weeks undetected near the

Such a course of conduct would
have been by no means unusual, and not so

foolhardy as
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF
RILES,
179
would at first sight appear. In a settlement composed in

the main of his own countrymen, no man would prove
an "informer." Certainly, in making his escape, no clif
ficulty would exist in covering the tracks of the criminal.
Many who would have no part in the crime not only nc
sympathy, but would regard it with horror and the murwould give him aid and hearty
derer with detestation
assistance in effecting his escape.
parties so aiding
among them
is
and
assisting
a county
This was not,
him
It is
are
asserted that the
known, and
that
belonging to the order.

speaking, a "Molly" murder,
official
strictly
It was
although Love was a member of the organization.
not conducted in accordance with " Molly" rules or in
accordance with established
"Molly"
precedents.
He
A
allowed himself to be carried away by heat of passion.
moment's calm reflection might have shown him that by
an appeal to the order his end might have been attained
in
ness.
own
way not
to disturb his family or disarrange his busi-
He had
services
to himself
only to signify his desire and promise his

required, and a party of strangers, both
when
and
to the victim,
would have done the work.
had, however, begotten carelessness, and

even in the organization the precautions which had been
Long immunity
deemed
were lost sight of.

Gwither was highly esteemed, and
essential in the past
uire
aroused general indignation.
The brother
his
murder
of the murderer
was arrested on suspicion, but, no evidence being produced

against him, he was discharged.
During the following week the assassination of James

Shenandoah, was attempted. Riles
had been, some months prior to this time, shot and very
"
seriously wounded by a
Molly" named John Tobin. The
assault had been an aggravated one, and that Riles had
not been killed was merely the result of accident.
Prosecution had been entered against Tobin, and, the evidence
Riles, a saloon-keeper at
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF
l8o
being conclusive,
ment.
Upon
effort
the offer of the
had been made
payment of
RILES.
to effect a settle-
costs, Riles,
who was
possession of some property, thought it best to agree

and drop the matter. Mrs. Riles would not, however, conin
sent without
payment of the doctor's
bill,
and the
loss of
her husband's time whilst disabled was also included.
The
whole cost would have been in the neighborhood of one

hundred dollars. This Tobin and his friends positively refused to agree to, and the case was proceeded with. Tobin
was found guilty, and sentenced to
fifteen
months' impris-
onment.*
In revenge for this action on the part of Riles his death
was determined upon. On the evening fixed for the murder, James McAllister stepped into Muff Lawler's tavern,
and, after taking a drink, told him of what was in contemplation, but did not seem positive as to whether it was
Riles or a
man named Riley who was
to be the victim.
Lawler, according to his own account, discouraged any

attempt of the kind, and advised James McAllister to have
nothing to do with it, for it would be wrong, as both Riles

and Riley were respectable men. The two then walked
down the street and into the liquor-store of Frank Mc-
Andrew, the body-master, and Edward Monaghan, constable

of Shenandoah. Several members of the order were there
:ibled.
Lawler claims that he was under suspicion,
and did not dare to protest against it. Whilst the matter
was under discussion, Lawler and McAllister
In the
left.
mean
time, that evening, Riles and his wife were

seated in front of his saloon, which was located in the
heart
they observed Ed
of them, and then down the other
In a verj short time a number of strange
of the town.
xhan pass
Just after dark,
in front
side of the street.
He
\\.is ]>.ir<lonc<l
i-arly
in 1876.
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF
men made
their appearance,
and
RILES.
181
fired at Riles,
who was
severely wounded.
They then attempted to retreat, but Mrs. Riles sprang

forward and grasped by the arm one of the ruffians who
had fired the shot. He threw her roughly off, but she again
A second time
sprang forward, and again clung to him.
she was thrown violently away, but not before she succeeded
in obtaining a full view of his countenance, which was entirely
unknown
to her.
This occurred early in the evening,
in the
main
street
consequence a crowd soon assembled.

The wounded man was carried into Mr. Kendrick's house
of a large town
as a
for, but the perpetrators escaped. Riles

again recovered ; but both his wife and himself had now
come to the conclusion that it was impossible longer to live
in Shenandoah with any degree of safety.
They therefore
ami properly cared
disposed of their property at a sacrifice and moved West.

That their action was a prudent one may be inferred
from a
fact
sworn to by Muff Lawler.
Lawler
states that
on the morning of the ist of September following h

informed by Thomas Hurley of an intention to assassinate
a boss at Raven's Run, and that in consideration of this
Lawler asserts that he
Mrs. Riles was to be assassinated.
earnestly denounced the contemplated murder, for the
reason that the intended victim was a woman, and that he
consulted James McKenna on the subject,

matter must be stopped.
It
and
who
said the
may be proper to remark here that months after Riles

had moved West the news of the "Molly"
his wife
arrests in Schuylkill
County reached them.
Mrs. Riles
hopes of being able to

assassin
whose
face
she
had seen. She carried
the
identify
her resolution into execution, and visited the Schuylkill
County prison. She passed from cell to cell until she saw
resolved to visit
Pottsville,
Charles McAllister;
in
when she immediately charged him

16
TAMAQUA CONVENTION.
82
McAllister was at that time waiting trial

on a charge for murder. He was also held to answer for
assault and battery with intent to kill.*
Whilst the particulars of this assault were not generally
known throughout the region, in connection with other
crimes quickly following, intense feeling was created in
with the crime.
Shcnandoah and the surrounding neighborhood.

In
Mahanoy City
active opposition to the organization
some time. This opposition, whilst without organization, had for its moving spirits generally young
had existed
for
Americans.
In Shenandoah the murder of Gomer James, a young
Welshman, and the attempted assassination of James Riles,
Welshmen to a feverish state of indignation,

shared in by the Americans and sympathized with by the
English-German element.
aroused the
For the next few months
this feeling increased in inten-
sity.
CHAPTER
XVIII.
TAMAQUA CONVENTION WHO MURDERED GOMER JAMES?

SANGER MURDER ARRANGED PATRICK BUTLER.
McKENNA, having discovered the particulars of the Gomer James murder, and reported the same to headquarters
at Philadelphia, returned to
Tamaqua and the fascinations
The special policy of McMary Ann Hegins.
Ki-nna as a lover does not appear; whether he was the gay,
rollicking Irish lad, who sang a good song, told a good
of Miss
cts relative to this

f'
oni
;;
attempted assassination have been derived

,:i\vlrr ;md statements made
by Mrs.
mnnyof Midiarl
convicted of assault and battery with intent

to kill Riles in
November, 1876.
TAMAQUA CONVENTION.
story,
and danced a
jig,
183
whether "she loved him
for the
dangers he had passed, and he her that she did pity them,"
or whether he*assumed the subdued and sentimental char-
touch of blarney,
acter, with a
that point, like an honorable
is
not
known
man, he makes no
and upon
revelations.
That he wooed successfully we may be sure; that he had,

accomplishment of his purposes, to
as a necessity for the
give Miss
Mary Ann
a mistaken idea of his intentions, he
McParlan at all times and

deeply and sincerely regrets.
under all circumstances speaks of Miss Hegins as a good,
She was the excuse that
pure girl, as no doubt she is.
brought him to Tamaqua and kept him there in her society
and on the most intimate terms with her brother-in-law,
James Kerrigan.
The Yost murder investigations were again resumed.
On the 24th of August, Carroll was away from home attending a funeral, and in his absence McKenna attended bar
for him.
During the afternoon Campbell stopped at the

He referred to the Yost murder, but seemed
Union House.
most anxious
He
relative to the assassination of
John
P. Jones.
regretted that he could not be present at the
conven-
tion to be held the next day, in order that he might bring

the subject up there. He asked McKenna to attend to the
business for
him
Jimmy Kerrigan had it in hand,

Jimmy would get drunk and neglect
McKenna promised to do his best to get
said that
but that he was afraid

to attend to
men
it.
do the work.
When Carroll came home the Yost murder was again referred to.
During the conversation Kerrigan came in and
formed one of the party. Both Kerrigan and Carroll again
expressed the opinion that it was a "clean job," and that
the perpetrators would never be found out. The details of
the transaction were again discussed, and the statements
which they had formerly made corroborated.
The next day, August 25, the convention called by Jack
to
TAMAQUA CONVENTION.
!8 4
Kehoe assembled
at Carroll's house.
The
parallel of this
In a period
of profound peace, in a land governed by just and equitable
laws formed by the people, in broad daylight, in the centre of a large town, situate in one of the most wealthy and
convention
is
not
known
in recorded history.
populous sections of the country, the leaders of a large
and powerful organization gathered together, without any

attempt at concealment, to consider the proposition of rewarding a cold-blooded, brutal, purposeless assassin ; and
also to deliberate upon the punishment merited by one of
own members who was suspected of having prevented

the accomplishment of the previously planned murder of
their
two unarmed and unsuspecting men.

Those forming this conclave were not animated by even
It was no
perverted sentiments of patriotism or religion.
uprising against arbitrary and unjust laws, for by virtue of
the laws even their peaceful assemblage was guaranteed.
Gomer James was no tyrant, trampling the rights of an
enslaved people under foot, by whose death liberty was

to be gained.
He was simply a poor young Welshman,
unarmed, unsuspicious, engaged in no quarrel

or brawl, shot down, and without a moment's warning
defenseless,
cast into eternity.
That such an
act, or, in fact,
any of the crimes com-
mitted by the organization, should be regarded as heroic

The Thug of India would rob and
passes comprehension.
murder an unsuspecting victim, but the Thug never claimed

to be a hero or a subject for admiration.
(
niel, deceitful,
lie
admitted
it.
servile,
But the Thug was no more cruel, deceitand no Thug
or cunning than the "Molly Maguire,"

or Italian assassin was ever more cowardly
ful,
Low,
cunning, he was; cowardly and groveling,
two, three,
more were considered necessary to shoot down one

unarmed man, and any suspected preparations for protecfour, or
tion were sufficient to postpone the

enterprise.
TAMAQUA CONVENTION.
^5
Among the very many "Molly" murders committed in

the coal region, there never has been one in which the
victim has been accorded the least chance for his life,
or where the murderers willingly subjected themselves to
And yet they regarded themselves,
the slightest danger.
and were regarded by the association, as heroes. The warworn veteran was never as boastful of scars obtained in open
conflict for the sake of home and country, as were these
ruffians
of unprovoked murders, committed, as they be-
lieved, in perfect safety.

The convention was called to order
by John Kehoe, the

County Delegate. Different divisions of Schuylkill County
were represented by their body-masters and other officers.
Besides the officers a number of influential members of the
organization were present.
Shortly after the opening of
the convention a county committee was selected by Kehoe,
to
whom
ization.
was to be submitted business affecting the organThis committee consisted of John Kehoe, County
Yellow Jack Donahue, Body-master at TuscaCounty Treasurer ; Michael O'Brien,

Body-master at Mahanoy City ; Frank O'Neill, Secretary
Delegate
rora; Chris Donnelly,
of
St. Clair
Division
Patrick Dolan, Body-master at Big
Mine Run James Roarity, Body-master at Coaldale McKenna acted as Secretary.

The deliberations of the convention were held with open
;
doors so
far as the
order was concerned.
Three rooms on
the second floor of Carroll's house were occupied ; one

by
the committee, one by the witnesses, and -the third from
time to time by
McKenna, who took down
in writing dif-
ferent complaints that were made.

The case of John J. Slattery was considered. Jimmy
Kerrigan was the nominal prosecutor, but the charges were
presented and urged by Yellow Jack Donahue.

claimed that through Slattery the murder of the two
had been prevented
his intimacy with

1
6*
It
was
Majors
Samuel Major, the
X
H7/0
jg6
MURDERED COMER JAMES?
well as the
uncle, was urged in proof of the charge, as
remarks made by Samuel Major relative to information
of the school board.

given him by Slattery as to the feeling
"not guilty," but he was reSlattery entered the plea of
with suspicion, and his expulsion by the Tuscarora
garded
Division was affirmed.

If Slattery
is
to be believed (and his story
is
to
some
ex-
by Charles Mulhearn of the Tuscarora

was now critical. His life was in
his
situation
Division),
constant danger, and his property threatened with destrucThe -feeling of both his wife and himself, at first,
tion.
was one of relief that his connection with the order had
been severed; but this feeling was only momentary, for, untent corroborated
derstanding as he did the character of the organization,

their mode of operations, and the feeling towards himself,
he was conscious that his life might be the forfeit of one

unguarded minute. He had been warned that he was in
danger, and Alec Campbell, a few days after the conven-
made it a point to call upon him to say that if he did

not succeed in reinstating himself in the order his destruction was certain.
He advised that application should be
tion,
made
to Jack Kehoe, the County Delegate.

Under the
circumstances, Slattery considered the advice good, and,
under strong asseverations of his innocence of any attempt
to save the Majors, regained his standing in the order.

To return to the convention of the 25th of August.
The
was regarding the reward to be

Gomer James. Thomas Hurley was
He was accompresent urging his claim as the murderer.
panied by Frank McAndrew, the body-master, and John
exciting topic before

paid the murderer of
it
Morris,* both members of the Shenandoah Division. Mc;ia, in the presence of these men, took down the state* Convicted of an assault and
battery with intent
is.
to
kill
Wm. M.
WHO MURDERED COMER JAMES?
187
ment
in writing, which he then presented to the committee.

was read aloud by Frank Keenan, the body-master of
The statement was heard by Patrick Butler,
Forestville.
It
the body-master at Lost Creek, who was in an adjoining

room. Butler appeared before the committee and asserted
that a man named McClain, belonging to his division, had
committed the act, and was entitled to the reward. Mc-
Kenna urged
the claims of Hurley.
Kehoe
stated that for
the commission of the act a reward was justly due, but that
it was important that the reward should go to the proper
In this all present acquiesced.

Besides the committee there were present at this time
in the room "Frank Keenan, Patrick Butler, John Morris,
party.
Jeremiah Kane,* body-master at Mount Laffee, and James

McKenna. McClain was not present to urge his claim,
and
had only asserted in a

had committed the murder.f
in fact
that he
spirit
of braggadocio
As there appeared
to
be an uncertainty as to the real murderer of Gomer James,

no fixed reward was settled upon, but James McKenna and
Patrick Butler were appointed by the committee to investigate the subject
and
report.
Butler and
McKenna
there-
hold a meeting and hear witnesses on the

following Sunday, August 29, in the bush near Shenandoah.
upon agreed
to
At this time, through the borough authorities of Tamaqua, acting on information derived from the Pinkerton
Agency, John P. Jones was on his guard, and a detail of
the Coal and Iron Police stayed at his house every night.
McKenna, to be early cognizant of anything that transpired in the matter, encouraged the selection of Frank
* Fugitive from
justice,
connected with the attempt to assassinate the
Majors.
f-This was not at all uncommon. A number of instances are known
where murder was falsely boasted of for the purpose of gaining increased
popularity and social position.
!88
ulrew, the body-master, to procure the men to commit the murder from the Shenandoah Division.
Jimmy Kerrigan was on
the day of the convention
full
of whisky and determined to effect the murder. Without

telling McKenna what he had done, he concluded another
arrangement with Jerry Kane, the body-master at Mount

Laffee, to furnish men from that division.
McKenna, not
suspecting this action on the part of Kerrigan, arranged
for the contest between McClain and Hurley, determined,
if
possible, to get at the exact truth of that matter.
He
understood Hurley thoroughly ; he knew that he was a liar

and a thief, and wished to obtain as much proof as possible
as to who the murderer really was.
On
ment.
Sunday, the meeting was held according to appointButler and
McKenna
acted as judges.
number
of persons were present, Edward Monaghan, a constable

of Shenandoah, among the rest.
McClain did not make
his
appearance
he excused himself afterwards to Butler
that he was afraid of Hurley.

Hurley was himself present with his witnesses. The fact that he committed
by saying
the murder was testified to
by Thomas and James Welsh,

Michael Carey, and a man named Conway. The evidence
McClain was not there to dispute
appeared conclusive.
any points, and Butler and McKenna agreed that Hurley
was the fortunate man entitled to the reward. It was determined that a report to this effect be sent to Kehoe,
which was accordingly done on the following day
(August
30).
It may be
proper to state here that no portion of the
reward was ever paid to
The end of the fearful
Hurley.
reign of terror was approaching. The power of the " Molly
Ma-uires" was at the culminating point.
The darkest of
rrimcs now followed in
rapid succession, and others, both
in
Carbon and Schuylkill Counties, as well as in

Luzerne,
in contemplation.
There never had been in the an-
were
^9
thracite coal region a member of this organization convicted of murder in the first degree ; but the time was
close at
hand when they would have
to enter
upon a struggle
wherein not only the lives of many of their members would

be placed in jeopardy, but the ascendency, nay, the very
existence of the order would be threatened with destruc-
Confronted with dangers
tion.
like these, not
only were
the available funds of the organization required for

purposes of defense, but a demand was also made upon
all
the personal resources of the members, and assistance from

this contest the money claimed
abroad was required.

In
by Hurley was absorbed.
To
arrange for the murder of John P. Jones, Frank

the body-master, called a meeting of the
McAndrew,
Shenandoah Division,
to be held at his house
on the
ist
This was in pursuance of the arrangement

Tamaqua on the 25th of August.
of September.
made
in
McKenna was
at Fenton Cooney's,
Shenandoah. Michael Doyle,
who will be remembered as connected with the attempt to
assassinate "Bully Bill," was boarding at the same place.
He and McKenna were bedfellows. On the morning of
at this
time staying
his regular boarding-place in
the 3ist of August, McKenna, upon getting out of bed,

saw lying on the wash-stand a new Smith & Wesson pistol,
which he knew did not belong to Doyle. Turning to him,
he asked,
"Where
did you get that pistol?"
Doyle refrom Ned Monaghan ; that

he and the two O'Donnells and McAllister were going that
day to shoot a boss at Raven's Run.
Immediately after breakfast they were in the back-yard
Hurtogether, where they were joined by Tom Hurley.
ley was at this time still elated with the "clean job" he
had made with Corner James, and assumed airs of supeplied that he had borrowed
riority.
it
The matter of the contemplated murder was

name of the man to be shot was not
talked over, but the
THE SANGER MURDER ARRANGED.
9o
mentioned. "
A boss at Raven's Run, who would be pointed

Hurley gave
out," was sufficient information for Doyle.
minute directions as to the proper way to shoot a man.
He
Doyle to hold his pistol at full cock in his pocket ;

up to his victim and then draw the pistol ;
to shoot directly through the breast-pocket of his coat.
He sneered at the way in which Doyle had acted when
told
to walk straight
they attempted to assassinate "Bully Bill," and accused

him of cowardice on that occasion. "Now," he said,
"you are going with Friday O'Donnell, and he is a man

who will stand no nonsense."
The three then proceeded up the street, Doyle stopping at
Lawler's, where, he said, he was to meet some, of his party.
McKenna and Hurley went on. They soon met Friday
O'Donnell, and together they went to Malachi Cleery's

O'Donnell there exhibited two pistols, and
liquor-store.
said that his brother Charles, McAllister, and Doyle were
going that day to shoot a mining boss at Raven's Run.
He further said that they would work only a half-day, but
that
the matter of
"butties,"
work would be arranged with
who were
McKenna had
their
friends of the order.
not learned the
name of
the person to be
assassinated, but merely that the location of the
contem-
plated murder was at Raven's Run, a small mining town

about two miles north from Girardville.
Thinking it possible that
in a casual
he might yet give Captain Linden warning, he,

way, asked for him at Malachi Cleery's, which
was the point under their arrangement where he would be

most likely to hear of it if he was in town. Ascertaining
Linden was not in town, he made a number

of fruitless efforts to rid himself of
Hurley in order to send
lispatch to Superintendent Franklin, at Philadelthat Captain
P.ut Hurley, either

by accident or for some reason,
kept him dose company.
McKenna expected that the murder would be accom-
phia.
THE SANGER MURDER ARRANGED.

He
plished that day.

abouts, and was
did not
191
know of Linden's where-
hampered by Hurley.
He
was, conse-
quently, unable to prevent the perpetration of the crime,

and his object now was, in case of its commission, to learn
To do this the best plan was for him to

Shenandoah. It was also at that place that the
meeting was to be held on the following night to arrange
for the murder of John P. Jones.
That McKenna was not before this aware of the contemplated murder was owing not to any want of openness
all
the details.
remain
at
on the part of those having the matter in hand, but to the

fact that he had been away from Shenandoah, at Tamaqua
and Storm Hill, during the preceding six weeks. There
is, perhaps, nothing more noteworthy in the career of McKenna than the success he always had in obtaining the
confidence of his associates, and this was probably owing,
to a great extent, to the fact that while he manifested interest
He
and sympathy he never seemed
to seek for information.
same feeling of
by Doyle and Hurley, that it was a
therefore assumed in this instance the
indifference exhibited
matter of but
" a boss
little
Raven's
account who the intended victim was
Run" was
a sufficient description, without inquiring into minute particulars.

For him to have
manifested curiosity would have been to arouse suspicion, so
at
that of necessity he was compelled to await developments

and take the chances of -gaining more accurate information.
The fact was, that the man to be murdered was Thomas

Sanger, and that this murder, with some others never attempted, had been in contemplation for some time. Sanger
was a man of good character and of an amiable disposition.
He was between thirty and forty years of age, enjoying the
esteem and confidence of S. M. Heaton & Co., at whose
He
colliery at Raven's Run he was employed as a boss.
was not known to have an enemy in the world ; but it was
PATRICK BUTLER.
I92
by reason of some
afterwards ascertained that,
act
done
in
the pursuit of his duty, he acquired the ill will of some of

The
the " Mollies," and his death was determined upon.
the matter in
year previous (1874) Bucky Donnelly took
hand, pointed out Thomas Sanger to Patrick Butler, and
At another interview with
said that he wanted him killed.
Butler, when a man named Patrick Shaw was present, he
proposed that the two should commit the
act.
For some
reason they never made the attempt.

For the purpose of showing the difficulties which beset
the path of McKenna, and of illustrating not only with
what readiness a murder would be conceived, but also how
in short, the little account
readily it would be abandoned,
in
which human
life
several incidents in the
was held,
history of Patrick Butler may here be given.

Patrick Butler, who will be remembered as being
committee with
McKenna
to decide to
whom
credit of having murdered Gomer James,

who joined the order in August, 1873.
Raven's
Run
Division, of which
master at that time.

notified Butler to
is
on the
belonged the
a young man
He
joined the
Bucky Donnelly was body-
Donnelly, about six weeks afterwards,
meet him
with him to
at Girardville station
City, which he did.
and go
They were
in
Mahanoy
company with Barney Dolan, then County Delegate of
When they
Schuylkill, Larry Crane, and Peter Finneral.
arrived at Mahanoy City, Butler learned that Philip Nash
had "set up a job" to
Burke.
kill
Peter Finneral, a
man by the name of Edward

man named McDonough, and
young members, were selected to commit the

made and the party had
eaten their supper, those not appointed went home, taking
Butler, as
murder.
After the selection was
Finneral along, he being very drunk.

man named ForBurke out to McDonough and Butler.
He
fay pointed
Bitting at the
door
him, but missed him,
in front
of his house.
They
fired at
Butler says purposely, for they were
PATRICK BUTLER.
193
angry because Finneral had got drunk and the rest of the
The matter was then dropped.
party had gone home.
Butler was also with
Bucky Donnelly
at
a large meeting
purpose of making a raid

on Jackson's Patch.* Whilst there, Donnelly, out of pure
malice, shot off a pistol in such a manner as to make a
at
Shenandoah, assembled
woman
for the
believe that he intended to kill her.
In the year 1874, Bucky Donnelly, Larry Crane, Philip

Nash, and Patrick Butler went over to Centralia, in Columbia County, for the purpose of killing a
man named Mc-
This was to oblige Edward Curley, the County

The party, however, got drunk,
Delegate of Columbia.
and returned without accomplishing the purpose of the
Brierty.
visit.
Butler succeeded
the Raven's
application
kill
Bucky Donnelly
as the
body-master of
Run Division. Whilst holding that position an

was made to him to furnish two men to help
Captain William Hays and William Rees.
made
cation of the same kind was also
An
appli-
to Philip Nash,
For some reason the men

body-master at Girardville.
were not furnished. Joseph Rees was afterwards attacked
at
Shenandoah, but was not injured.
The
cases just cited constitute only a part of those in
which Butler and Donnelly were engaged since the autumn

of 1873,
tne 7 are sufficient for the purpose of illustra-
t> ut
tion.
When
it
there were
is
how many parties

who needed watching;
taken into consideration
all
equally criminal
that a spirit of braggadocio
was abroad
in the order; that
murders were openly discussed ; that the darkest of crimes

would be suggested for the mere gratification of a whim,
and
that a contemplated murder would often be abandoned

with the same readiness with which it had been conceived,
* This meeting
I
is
described in another place.

17
MURDER OF SANGER AND UK EN.
I94
it
can readily be understood how the detective might waste

The air was filled
valuable time in useless work.
much
with the talk of murders and other outrages, and it required

calm, deliberate judgment and nice discrimination to learn
where
of
Through the instrumentality

number of those consigned to
was one man against a host, and
danger existed.
real
Me Parian
the lives of a
death were saved, but it

the assassins themselves were so confident of immunity from
punishment that they murdered with scarcely an attempt
at
concealment.
CHAPTER
XIX.
MURDER OF SANGER AND UREN McPARLAN ON A COMMITTEE

TO MURDER JONES MURDER OF JONES BY OTHER PARTIES
FLIGHT OF THE ASSASSINS.
THE murder
of
Thomas Sanger was not attempted on
the 3ist of August, as McKenna had been informed it

would be. It was a "job" of Bucky Donnelly's, and had
Uvn arranged under the auspices and with the encouragement of Jack Kehoe, who seemed to be ready and anxious
for any murder that might be proposed.
About ten o'clock
that night the two O'Donnells, James McAllister, and
Michael Doyle were joined by
Thomas Munley
at
Gil-
berton.
Munley
man
is
of the
about thirty years of age, and was the oldest

It is said that it was the intention that a
five.
younger brother of Munley's should go, but he being
Thomas went
in
sick,
portion of the evening the

Jack Kehoe, at Girardville, where the
his stead.
party passed with

matter of the contemplated
murder was discussed. From

Kehoe's they went to Anthony Munley's, at Dane's Patch,
MURDER OF SANGER AND
UREN.
195
and from Munley's they proceeded to Bucky Donnelly's

house, at Raven's Run, where they remained during the
night.
As early as six o'clock on the morning of the ist of September, 1875, tne five men were at tlie colliery of S. M.
Heaton & Co. They had taken the precaution to exchange
clothing and hats, with the exception of Michael Doyle,
who had borrowed from McKenna the coat which he wore.
The only other attempt

of the hat
at
concealment was the drawing
dowji over the face as
far as possible,
and
From half-past six o'clock until

men were gathering ready to go
raising
the coat-collars.
a quarter
to seven the
to work.
About this time in the neighborhood of one hundred men

and boys had collected. The five men were noticed by a
number of the workmen, but very little was said to thorn.
At about a quarter to seven o'clock Thomas Sanger came
out of his house and walked towards the mines, intending
men to work. He was accompanied by a young

man named William Uren. They were met by James, or
Friday, O'Donnell, who stepped towards Sanger and shot
to set the
him.
Sanger turned and ran. Uren attempted to interwhen he also was shot by O'Donnell.
fere in his behalf,
Uren then ran towards
the engine-house, O'Donnell pur-
suing Sanger.
In the mean time the remaining four
right
who
and
commenced
firing
threatening the remainder of the workmen,

Whether the flight was encourfled panic-stricken.
left,
aged or led by those in sympathy with the murderers, it is.

That over one hundred men and boys
impossible to tell.
should give way to four is not so remarkable as it at first
when it is considered that the four men were

armed and presented a determined front, whilst to the
larger number the whole affair was unexpected, and no one
appears,
was prepared to head the others
Thomas Munley,
in resistance.
seeing Sanger running away, ran for-
MURDER OF SANGER AND UREN.
96
He met him near a house occupied

to head him off.
by the family of Robert Weevil, when he also shot him.
ward
then ran into Weevil's house.
The
five ruffians
Robert Heaton, one of the

had just finished his breakfast,
retreated to the mountains.
proprietors of the colliery,

his front porch, when he heard the firing.
He ran as fast as possible towards Weevil's house. He saw
and was seated on
two of the party running towards the mountain.

menced firing at them, and his fire was returned.
He comIt
took
but a few moments, however, to exhaust the charges in his

revolver.
He had not succeeded in hitting any of the
and did not recognize in them any one he knew.

Sanger was shot in the arm, a flesh-wound, and in the
He died in a few minutes, in the arms of his
right groin.
fugitives,
agonized wife, whose side he had just

and with apparent prospect of long
left in
perfect health
William Uren
life.
also shot in the right groin.

He lingered some hours
longer, but his recovery was from the first regarded as
the ball had passed into the abdomen.
hopeless,
was
In-
the
mean
Shenandoah
of the
ist
time,
to hear
McKenna was
of September he went
where he found
anxiously waiting at
what had been done.
Tom
the proposed murder.
Hurley.
On
the
morning
down to Muff Lawler's,

The conversation was on
Muff had been injured
and could only move with great
difficulty.
in the mines,
Hurley here
again expressed the opinion that Doyle would have to behave better than he had done in the case of Bully Bill;
that Friday O'Donnell was not the man to stand nonsense;
that he
At
would
this
fix
him.
time the
five
This was about eight o'clock.
men who had committed
the murder
Raven's Run came into Lawler's, Michael

Doyle leadin- the way.
They all looked overheated, and were very
at
much excited. They first had a drink of water, and then

took whisky all around.
The murder at Raven's Run was
narrated, each one of the party anxious to tell his own
MURDER OF SANGER AND UREN.
197
Doyle said it was all right. Friday O'Donnell

was a " clean job ;" they had killed two, when they
only expected to kill one.
Friday said he had fireS the
first shot, when the second man interfered, and then he
share.
said
it
had shot him. Munley said he had fired at and hit the
first man as he was going into a house.
Charles O'Donnell, Doyle, and McAllister said they had been firing and
frightening the people, and could not get up to the two
others until the job was done.
James O'Donnell then spoke of a man firing at Munley

and himself, and of their returning the fire. Doyle said
the man who had fired at them was named Heaton, and that
he was one of the proprietors.
McKenna now learned for
the first time that the name of the boss they had gone to kill
was Thomas Sanger. None of the party seemed to know
or care
the other was.
Each man seemed anxious to
tell the story his own way.
They described how they had
changed their hats and clothing before the murder, and
changed back again before coming over the mountain to
Shenandoah. They examined their pistols Charles O' Donnell and McAllister at first thought they had best leave their
navy revolvers with Muff Lawler to take care of for them,
and gave them to him for that purpose. They, however,
changed their minds and took them back. After the party
had taken about four drinks apiece, the O'Donnells and
w^
home at Wiggan's Patch.

Munley, Doyle, Hurley, and McKenna then went up to
Tobin's ball-alley, where Hurley and Doyle played for the
beer, McKenna keeping the game and Munley looking on.
About half-past twelve o'clock Munley started for his home
McAllister started for their
on
way going up-street with McKenna.

Munley remarked that as there was to be
a meeting of Shenandoah Division that night, he would be
at Gilberton,
As they
over.
his
separated,
The
incidents of the morning, together with the

He was boastful
liquor he had drunk, excited Munley.

17*
McPARLAN ON A COMMITTEE
198
and quarrelsome.
After he arrived at
home he had
turbance with his wife, flourished his pistol, and fired
a disit
off
in the house, the ball lodging in a partition.
As might naturally be expected, these murders following

so quickly after the others before narrated created intense
excitement. Notwithstanding the fearful outrage had been
perpetrated in the presence of a large number of people
that morning, the criminals were either not known to any
one, or the terrorism prevailing prevented their exposure,
and many months passed under the general belief that two
more victims of "Molly" outrage had passed into eternity

and the strong arm of the law was apparently powerless.
The
vigilance committee, -as it is believed, sprang into exand in the course of time retaliation commenced ;
istence,
but the civil authorities were silent, and a general fear was
and expressed that a system of laws
civilized
felt
which^n
lands had received the indorsement of centuries was here

utterly powerless.
On
the evening of the ist of
September the Shenandoah
Division held a meeting at the house of Frank McAndrew,

the body-master.
Notices of the time of meeting had
been given on the day preceding. There were present

Frank McAndrew, Thomas Munley, Michael Darcy, John
Morris, Thomas Hurley, John McGrail, Edward MonaEdward Sweeny came in,
ghan, and James McKenna.
but, as his dues were not paid up, he was requested to
leave.
The murder of John P. Jones was considered.
Thomas Munley and Michael Darcy volunteered to go.
John McGrail and James McKenna were appointed in addition by the body-master.
They were requested to leave
the next morning.
McKenna, having in view the giving
notice to Captain Linden and Superintendent Franklin,
suggested that he should go ahead for a day or two to prepare matters.
said he
This was satisfactory to John McGrail, who

in Shenandoah, which he would have
had business
TO
MURDER
to attend to the next day, but
JONES.
199
he would be ready the day
Munley and Darcy both advocated going at

following.
once.
Munley said he had his hand in now (referring to
his share in the
murder of Sanger and Uren), and he was

The arrangement was finally made that
going right then.
get cartridges for the pistols at

the
City, and join McKenna the next morning on
McGrail
train at that place, to go with him to Tamaqua.
Munley and Darcy should
Mahanoy
was to be telegraphed for when needed. At this meeting the

murder of Sanger and Uren was openly discussed, Munley
assuming the same boastful manner that he had in the
morning
at
Muff Lawler's.
The arrangement,
so far
as ^relates to
the murder of
had been worked by McKenna according

It had been understood between
to a preconcerted plan.
that he would, if possible, get
himself
Linden
and
Captain
on the committee and so delay matters that if, in the end,
John
P. Jones,
the affair should be attempted to be consummated,

ties
all
par-
should be arrested.
Wm. D. Zehner, superintendent of the Lehigh and

Wilkesbarre Coal Company at Landsford, had been warned
by Beard and Shepp, of Tamaqua, prior to this, not only
of the intended murder of John P. Jones, but also of a
similar attempt to be made on himself, in exchange for the
murder of a gentleman at Jeddo, Luzerne County. He
had consulted with Mr. Parrish, the president of the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, who was much excited on the question, and had given instructions to spare
no expense or trouble to secure the safety of all parties.
Mr. Jones had slept, for several weeks prior to this time,
at Mr. Zehner's house, at Landsford, under guard of Coal
and Iron policemen.
McKenna started on the 2d of September for Tamaqua
on the seven o'clock train, and was joined, as per arrangeOn arment, by Munley and Darcy at Mahanoy City.
200
MURDER OF JONES BY OTHER
PARTIES.
Tamaqua, they proceeded at once to Carroll's,

McKenna then went
but found that he was out of town.
riving at
really to make out his

pretending to look for Kerrigan,
in his search.
successful
not
and
being
reported
report,
He suggested that without Kerrigan the matter could
proceed no further, and told Munley and Darcy to return

home and wait for a telegraph from him. To this they
agreed, and
left for
Kenna was now
Mahanoy Valley
satisfied that the
that afternoon.
Mc-
attempt to murder was
He was much
delayed for the time being, if not forever.
surprised to learn from Carroll, after his return about ten
o'clock that night, that two men sent by Jerry Kane had
come over from Mount I^ffee the preceding evening and
were already at Storm Hill; that the probabilities were
that John P. Jones was already killed.
It was then too
late to give further notice, and McKenna could only hope
that his previous warnings
had proved
effectual.
appears that at the meeting at Carroll's on the 25th of

August, Jerry Kane, body-master of Mount Laffee Division
It
(near Pottsville), had been spoken to.

willing to procure
men
to kill
John
He
was
just as
P. Jones as he
had
himself been to assassinate the Majors at the request of

Chris. Donnelly, and proceeded to arrange the matter
He called a meeting of his

and two men were drawn by
lot, one being Edward Kelly, and the other a married
man, a resident of Mount Laffee. Kelly was a young man,,
considered of kindly impulses and nature, and,
except in
shortly after the convention.
division, stated the object,
He
being a "Molly," regarded as of good character.
a
But the fact that the other
rpted the situation at once.
married man with a family excited the
sympathies
img Michael J. Doyle, who, in a spirit of enthusiasm,
and, ns he imagined, heroism, offered to take his place.
Michael J. Doyle is a young man, not over
twenty-five
He has been well brought up. In his boyyears of age.

hood he was regarded
as
early associates speak of
PARTIES.
2 oi
His
amiable and kind-hearted.
him in high terms. His habits
Yet both Doyle and

as good.
Kelly were, under the influence of this organization, ready,
in cold blood
willing, and anxious to slay a fellow-being
and character were regarded
had no
they had never seen and against whom they
and
heroes
as
themselves
and
to
worthy
regard
feeling,
whom
ill
of praise and admiration for so doing.

Furnished with a letter to James Carroll, and wearing
badges of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, they arrived
Carroll at
at Tamaqua on the ist of September, 1875.
once sent for Kerrigan, and asked him to conduct them to
to Alec Campbell.
Kerrigan objected, on the
ground that he had work to do that night. Carroll, however, insisted, and Jimmy, without much urging, con-
Storm Hill
sented.
They
arrived at Storm Hill in the evening, and went
immediately to Campbell's.
Kerrigan introduced his com-
panions, Kelly and Doyle, and told

the parties sent over to kill Jones.
him
that they
were
Campbell expressed
he would take them
gratification at seeing them, and said
up to McGeehan's saloon on Summit Hill which he did.
On arriving at McGeehan's, Campbell remarked that the
murder should be committed as soon as possible, but that
as Mulhall was now at home from Tuscarora, he must notify
;
him
to
He
also advised
keep out of the way, so he should not be suspected.
McGeehan to go home early that night,

so that his whereabouts could readily be accounted for.
Several pistols were now produced, among others the
black
pistol,
McGeehan had
McGeehan examined and oiled the pis-
belonging to Roarity, which
used to
kill
tols, in
order to have them in good condition.
Yost.
In one of
the pistols the cartridges used were rather large for the
bore.
McGeehan in endeavoring to drive one of the cartridges tightly into place exploded
i*
it,
the ball imbedding
202
itsdf in the bar counter.
PARTIES,
Neither Kerrigan, Kelly, nor
Doyle knew John P. Jones, and his personal appearance

and manner of dress were described by Campbell. It was
then understood that the party next day should appear as
search of work, and, if any favorable opportunity
if in
should offer itself, conclude the job.

Campbell first left,
and between ten and eleven o'clock that night McGeehan
also went to his boarding-house, leaving the key of his
saloon with the three strangers to lock themselves in. The
next day Kerrigan, Doyle, and Kelly wandered from point
to point in that neighborhood.
They saw John
P. Jones,
but, according to their opinion, had no favorable opportunity

to accomplish their design.
That night they stopped with
He was disposed to blame Kerrigan that the
Campbell.
deed was not already done, and thought that it might

be done that evening.
Kelly and Doyle, at his sug-
still
gestion,
stationed themselves near the front of Jones's
house, where they were observed by a
number of
persons.
There were several meetings that evening in town, and it

was supposed that Jones might go to one or the other of
Finding that he did not make his appearance, the
matter was deferred until morning.
The balance of the evening was spent in drinking in
them.
Campbell's saloon, parties passing in and out. When the

conspirators were alone, Campbell discussed the situation
He
with them.
said that the
murder of Jones would be a
glorious thing ; that they could shoot him at any place, and
that no one would tell ; that they should be careful to
put
not only one, but several balls in him ; that if it were
not for the society and the dropping of an odd man off
in a while, there would be no such
thing as living
there.
He
would be no difficulty in
away; no one would dare to tell on them even
if they should be known.
Campbell is a man of decided
ability, money-making, but fond of power, and ambitious.
said, further, there
their getting

It is said that
PARTIES.
203
he had high hopes in the order, looking beinfluence.

Like Jack Kehoe, he was
yond mere county

aware of the
associates
fact that
he increased his influence
among
his
by the advocacy of bold and daring measures.
He, however, understood the importance
to his business of
controlling the bosses, either through friendship or fear.

He was perhaps the man of the greatest natural ability
among the "Mollies" of the antliracite coal regions, and
his influence was continually and persistently for
could not make the order more diabolical than
evil.
He
it
already
was, but, like Jack Kehoe, he sought to influence the devils
who
possessed
it.
Between Tamaqua and Mauch Chunk lay a cluster of

small towns.
On the Nesquehoning branch of the Jersey
Central Railroad there is Coaldale, the residence of James
A mile or two to the east, and on the line of the
Roarity.
same road, is Landsford. This was the residence of Wm.
D. Zehner, one of the superintendents of the Lehigh and
Wilkesbarre Coal Company. A short distance from Lands-
and an extension of the same place, away from the

is the village of Storm Hill, the home of John P.
Near this is Ashton, where Alec Campbell had his
Jones.
store, and still farther on, at the top of the mountain,
ford,
railroad,
Summit
Hill, the western
depot of the celebrated Switch-
back Railroad.
John P. Jones, for the first time in several weeks, on the

night of the 2d of September slept in his own house.
little after seven o'clock on the morning of the 3d, after
taking his breakfast and chatting with his family, he quietly

started for the superintendent's office, near the Landsford
The train from Tamaqua was about due, and nearly

one hundred people, railroad men and employes of the
Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, were near by. No
depot.
time would seem more inopportune for a deed of murder

He was in the midst of busy life and sur-
and outrage.
204
rounded by his friends. Yet so emboldened had an unchecked course of crimes committed by the "Molly" organization rendered the assassins, that this was the moment
chosen for the perpetration of their fiendish
act.
Two
appeared, and commenced firing repeatedly but quickly. The advice of Campbell was followed
several balls were lodged in the body of their unfortunate
strange
men suddenly
victim.
So sudden and unexpected was the occurrence, that
before such an attempt at crime could be realized, much

less prevented, the murderers had disappeared, leaving
behind them the disfigured corse of John P. Jones in the

midst of a crowd of people almost panic-stricken in their
intense surprise.
This foul act realized, the wildest excitement prevailed.
Just at this time the Tamaqua train arrived, and the passengers, joining the excited throng, were at once imbued
with the prevailing indignation.
Mr. Zehner, however,
acted coolly and promptly.

He had in his possession a
number of fire-arms, and, quickly selecting men with judg-
ment and
care, he sent
them towards Tamaqua on railroad
trucks, with directions so to station themselves as to inter-
cept the criminals, if possible, in their retreat.

In a very short time the news reached Tamaqua, and
that place was at once the theatre of wild excitement, in-
Business was
dignation, and a bitter feeling of revenge.
almost suspended.
Knots of men gathered together, disThe
-ussing the terrible tragedy that had just occurred.
c
feeling that
less acts
any help, except through the meeting of lawcommitted by wrong-doers by lawless acts of good
was gaining ground. In other words, the vigicommittee was openly advocated as being the only
citi/ens,
hope for safety.

But little Jimmy Kerrigan understood the
country well,
and, in the
first
ment.
taking unfrequented roads
By
instance,
marked
his
course with judg-
and by-paths he

managed
to elude all
205
the scouts sent out, and took his
party safely past Tamaqua, and fairly on the road to TusHad he, when he got them to
carora and Pottsville.
Tamaqua, kept to the mountain himself and separated
from Kelly and Doyle, they could with perfect safety have
walked the main street of the town and through the excited
crowd. They would not have been known, and could have
taken the cars to Pottsville without suspicion or annoyance.
Or if Kerrigan, without stopping, had conducted them
to Tuscarora, they
would have been
midst of the
in the
Yellow Jack Donahue, John J. Slattery, Charley

order,
Mulhearn, and others, who could very readily have got
them on
to Pottsville
and from thence home.
But Jimmy Kerrigan's hospitality overcame his judgment. After he had got them past Tamaqua he felt that
they were safe, and, nearing his house, which was to the
west of the town, he left them in the bush and went home
to bring
That
them whisky and something
to eat.
the bush, that act of hospitality of Kerrigan's, was fatal to "Molly" ascendency.
During that
pause their arrest was made by one of those strange chances,
rest
in
hereafter narrated, that
of an absolute and
would seem to indicate the control
invisible
power.
knowledge of
"Molly" crimes and "Molly"
criminals was in the possession of some parties, but, under the agreement that the
detective should not appear as a witness, proof of guilt was
very
difficult.
Had
Kelly and Doyle reached Mount Laffee

would have been next to impos-
in safety, their identification

sible,
and John P. Jones would have been but one more
in
the long line of "Molly" victims unavenged.

In the events immediately succeeding this murder, circumstances have so combined in the complete exposure of
crime, the punishment of criminals, and the destruction

of this damnable organization, as to indicate even to the
avowed
skeptic the
hand of an overruling Providence.

18
ARREST OF KERRIGAN, DO YLE, AND KELL Y.
20 6
CHAPTER
XX.
ARREST OF KERRIGAN, DOYLE, AND KELLY THEIR LIVES

THREATENED.
IT will be borne in
mind
that at the time the events last
knowledge of the perpetrators of

many a foul and bloody outrage was in the possession of
Franklin B. Gowen, Esq., the president of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, and that evidence
detailed occurred,
was being gathered as fast as practicable to render the conviction of criminals sure without calling in the detective.
It will also be remembered that Daniel
Shepp and Michael
Beard had themselves guaranteed the payment

erton
Agency of
Yost murder.
It
to the Pink-
the expenses of the investigation of the
was known to Beard, Shepp, and some
others, through that investigation, that there was an intention to kill John P. Jones and other parties, but it was be-
lieved that these designs could be frustrated.
The
full
particulars of the Yost
murder were
at this
time
thoroughly understood, and the position occupied by KerWhen the news, therefore, reached
rigan was also known.
Tamaqua
were
at
of the murder committed at Landsford, inquiries

set on foot to learn the whereabouts of Ker-
once
rigan.
Nevertheless, the discovery was
Young Samuel Beard, a law student

Sliimile, Esq., had, with a
made by an
accident.
in the office of
Conrad
companion, that morning ridden

over to Landsford on the cars.
He had seen the murdered
man directly after he had been shot, and was among the
first to
He was, of course,
bring the news to Tamaqua.
restless and excited, and could not content himself in the
DOYLE, AND KELLY.
207
On the street the murder was the topic of conversaand among other remarks a man named William Parkenson stated, in the hearing of young Beard, that he had
with two strange men, to the
just seen Jimmy Kerrigan,
office.
tion,
west of the town.
Beard had obtained an inkling of the true character of

Kerrigan and it immediately occurred to him that these
;
men might be
the murderers.
Picking up a small field- or
which was lying in the office, he, with a friend
named George Priser, proceeded at once to the Odd-Fellows' Cemetery, situate on a hill to the west of the town,
where they concealed themselves, and with the spy-glass
spy-glass
examined the surrounding country.

Their efforts were rewarded. Jimmy Kerrigan soon
showed himself, and, upon his waving his handkerchief as
The
a signal, the two other men made their appearance.
three then moved to a spring on the side of the mountain,
where they
sat
down, not manifesting any intention of
going immediately away. Young Beard, leaving Priser to

continue the watch, cautiously made his way out of the
cemetery and then hurriedly down into the town.
He was anxious to capture the party, but to take no one

along for that purpose except such as could be trusted. He
took his elder brother, John Beard, into his councils, and
Wallace Guss,
the two together began to muster a force.
officer, was called away from his business. He came
armed with a navy revolver. William Allebaugh also joined,
armed with a gun. Mike, the hostler at Beard's hotel, was
a bank
a willing recruit.
This occupied some time, and fear was
felt
that Kerrigan
and party had left the spring. The party thus collected, in
word was
their movements up-street, attracted attention
spread abroad of their mission, and before they reached
the upper end of the town their number had increased to
Here they were met by young
twenty or twenty-five.
;
ARREST OF KERRIGAN,
208
who, becoming impatient at the long absence of

Beard, had called another young man, named William E.
Hendricks, into the service, to whom he had given the
Priser,
spy-glass.
still
It
in the
Priser reported that Kerrigan
bush
and
his party
were
at the spring.
was now thought best to approach them from two

Kerrigan was well known, but if before their
directions.
approach the strangers could succeed in getting down to

the railroad and mixing with other men, their escape was
possible.
Wallace Guss, with several others, made a short
cut to the spring over the hill, whilst the Beards, Allebaugh,
and the rest of the party passed up the main road. When
at about twenty yards' distance pursuers and pursued recog-
nized the presence of each other.
Kerrigan approached
Guss and his party, whilst Kelly and Doyle moved off at a
Guss called to Kerrigan,
quick walk in another direction.
telling him to hold up his hands, that it was the other men,
and not him, they wanted. Kerrigan replied, "I would
not hurt you, Wallace."

To prevent a sudden shot from a concealed pistol, the
order to hold up his hands was insisted upon, and a quick
movement was made
after the
two retreating men,
whom
In the mean time, Allebaugh and

they directed to stop.
the others appeared lower down the hill, and within easy
shooting distance of the fugitives.
Doyle, turning, said
that he
knew
his rights
and the
law,
and
that he
would
not be stopped in such a way.

Guss again told him that
they must turn down to the railroad, or they would be
killed by the party below.
The criminals by this time, seeing escape was impossible,

made a virtue of necessity, and quietly surrendered them-
A pistol and a billy were found two days after!.

wards secreted a short distance from the spring. The
arrested men were at once, under
guard of a strong force,
marched into the town.
DOYLE, AND KELLY.
2O9
Mike, the hostler, who is not very familiar with the use
He was
of fire-arms, marched directly behind Doyle.
awkwardly playing with his pistol, and continually snapping
and
it
Doyle naturally was nervous,

had better take care, or you will
near Doyle's back.
said to him,
"You
Mike hardly manifested the proper degree of

horror at the idea, and grumbled out something to the effect
that he would not die of grief if he did.
shoot me."
Kerrigan, Kelly, and Doyle were put in the lock-up,

about the centre of Tamaqua, and near the rear of Beard's
hotel.
The badges of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
were found on Kelly and Doyle, and from them a portion
The crowd had gradually
of a letter to Carroll obtained.
gathered in the main street in the neighborhood of Beard's

hotel.
This was about twelve o'clock, and with each suc-
ceeding moment the excitement grew more intense. The

news of the capture very soon reached Carbon County, and
number of the Coal and Iron Police, accompanied by a

crowd of angry Welshmen from the neighborhood of Suma
mit Hill,
made
their appearance.
The
prisoners were recognized by several persons as

having been seen in the neighborhood of Storm Hill and
Landsford the day previous, and as with each succeeding
recognition the identification became more positive, wilderand wilder grew the excitement. The murmur ran through
the crowd that the lock-up should be forced open and the
prisoners lynched.
Angry expressions were rife that the
law, as to them, would prove as powerless as in the
preceding cases.
At
this juncture of affairs,
many
John Painter,
and demanded the pristhem to the Mauch Chunk jail. As

there was no question of the fact that the murder had been
committed in Carbon County, the demand was granted,
and the prisoners passed into the hands of the Carbon
Deputy
Sheriff of Carbon, arrived,
oners, in order to take
County
authorities.
1
8*
ARREST OF KERRIGAN,
210
A
the
train of
at
what is known as
remove the prisoners.
in waiting at
Tamaqua,
to
about one-third of a mile from Beard's hotel.

prisoners passed this distance under charge of Sheriff
This point
The
open cars was
New York depot,

is
The
Painter and a squad of Coal and Iron Policemen.
crowd now assembled numbered over fifteen hundred angry
men, mostly armed. To render the position of the prisoners
still more insecure, the guard were as much exasperated as
was the mob by which they were surrounded. The guard
were mostly Welshmen, of the same nationality as John P.
Jones. They not only had personal acquaintance with and
respect for the murdered man, but they bore him personal
love, and, whilst mourning for him, their hearts were filled
with pitying tenderness for a bereaved wife and an interesting family cast unprotected, on the world.
The click of pistols was heard in every direction ; oaths
and execrations marked every step of the progress of the
party towards the cars.
that
magnetism which
The
all
police
demanded
order, but
know, but no one can
fully
un-
derstand, rendered it a patent fact that the miserable men

could be torn to pieces, limb from limb, and not one in
that assemblage give even a pitying glance.
Only a spark
was needed to create an explosion, and all knew that what-
ever outrage might be committed upon those prisoners,

the law of public opinion would save the perpetrators from
punishment.
That no
riot
did occur
is
a flattering
commentary upon
the deep respect for law and order which characterizes the
masses of the residents of the coal region.
Only two days before the present tragedy, Thomas Sanger
and William Uren had been brutally murdered, and the

assassins had escaped.
Two weeks before, Squire Gwither
had been shot down on the public streets of Girardville because he had dared to issue a warrant
against a Molly, and
the murderer was still at
Two weeks before, on the
large.
DO YLE, AND KELL Y.
211
same day, in the presence of a large number of people,

Corner James had been openly shot at a picnic, and yet no
one would tell who committed the act. Within two months,
Policeman Yost, an official of their own town, had been
shot whilst in the discharge of his duties, and the deed
seemed clothed in mystery. The last of a series of brutal

outrages had just been committed, and the assassins, fresh
from the scene of blood, had fallen into their power. Long
which no relief hail
years of suffering, from the horrors of
appeared possible, were recalled to mind, and the recollection tended to inflame the masses of the people.
The
"
concentrated hate against the whole
Molly" organization
rose against these three men. They were the first criminals
arrested
whose conviction seemed
possible.
It
was not only
the substratum of society, those who from want of proper

education and training could not be expected to hold in
due regard the machinery of the law, who were aroused,

but all, the rich and the poor, the official of influence and
the hewer of wood and drawer of water, felt that redress
must come in some way ; if not by due course of law, then
by the strong arm of unorganized force. Had this murder
occurred in the Far West, on the Pacific coast, the nearest
tree would have afforded a means for the execution of the
Had summary vengeance been

sentence of Judge Lynch.
of the community would have
sentiment
the
moral
inflicted,
revolted at the deed, but a long-suffering people, whilst
not approving, would never have demanded the punishment
of the offenders.
The
had escaped present danger. Out of

they passed with life and limbs in safety.
They
left behind them a mob of wildly-excited men, who, though
strongly tempted, had yet submitted to the supremacy of
prisoners
Tamaqua
the law.
But they were speeding onward to the home of
John P. Jones. At that point the feelings

of the people had been worked up beyond all restraint.
the murdered
ARREST OF KERRIGAN,
212
There lay the disfigured corse, surrounded by a weeping

From there the news had spread through a thicklyfamily.
populated country, and from all quarters came hosts of
friends,
outraged, angered, revengeful.

to them of the mob assembled at
Word came
Tamaqua,
and the hope was openly expressed on all sides that the
murderers had already answered with their lives for the
crime they had that morning committed. A telegram announced that the prisoners had left Tamaqua alive. It was
received with a yell of dissatisfaction.
Preparations were
at
once made to do
effective
work
Where
at Landsford.
the murder had been committed, there should the
murder
be avenged. A mob gathered around the Landsford depot,

each moment becoming more excited.
But there was
arrangement and fixed purpose.
rival
of the train the unhappy
Immediately on the arto be seized and
men were
instantly killed.
Too much credit cannot be given
William D. Zehner,
and Wilkesbarre Coal

of
mind
on this occasion. His
his
for
presence
Company,
feelings were as much aroused as those of any one present.
He had had intimate business and social intercourse with
the man now murdered, and he also knew that the " Molly"
the superintendent of the Lehigh
was lying
in wait to take his
own
life.
But he
felt
the
responsibility of his position; he foresaw the entire dis-
organifation of society in that neighborhood which would

follow the lynching of these men, and he determined to
pass them on in safety if possible.
The Landsford depot
is
situated near the western en-
trance of the Nesquehoning tunnel.

The depot building
before which the train usually stops is located on a small
branch of the main track.
Around
the depot the
mob had
assembled, waiting the arrival of the prisoners.
The
train
came
in sight.
The prey was apparently within
reach, when, with a wild yell of disappointment, they saw
DOYLE, AND KELLY.

it fly
down
213
the main track and into the tunnel.
Unob-
served by them, under Mr. Zehner's direction, the railroad

switch had been turned.
The murderers were still safe.
At Mauch Chunk the general public had received no

news of the expected arrivals. Telegraphic information
on that point was not permitted. As a consequence, the
arrested men were taken from the cars and to the 'squire's
But the news
office for commitment without difficulty.
A mob again
spread in an incredibly short space of time.
Cries of "kill
assembled, and a new danger threatened.
them!" "hang them!" came from
all sides.
But better
General Albright and General Lilly

claimed to be heard, and both addressed the crowd. They
counsels prevailed.
accomplished their purpose. The mob reluctantly yielded,

and, amidst curses and execrations, the prison-doors closed
on Kerrigan, Doyle, and Kelly as yet unharmed.

That these prisoners have been left to the judgment of
legal tribunals, that the madness of the hour did not then
rule, the coal regions and the world have reason to be thankful.
to
Owing to the safe transportation of the prisoners

Mauch Chunk that day, and their commitment to
prison there, the era of the supremacy of law has dawned

more quickly than could have been possible had mob law
prevailed. With the arrest and imprisonment of Kerrigan,
"
Kelly, and Doyle, the end of the
Molly" reign ap-
proached.
As might
citement,
naturally be expected, during this scene of exsought the points where he could best
McKenna
obtain information.
known
to a
He had,
however, by this time become

in Tamaqua, and was re-
number of people
"
garded with suspicion as being a leading

Molly."
He was in more danger than he was himself aware, not
only during this day, but in the weeks immediately suc.eeding.
Shortly after the news of the murder reached
Tamaqua, a crowd clustered on the pavement in front of a
ARREST OF KERRIGAN,
214
drug-store, engaged in the discussion of the absorbing topic.

Mi Kenna was in the store, and was observed to be listen-
Attention
ing with interest to everything that was said.
being called to that fact, the crowd, regarding him with
looks of hatred, moved to another point.
He
was now anxious
to obtain evidence
which would
render the conviction of the prisoners sure, and for so

doing his open and avowed attachment to Miss Mary Ann
Hegins was of great
service.
It rendered him, however, a
of
still
dislike
to the citizens of Tamaqua.
subject
greater
He desired not only to learn the details of the line of
defense that would be adopted, which he knew of course

would be an " alibi," but also to possess himself of all
evidence, documentary and otherwise, that would tend to
commit the prisoners, without

witness-stand.
The
officers
himself appearing on the
of the law appeared at Kerrigan's house with
a search-warrant
when McKenna was

him
too favorable an opportunity for
showing
his
devotion not
present.
This was
to let pass without
only to the interest of the
"Molly Maguires" but also to the special charms of Miss

Hegins. The constables were, of course, in the strict line
of their duty, but that did not save them from a tirade of
abuse from the family, in which McKenna, with great zeal,
joined, at such invasion of the rights of the citizen.
Such a torrent of invective poured from
his lips that their
patience was exhausted, and he was told that their acts were
not his business.
He insisted that it was well for them it
was not in his house they were nevertheless, he said, he

had rights, that he was paying attention to Kerrigan's
sister-in-law, and he did not intend to let them act in the
manner they were doing without his resenting it. The
;
found nothing of importance, but the interest he

manifested induced the family to
give him all the papers in
their possession to take care of.
McKenna proved to the
officers
DOYLE, AND KELL Y.
215
world that whatever might be the troubles of James Kerrigan, neither his love nor interest in the family could be
He displayed his devotion
shaken by their misfortunes.
On a Sunday he
in an open manner when in Tamaqua.
accompanied his lady-love to church, and he was always
ready with sympathy, counsel, and advice.
Whilst this course of conduct on the part of McKenna
increased the assurance already
disinterested
dence,
it
added
citizens of
felt
by the family
attachment and induced the

to the dislike felt for
Tamaqua, by
whom
fullest
in his
confi-
him by many of the
he was noticed,
anil
in-
spired the suspicion that he was himself connected with

He was rethe frequent murders of the past few months.
as having escaped the meshes of the law,
and the question was discussed among some as to whether
the ends of justice would not be subserved by a bullet, as
"
Molly" but sped by a differquick and sure as that of the
ent hand.
So wide-spread had this feeling become, that
an inkling of it reached the ears of Michael Beard and
garded by many
The feelings of both of these gentlemen

Daniel Shepp.
were deeply excited against the "Molly" organization;
but they were loyal citizens, regarding with deep respect
On this account they severally,
the sanctity of the law.
whenever and wherever practicable, counseled against
To
flagrant violation.
the
more
earnest,
it
its
render their actions in this behalf
will
be remembered that whilst no
confidence had been extended to them by Mr. Franklin,

of the Pinkerton Agency, as to the instrument employed,
they
knew
a detective was in their midst, and
some circumminds that
stances had engendered a suspicion in their

McKenna might be the man.
The danger
be conceived.
in
which the detective was placed can well

was in a town in which the very great
He
majority of the citizens held themselves as entirely ex"

empt from
Molly" influence and control and were unclei
ARREST OF KERRIGAN, DOYLE, AND KELLY.
2i6
The freintense excitement at the outrages committed.

and
in more strictly
the
at
of
the
murders
collieries,
quency
mining towns, had
to
some extent rendered them
familiar;
but the shooting of Policeman Yost in the public streets,

and the open, defiant manner of the more recent murders,
had inspired a fear that no place was secure.

It is no wonder, therefore, that McKenna should be
regarded with intense dislike. From the nature of his busi"
ness, he was obliged not only to be an avowed
Molly,"
but also to display openly his sympathy with the murderers.
This he also displayed by his association with the family

of Kerrigan, and in companionship with those looked upon
with the most suspicion,
when
visiting
Tamaqua.
It
is
probable that the knowledge of the fact that there was a

detective in the coal region, which was now possessed by
quite a number of persons, and the possibility of his being
the man, may have saved McKenna's life.
But whilst McKenna, the "Molly," was increasing the

confidence in which he was held by his associates and becoming detested by the better class of citizens, McParlan,
the detective, had won golden opinions from those aware
of the valuable information that he had given.
His dis-
covery of the Yost murderers, and others in contemplation,

was known, among others, to Charles Parrish, piesident of
the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company.
To Mr. Gowen belongs the credit of having inaugurated
measures and consistently persisted in a policy which has,
it
is
tion
hoped, broken the power of the "Molly" organizabut there has been no more earnest and efficient
assistance than that rendered
by the Lehigh and WilkesCompany, under the lead of Mr. Parrish, its
lent.
Money, time, labor, skill, and earnest attenhave been freely offered and devoted to this end.
barre Coal
tion
When
Kerrigan, Doyle, and Kelly were arrested, under

company, no effort was spared not
the direction of this
THE MOLL Y AS A POLITICIAN.
217
only to collect all possible evidence as to the guilt of those

prisoners, but also to render available the clue offered to
discover the criminals of the past.
But the power of organized capital, combined with the

machinery of the Pinkerton Agency, has its limits.
Shortly after the murder of John P. Jones, Mr. Parrish, in
vast
conversation with Mr. Franklin, requested that a half-dozen

additional detectives such as the one at Tamaqua should
" For a million of dollars

be sent into the coal regions.
" it has
I can't send one at present," answered Franklin
;
taken years to give him his present position, and his equal
Whatever
in other respects is by no means common.
agencies
we may
cannot send a
possess are at your
first-class
command
but
we
detective of this kind at a day's
notice."
was true: men of the rare combination of qualities

possessed by McParlan are not procured on demand.
It
"
Upon the life and safety of the rough-looking Molly"

who loafed at Jim Carroll's and courted the sister-in-law
of the murderer James Kerrigan depended to a great extent
the future of the anthracite coal region.
CHAPTER
THE MOLLY
THE
AS
XXI.
A POLITICIAN THE ELECTION OF
1875.
and Kelly created some

body of "Molly Maguires"
arrest of Kerrigan, Doyle,
uneasiness
among
the whole
throughout the anthracite coal-fields, but not that alarm

which, under the circumstances, might reasonably be exIt was true that even in their view a formidable
pected.
case would be presented on behalf of the
19
Commonwealth;
2i 8
THE MOLLY AS A POLITICIAN.
but past experience in desperate cases had given them

The character of
abiding faith in the power of an "alibi."
the alibi was soon determined upon, and a
witnesses quickly selected.
No
difficulty
number of the
was anticipated
might be required.
Alec Campbell, immediately after the arrests were made,
was much agitated, and denounced Kerrigan's mismanagement after so "clean a job" had been done. He should
in obtaining all that
have had no difficulty in taking the perpetrators back to

Mount Laffee. Campbell was, however, at once ready with
a plan to raise money to employ counsel, and had settled
upon the exact nature of the defense. His method of obtaining money was to call upon the organization in Carbon
County to do its utmost, and to ask aid from other coal-
region counties.
personal
He
was ready himself to make great
sacrifices.
To account
for
Kerrigan's absence from Tamaqua, witshowing that he had on the 26.
nesses were to be produced
of September been at Yorktown, Luzerne County, attending a funeral, from which he only returned on the 3d, after
the commission of the murder.
So far as Doyle and Kelly
were concerned, a large number of witnesses were to prove
their presence in Pottsville and Mount Laffee at such an hour
on the morning of the day of the assassination as to render

their commission of the crime impossible.
He was himself to look after Kerrigan's witnesses, whilst
Jerry Kane, the body-master of Mount Laffee, and parties
about Pottsville were to attend to the details in obtaining
witnesses for Doyle and Kelly.
Of the storm soon to burst upon their heads no one
had
the slightest conception, and least of all had the "Mollies."

In the month of August, at a court held in Schuylkill County, Patrick
Conroy, ex County Commissioner and
lly Magnire," Moses Hine and Valentine Benner, then
Commissioners, had been convicted of misappropriating
2 i^
county funds to their own use, and had been sentenced by

a full bench to two years' imprisonment respectively.
It is true that of the persons convicted only one was a
"
Molly Maguire," but the two others were of that class of

politicians (one a Democrat and the other a Republican)
from whom they received countenance and support.
"Molly" supremacy in township affairs was also threatened. The court of Schuylkill County had appointed special
auditors for several of the townships, who were attending
to their duties thoroughly and vigorously.
There were
also members of the order who were undergoing terms of
imprisonment for whom pardons were anxiously desired.
The murders and other outrages committed during the"
preceding months had been of such frequent occurrence and
so bold in execution as to create outspoken denunciation,
especially in the larger towns, and after the arrests made in
The danger of severe
retaliation was beginning

This sudden boldness was to a great extent
owing to the absolute necessity for self-protection, but was
very materially increased by the defiant attitude of the
Tamaqua.
to be feared.
Shenandoah Herald, published by Thomas Foster, who was

ably assisted in the editorial department by Thomas B.
Fielder, Esq.
The
position taken
by these gentlemen
startled the
whole
To denounce them in Scranton,

organization.
Wilkesbarre, or Pottsville would evoke their curses but
"Molly"
would be comparatively safe, but to enter upon the boldest

and most aggressive warfare ever attempted against them,
and that, too, in the borough of Shenandoah, their great
stronghold, was like bearding the lion in his den.
Warnings and cautions given by friends to the publisher
and editor were frequent, as were also the threats of members of the organization against both the property and persons of these gentlemen.
Regardless of both warnings and
threats, they
pursued the course marked out, and as a con-
220
Shenandoah, a party in open opposition

Molly" supremacy soon rallied.
The arrest of the murderers of John P. Jones had, however, inspired some caution, and the result of their trial
was anxiously awaited before the commission of other mursequence, even
to
in
"
ders then in contemplation.

Nevertheless, at this time the attitude of the
was a
fearless one.
That
their organization
"
Molly"
was criminal
they never dreamed could be believed, notwithstanding

the suspicions that were gaining ground.
They still controlled township affairs in many places, and were flattered
and caressed by a powerful political element. A guberThis was sought to be
natorial election was approaching.
made a means by which their power could be maintained.
As in years gone by, they were ready to sell their votes
either for the purposes of personal gain or for
promised
pardons.
Although so recognized among themselves, the name of

Molly Maguire" was disavowed in their intercourse with
those not members of the society.
The name and charter
"
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians were not only intended

to deceive, but actually did deceive, a large portion of the
community.
It was hard
tions at hotels
to believe that a society that held
and
halls,
on public
convent
streets, in the
light of day, in the very centre of large towns,
broad
was being
run in the interest of murderers and for the purposes of

As a consequence, the open denial of membership
crime.
of the "Molly" society, combined with denunciation of
crimes, met with great success.* It was only when the
testimony of McParlan was given, and corroborated in its
main features, that the true facts of the case were generally
understood.
its
* As a specimen of "
Molly" tactics, see the letter of Jack Kehoe to the
Shenandoah Herald, published in the Appendix.
2 2i
That in the various bargains and sales made with these

miscreants for political purposes the purchasers had only
partial knowledge of the thoroughness of the criminal organization should in reality form no plea in mitigation of
the condemnation with which, its full character known, it
must be regarded. Universal corruption in politics is as

of a blow to the life of the nation as is the " Molly"
much
bullet to the life of the victim.
Yet so
it is
extended and frequent
political corruption
common throughout the country, that the

of
judgment
many of those who in the business and private
relations of life are good and pure men is to some extent
has
become
so
and such corruption,

condemned.
biased,
if
not openly approved,
is
not
The great mass of the citizens of the United States would

sincerely rejoice were there absolute certainty of the honNeveresty of elections and the purity of the ballot-box.
theless, the mass of those citizens, like the mass of mankind,
are partisan in their nature.
They fall naturally into partisan politics, and during election excitements become possessed with an intense desire for success.
Success attained, the charge of dishonest means used
is
not, as a rule, investigated, will not be believed, is indigWhen the proof is forced and is irresistnantly denied.
it is answered with a
counter-charge, too often well
founded, of corruption on the other side.
The hackneyed quotation of
ible,
"
The good
old rule
Sufficeth them, the simple plan
That they should take who had the power.
And
like
and
they should keep
who
can,"
most hackneyed quotations, illustrates a great truth,

no subject has it more apt application than to par-
to
tisan politics.
In the struggle for power success
is
too often
222
held to justify any means by which
it is
The
attained.
suc-
triumphant, and does

not desire to scrutinize too closely, whilst the unsuccessful, frequently embarrassed by his own misdeeds, is unable
cessful partisan,
however honest,
to lose the time
and bear the expense necessary
offenders to justice.
No
matter
is
how
to bring
flagrant the fraud, the
attempt would be made not only with no sympathy from, but

even against the active resistance of, the successful party.
As a consequence, the unscrupulous and debased politician too often fraudulently manipulates elections, whilst
the honest and well-disposed voters, who
great mass of the people, quietly acquiesce.
That great demoralization
exists is a
but that fraud clearly proven does not

sanction is equally true.
This
demand
is
make up
recognized
receive
the
fact,
general
demonstrated in the popularity of the general
for reform,
and
made by all parties

end can be reached. The
"
however, like the
Molly Ma-
in the claims
that in their success the desired
corruptionist in politics,
guire" of the anthracite coal-fields,
is
among
his fellows
open and avowed in his iniquity, and, again like the

"
Molly," claims admiration and honor on account of the
successful perpetration of crime.
The "Molly Maguires," Irishmen,
or the sons of Irish-
mass of their countrymen, naturally

sympathize with the Democratic party; yet that their
votes and influence have been held as a matter of
bargain
and sale for years past is beyond mere suspicion, it cannot
men,
like the great
be controverted.
It was under the
patronage of the politician that the order
had acquired its strength, and flattered by his caresses it felt
its
omnipotence
obtained money;
for evil.
By combination
the
by combination he could give
"Molly"
full
scope
through combination he hoped for
pardons, was courted, caressed, was a man of influence.
to his evil passions;
223
'
At the time of the murder of John P. Jones the Mollies'

were eagerly pressing upon the Democratic party the claims
of Patrick Collins, body-master of Palo Alto, for nomina' '
tion to the office of
County Commissioner of Schuylkill
County. The conviction and sentence of two of the three

Commissioners, and the appointment of Lewis C. Dougherty
and Michael Beard, had been a blow to their influence in
the
management of county
affairs,
election of Collins, in both of
were regarded
as
In this matter
and the nomination and
which they were
successful,
of great importance.
McKenna,
in his efforts to maintain his
He was at Pottsville on
position, was exceedingly active.
the i3th of September, the day of the convention, and,
although not a member of the body, was on the outside, as
earnest and loud in the advocacy of Collins's claims as his
most devoted friends could
desire.
Hon. Cyrus
kill
L. Pershing, President Judge of the Schuyldistrict, received the Democratic nomination for Gov-
Throughout the coal region, and especially in

Schuylkill County, the nomination was exceedingly popular, and by none was more cordial approbation professed
than by the leaders of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
ernor.
Large numbers of Republicans expressed their determination to vote for him, and openly advocated his election.
In Philadelphia, however, at a very early day in the
canvass, assertions were made as coming from Republican
headquarters thltt Judge Pershing would be defeated in the
anthracite coal regions, and especial stress was laid on the
fact that he would be beaten in his own county of Schuylkill.
and
The confidence displayed on this point was great,

by Republicans in some instances of
bets were offered
a majority against, and in others of but a very small majority in favor of, the Democratic candidate in Schuylkill
County.
News
of these assertions were carried to Democratic
TIIE
224
MOLLY AS A
POLITICIAN.
headquarters, and Hon. H. B. Wright, the Chairman of

the Committee, fresh from Luzerne County, was, with all
others present, utterly at a loss to account for the confi-
dence manifested by the Republicans.
All the news at
that time received from the coal regions, from the Democratic stand-point, had been of the most cheering character.
It
was suggested that there might have been an agree-
"
to purchase the
Molly Maguire" vote and influence ;
The
but for the time being the idea was not entertained.
ment
nomination of Judge Pershing had been received with

apparent enthusiasm by those supposed to be leading
" Mollies" and
by the Irish element generally. That such
anticipations were entertained by the Republican party
the Democratic party of the coal regions first learned
from Philadelphia.
They were taken completely by
sur-
the Republican ranks had

not even an intimation given of any
large accessions from
prise;
been promised, and

disaffection existing.
Very soon, however, leading Republicans of the coal

region displayed a confidence equal to that of their Philadelphia brethren, and bets as to but a small majority in
the coal-region counties were freely offered.*
Rumors be-
came current
that the convicted County Commissioners

were to be pardoned in the event of the re-election of
General Hartranft, the Republican candidate for Governor,
and that money was to be paid for "Molly" votes and
"Molly"
influence.
That there was any serious loss of the Irish vote to the
Democratic party was by them earnestly denied, especially
in Schuylkill County, where the election of Patrick Collins
as County Commissioner was to many of them a paramount
*
It is
leading
not intended that
"
Mollies" was
in Schuylkill
County.
it
made
should be understood that the bargain with

The matter was negotiated
in Philadelphia.
But before the bargain was closed leading Repubwere consulted.
lican politicians in Philadelphia
225
object. An open opposition to Judge Pershing they feared

might affect the vote of Collins. Collins himself professed,
and may have felt, great devotion to the Democratic candidate for Governor, and utterly denied that he was himself
a "Molly Maguire." This, it is to be presumed, was on
the assumption that he was only a member of the Ancient

Order of Hibernians, a distinction since shown to be
without a difference, so far as the anthracite coal regions

are concerned.
That the purchase of such vote for General Hartranft

was made in the interest of the Republican party was
testified to in October, 1876, by John J. Slattery, when
examined as a witness in the trial of Yellow Jack Donahue
for the murder of Morgan Powell.
Slattery testified that
he and Jack Kehoe were, on the part of the "Mollies,"
that the persons with whom they
;
the contract were two Republicans of influence, and
a professed Democrat who was opposing the elec-
parties to the contract
made
also
tion of Judge Pershing that the consideration was a certain

amount of money in hand paid, and a certain amount
contingent on results, and that it was understood in the
:
order that pardons were to be granted the Commissioners

that he had himself arranged for
and other criminals;
the purchase of the "Molly" vote in Luzerne County,

that the money was carried there for that purpose by
and
a person from Harrisburg, a messenger in the Executive
department,
whom
he named.*
the fact that a large
Slattery also testified to

to be sent to
amount of money was
Pittsburg to purchase the order there.

The facts, as stated by Slattery, so far as the payment of
money is concerned, have been admitted. It is maintained,
*
The
writer does not intend, even
He
by innuendo,
to
make any charge
assured, by those who probably understand this matter, of his entire ignorance of the transaction. This the
against Governor Hartranft.
friends of
Governor Hartranft
is
will readily credit.
226
however, that it was not for the purchase of the "Molly"

vote ; that at the interviews with Slattery and Kehoe
nothing was said as to pardons; that the
money was
paid
As
against the oath of a convicted " Molly Maguire," the mere assertion of the parties
he implicates in a disreputable transaction should have
for legitimate expenses.
great weight.
But the corroboration of Slattery in the admission of the
payment of the money substantially establishes his whole
testimony.
He
does not assert that there was any agree-
ment made between the contracting

agreement,
the
it
He
parties
on the sub-
there was no regular

was well understood between ourselves and
ject of pardons.
men who
"Though
says,
when necessary we
paid us the money that

for our men." *
were to get pardons
* Shenandoah Herald, October

23, 1876.
Extract from Slattery's evidence
:
For this money that you received you were to use all your
Question.
influence among the men of your order in favor of the Governor?
Answer. Yes, sir. The entire " Molly Maguire" vote was to be cast
and .Kehoe was to write to every county delegate in the

and wherever there was a branch of the order in the State their influence and votes were to be cast for Hartranft and before we got the
money Kehoe showed them how strong the order was all over the State.
for Hartranft,
State
"
Were any other means used to gain the Molly Maguire"

Question.
vote in any other part of the State ?
Answer. Yes, sir. I fixed matters for Luzerne County.
***********
Was any money in
Question.
to be used in
addition to the sums you have mentioned

any other part of the State ? was any money to be used in
Pittsburg?
Answer.
order
On
Yes,
sir.
More money was
to
be paid to the head
men
of the
in Pittsburg.
the subject of pardons
Did you or the order ever obtain any pardons for the manner in which the " Molly Maguire" vote was cast?
Answer. WHI, I had nothing to do with
anything of the kind myself,
but it was well understood that it was
through the order that McCloskey
and Tobin, and the County Commissioners and others, were
pardoned and
Question.
227
The money was certainly paid for a purpose. When

money was paid to John Kehoe, the County Delegate,
and John J. Slattery, a leading "Molly," it is to be assumed that the persons who negotiated, and the persons
from abroad who paid, knew exactly what was intended to
that
On
be done.
were
the supposition that any of these gentlemen

the delivery of the "Molly" vote
at all surprised at
on election-day a theory of innocence might be established, but it would be of innocence accompanied by a degree of "verdancy" not at all enviable, and not generally
attributed to
any of the
parties concerned.
In the county of Schuylkill, Judge Pershing had about

the
The
usual Democratic majority.
in
loss
"Molly"
strongholds was overcome by gains in other districts.

When the bargain was made, it is not only probable,
certain, that the full criminal nature of the order
understood
it
is
was not
but whether or not the vote had been pur-
chased was widely discussed, and upon that point leading

Republicans were confident and the great body of the
Democrats
fearful.
In this matter the parties concerned are neither better

nor worse than many others who have engaged in similar
In the general expose of "Molly" crimes
transactions.
this
one transaction has come to
first
purchase of the order, but
the
it is
light.
to be
It
was not the
hoped
it
will
be
last.
The
evil has its
being not
tion, but in an idea prevalent
that
in the parties to this transac-
among
fair in
politicians of all par-
It is this pernicious doctrine that has induced very many men in other
respects of high character to do things which neither their
ties,
"anything
is
politics."
conscience nor their judgment approved.

Barney Dolan, the County Delegate of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
"
Bear" Dolan by promising
before John Kehoe, obtained the pardon of

"
the
Molly Maguire" vote.
228
It would not be just to the Board of Pardons or to

Governor Hartranft to hold them responsible because the
" Mollies" had an
understanding relative to such pardons
among
themselves.
Slattery testifies that the promised pardons of Tobin and

of the Commissioners were used to influence votes, and yet
in both of these cases the petitions for pardon were signed
by men of unquestionable character of both political parties.
There are many men who approved and advocated
both of these pardons who have not only no sympathy with
the order, but are even bitterly opposed to it.

It required skill and management so to conduct
the
business of pardons as to influence the "Molly" vote and

at the same time receive indorsements from good citizens;
but the manipulators were equal to the occasion.

When, however, in connection with rumors and expectation on the part of the ''Mollies" the pardons are seen to
be granted without the petitions being signed by either the

judge before whom the case was tried or the district attorney who prosecuted, and this in direct violation of the
established rules of the Board of Pardons, that suspicion
should arise was but natural.
has been necessary to consider this subject.
It
part of the history of the organization.
It
is
It strikingly illus-
power and importance. Many murders had been

committed in which it was believed that members of the
trates its
order were
Arrests
implicated.
had been made.
The
bitterness of feeling against the order in many sections of

the region was intense.
But it was still defiant, still arro-
gant.
of
its
other,
its
It demanded from one

party the nomination of one
members to an important county office, and the
recognizing and respecting its power, pandered to
vices
and purchased
In October,
political parties.
1875,
it
it.
was feared and courted by both
THE AUTUMN OF
That the leaders of
1875.
this organization
229
should be admitted
to friendly intercourse with respectable men is explainable

by the fact that, even in the theatre of their crimes, in the
very midst of their operations, where manifestations of

their power for evil are visible on every side, it was not
in ordinary
human
nature to conceive
its
extent and ter-
rible nature.
It is
hardly probable that the
"Molly Maguire" can
in
any potent influence in politics. Of the

worst of the order, many are confined within prison-walls,
the future exercise
others are outcasts and fugitives, and still others are trembling lest in the developments being made their crimes shall
come
It
to light.
hoped the day of
is
politics will
come.
at least
In the
comparative honesty in
for reform the masses
demand
Their earnest wish may not

of the people are in earnest.
forever be defied. The fate of the Tweed ring in New York,
of the whisky rings in Chicago and St. Louis, and of the
canal ring in New York, the investigation of custom-house
frauds,
and
lastly the
of the anthracite
downfall of the
coal-fields,
may
"Molly Maguire"
well serve as warnings to
however arrogant, proud, and of present power,

end is inevitable, and that the way of the trans-
evil-doers,
that the
gressor
is
hard.
CHAPTER
XXII.
THE AUTUMN OF lS75_WAITING FOR THE
To no one
TRIALS.
did the arrest of the murderers of John P.
Jones give more thorough satisfaction than to Charles W.

Parrish, Esq., the president of the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre
Mr. Parrish has long experience and

intimate knowledge of the coal region and practical coal-
Coal Company.
THE AUTUMN OF
2 30
1875.
When the policy of formscale.

ing great coal-mining- companies was adopted, he was influential in the formation of the company of which he is
mining on an extended
president.
To
render the lands of his company valuable, he, like

fully impressed with the necessity of less-
Mr. Gowen, was
ening the overgrown power of the "Labor Union" and of

absolutely exterminating, if possible, the Molly Maguires.
When in the month of August, 1875, ne learned of the
work being done by the detective

preciated
its
at
Tamaqua, he
fully ap-
importance to coal-mining interests and to
and property throughout the coal regions. When

Kerrigan, Doyle, and Kelly were committed to prison at
life
Mauch Chunk, he felt that the time for energetic action

on the part of his company had arrived.
It was speedily ascertained, through information derived
from McParlan, that the proper parties had been arrested,
but to defeat the "alibi," it was feared, would be difficult.
The "Mollies" were in the heyday of their power and influence, and it was only too likely that fear of sudden and
dreadful death would close the mouths of witnesses in this
as in the many cases that had preceded it.
To
counteract the influence of this terrorism the efforts
civil authorities, backed with the money, the power,

and the influence of the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, were evoked ; and as the assassination of Yost had
been perpetrated by men from Carbon County in consideration of the murder of Jones, the cost of their prosecution was also assumed by the company.
The assassination of Jones had excited intense indignation in the locality where it had been committed, and the
of the
determined stand taken by the company inspired courage.

At this juncture the Commonwealth was fortunate in having the services of General Charles Albright, the legal
adviser of the coal company.
With a
full
conception of
THE AUTUMN OF
1875.
231
the importance of the case, no item of evidence was too

no detail too laborious, to engage his attention.
small,
Availing himself of the ample resources at his command,

the amount of labor he accomplished is almost incredible.
His note-book is a curiosity, but, judging from its
size and the amount of information it contains, it must be
written in a short-hand understood only by himself.
It is a
compendium of testimony, a perfect store-house of knowl-
edge of witnesses, of "Mollies," their wives, their personal habits, and their relations.
Rapidly but surely a
of
the
case
was
made
that has scarcely a
preparation
parallel in the annals of criminal jurisprudence.
In accomplishing this end McKenna was of great service.

did not come in contact with, nor was he the person
He
known
to,
General Albright,
or, in fact, to
any one
in his
except to his immediate employers, the

Pinkerton Agency.
But through information derived from
official capacity,
him not only was the work of

facilitated, but a
the
Commonwealth
greatly
complete knowledge of the whole theory
of the defense, and the means taken to establish the "alibi"

to be set up on the trial, was obtained.
which was
The
intimate relations which
McKenna had
with the
family of James Kerrigan, and his apparent devotion to

his sister-in-law, as well as his position as a leading
"
Molly," justified the deep interest which he manifested,

and caused him to be consulted upon every step taken for
the defense.
That he displayed great activity in this matter it is unHe urged the raising of money to fee
necessary to say.
He consulted with Mulhearn, a young lawyer,
lawyers.
an Irishman, who went to Mount Laffee for the purpose
of looking up the witnesses for the "alibi" to be set up for
Doyle and Kelly. He was one of the managers of a ball
given at the old Town Hall, in Pottsville, by the Ancient
Order of Hibernians, the understood object of which was
THE AUTUMN OF
232
1875.
to raise funds to aid in the defense of the accused murderers of John P. Jones; and he was at the ball, the wildest
to dance, to
Irishman of them all, ready for anything,
drink, to sing, or to fight.
Immediately succeeding the murder of John P. Jones,

McKenna were appreciated to their fullest
the services of
extent, not only by the Pinkerton Agency, but also by

He had
those by whom the Agency had been employed.
now attained such a position in the order that the acquisi-
knowledge of crimes, past and present, was becoming comparatively easy; but all his energies were fully
tion of
taxed.
He
was
still
engaged in
ders done in years past
his investigations of the
he was on the
alert
mur-
to guard
against and report contemplated crime, and every move of

the defense of the Jones murderers required his special
attention.
The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company

had acquired an extent of information relative to perpetrated crimes that rendered the desire for full information
more
intense, whilst
the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre
Coal
hopeful that through him the history of

outrages in Carbon and Luzerne Counties, long buried in
the mists of the past, would be discovered, and the longundetected criminal be called to answer at the bar of justice.
Company became
As the resources and opportunities of McKenna had

enlarged, the theatre of his operations became more extended, and a well-founded hope was felt that, in time
and by patient work, the full scope and object of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, whether criminal or otherwise,
not only in
the
coal
regions, but also
throughout the
United States and Great Britain, would be to a certainty

discovered.
In the autumn of 1875,
connection with his other
duties, he spent the greater portion of several
months
in
THE AUTUMN OF
1875.
233
Luzerne County, obtaining more
full and detailed knowledge of the operations of the organization there, and also
keeping in view the movements of certain persons known
by him to be criminals.
During this time the authorities of Schuylkill County
were actively engaged. From information derived through
the detective the perpetrators of very many outrages and
murders, old and new, had become known to them and
George R. Kaercher, Esq., the efficient and able District
Attorney, was doing his utmost to obtain the necessary
evidence to justify arrests. To do this without exciting
suspicion was difficult. The detective was actively at worK.
but, independently of him as a witness, it was feared that
sufficient evidence could not be produced at that time to
hold the guilty parties to answer as against a writ of habeas
;
corpus.
Those who could have been so held were generally the

minor offenders, whose arrest would have put the greater
criminals on their guard. So far as practicable, the places
known
to be guilty
were kept in view.

of the Jones murderers
approached, the confidence of both the Commonwealth
of residence of those
But as the time
for the trial
and the "Molly Maguire" organization increased. The

counsel for the prosecution had in that case gathered such
a mass of testimony as to render, to their minds, convic" Mollies" the exact
tion certain ; whilst on the part of the
character of the alibi had been fully determined upon in
there existed no difficulty in obtaining any
all its details,
number of witnesses to swear to it. The necessary

funds they felt assured would be raised, either directly by
or through the influence of the organization.
desired
Of their acquittal
for example, at a
very
many
felt
convention held
assured at an early day ;

at Shenandoah, for the
purpose of raising funds for the defense, as early as the

2oth of September, Thomas Munley told McKenna that
20*
THE AUTUMN OF
234
1875.
" Mollies"
he had informed a number of
that
Darcy were the murderers of Jones. He begged

that it was well known
not to expose him
;
he and
McKenna
among a
number of the organization that he had killed Sanger,

and he wanted the additional honor of having it believed
that he had also murdered Jones
that, if McKenna did
not contradict him, there would be no difficulty on this
point, as Kerrigan, Doyle, and Kelly would certainly prove
;
an "alibi."
The
case had been fixed for trial at
Mauch Chunk on
the
The cause was continued at the

iQth of October, 1875.
instance of the prisoners, who alleged defect in the summoning of jurors. The question presented was a doubtful
one, and the court decided
the
point
in
favor of the
prisoners.
But during this time the hope of the conviction of

the arrested prisoners, the outspoken denunciations of the
order by the public press, especially by the Shenandoah
and
published in the very centre of their power,
the determined stand of the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal
//</(//</,
Company, not only were breaking down

isting,
the terrorism ex-
but had also
Owing
roused a bitter desire for revenge.

to the fury inspired in the order by the arrest of
Kerrigan, Kelly, and Doyle, outrages at first were frequent,

still more were threatened.
"Coffin notices" were
of daily occurrence.
But they were disregarded and
de-j
" Mollies" that
ficd, and counter-notices served on leading
and
retaliation in a tenfold degree
"Molly" was
to respect to
deemed
some extent an opposition which he had not
possible.
* As some indication of the

!
would be inflicted.* The

and surprised, but learnedj
startled, indignant,
to the following ,-xtracts
nature were published daily
Communication
to
state of feeling at this time, attention is
from the public press.
Articles of the
same
Shenandoah Herald, September
17,
1875.
"
It is
THE AUTUMN OF
1875.
235
Shenandoah was not only the stronghold of the "Mollies," but soon in the coal regions became the stronghold
In that place the bitterness of feeling
increased day by day, until on the evening of Saturday, the pth of October, it appeared to have
That night is remembered
reached the culminating point.
of the opposition.
was intense, and
it
there as the "night of terror."

Early in the evening a
feeling of uneasiness seemed to pervade the whole town,
how
or
why no one could
tell.
and seven o'clock in the evening an Irishman

named John Heffron walked into the National Hotel and
stepped up to Daniel Williams, who was behind the bar,
Between
six
pulled out a revolver, and, pointing it at him, asked how

he would like some of that. Williams said, " Not at all,"
when Heffron, turning, fired into the street. Fortunately,

no one was injured. Heffron was arrested and taken be-
who took away the pistol, but said

would be returned if five dollars were paid. No money
was forthcoming, and Heffron was discharged on bail.
fore Burgess Conners,
it
thought by many that in order to deter the reputable citizens of this place
from giving evidence against Kelly, Kerrigan, and Doyle, at present in
jail at Mauch Chunk, a citizen or two of the county will be munk-ri-d
shortly in cold blood, as have
Uren, and Jones. This,

away from the trial, and
it is
been Major, Yost, James, Gwither, Sanger,

Mollies' think will keep witnesses
said, the
assist in
'
securing the release of the murderers,
is confidently counted upon.

The murderers may be acquitted,
such things have happened before, but the blood of Yost and Jones calls
for vengeance, and before the grass of next spring-time grows upon their
which
graves the debt will have been wiped out,

the law
and the
courts, then,
if
not through the agency of

swiftly, independent of
and more surely and
that agency."
From the Tamaqua Item. " In Shenandoah mine-bosses go to work

guarded by a couple of policemen, or with carbines over their shoulders.
A pretty spectacle, truly, for the United States of America within a year of
It is a consolation to know, however, that, if there is anythe Centennial
!
thing in the signs of the times, long before this time next year Schuylkill
County will be too hot to hold the Thugs and murderers who have so long
been terrorizing over us."
THE AUTUMN OF
236
About
1875.
time a dispute occurred between an Irishman,

a stranger, in Couch's saloon,
this
named Richard Finnen, and
as to their respective strength.

Suddenly the saloon was
filled with a crowd of people, who joined in the altercation ;
by an unknown hand at Finnen, who fell,

mortally wounded, it was supposed, the ball having lodged
in the head, above the right eye.
A turbulent feeling seemed to pervade the town ; many
persons went to their homes, but their places were more
a shot was
fired
than
filled by others making their appearance.

About eleven o'clock at night a man named Reese Thomas
fired a shot from his revolver,

he claimed, accidentally;
he was arrested and sent to the lock-up, the burgess refusing bail. This increased the excitement. An Irishman,
although guilty of a much more flagrant offense, had just

before been discharged.
Frequent shots now were heard over the town ; men

were stopped and examined by self-constituted committees.
A man named James Johns, a Welshman, was found in
he had been shot, the ball
and lodging near the right
lung his throat was cut from ear to ear, and he had been
beaten on the head with a billy.
There had been an attempt to burn him his clothes were partly charred. And
a saloon in a fearful condition

pa.ising in
the shoulder-blade
at-
yet he was not dead.

It
was now past midnight.

The streets were filled with
; those who had been in their beds arose and
joined
people
The town was
the throng.
by
filled with small mobs, actuated

There was an angry look in every
uul yet there was no special
object on which to vent
different motives.
their spleen, but

n shots
of
were
men were
.((1,
crowded.
men
fired into,
set.
Muff Lawler's tavern.
Some
Crowds
but the intended assassins, although
During the whole night the streets were

large fire was raging in Mahanoy City, only
escaped.
stood with their teeth
fired into
THE AUTUMN OF
1875.
237
about four miles distant, and with its lurid glare lit up
Men
the heavens, but it hardly excited a passing remark.
were fearful of some impending danger, they could not
what ; there was a wicked, ugly feeling prevalent,

which had it been so directed might have occasioned a
With the early dawn the streets were still
fearful riot.
filled with angry men.
How this turbulence arose, and what was its cause, that
The whole community was
night, it is difficult to say.
the
Mollies
were
defiant, a bloody conflict seemed
outraged,
but
pending;
daylight appeared, the blow had not been
tell
and the excitement abated.

Strange to say, severe as were the wounds of the Irishman and Welshman, neither died from their effect.
struck,
On Sunday
the deputy sheriff issued a proclamation,

night the town was patrolled by one hundred
the
special policemen, composed of the leading citizens of
and
that
Quiet was again restored.

Qth of October, 1875, the time fixed for the trial
of the Jones murderers, came and passed, the case was
continued, and all parties seemed to be waiting the result
place.
The
of the
sion
trial,
when an event occurred which
and great
excited discus-
feeling.
number of persons suspected
the McAllisters
and
O'Donnells to have been the murderers of Sanger and

Uren. But month after month rolled by, and no addiIt was beginning to be believed
tional arrests were made.
that the guilty parties would entirely escape punishment,
known as the "
an
when
Wigoutrage occurred, generally

gan's Patch murder," then and now generally supposed to
have been the work of a vigilance committee.
Friday and Charles O'Donnell resided, in December,
1875, with their mother, at Wiggan's Patch, a small colCharles McAllister, with
liery town near Mahanoy City.
his
wife,
who was a daughter of Mrs. O'Donnell,
also
THE AUTUMN OF
238
1875.
About one o'clock on the

in the same house.
morning of the loth of December an attack by a mob of
boarded
men roused the sleeping family. Friday O'Donwas known as a desperado, but, overawed by the suddenness of the attack, he offered no resistance, and sought
disguised
nell
safety in instant flight
from the house, the neighborhood,
and the county. Charles McAllister also succeeded in escaping. James McAllister was captured, had a rope placed
round his neck, but succeeded in getting away, though in
doing so he received a severe gunshot wound in the arm.
Charles O'Donnell was captured, and was dragged a short
distance from the house, where he was shot and instantly
killed
fourteen bullets are said to have been lodged in
his
body.
Whilst
this was occurring, Mrs. Charles McAllister made

her appearance in her night-clothes at the door of the
house. Shots were fired at her, which, taking effect, caused
It is supposed that her murder was
almost instant death.
unintentional,
that the
mob, seeing only the white robes
in the darkness, shot, as they imagined, at the.
husband
in-
stead of the wife.
was the work of a vigilance committee, in their

and in the character of the crime they closely
followed the example of the " Molly Maguire."
The victims were unarmed and unresisting, and sent without a
If this
retaliation
The mob disappeared

eternity.
Who they were, whence they
quickly and mysteriously.
came, and whither they went, are still wrapped in mystery.
moment's warning into
Whoever they were, they
desired that the intention of their
act should be considered as being

paper containing the words,
one of revenge.
MURDERERS OF
UREN AND SANGER,
THF,
THE AUTUMN OF
1875.
239
was next morning found near the scene of the outrage. A

man named F. Wenerich, residing in Mahanoy City, was
arrested,* but his innocence of any participation in the
crime has been recognized.
It is believed that this murder caused more general and
wide-spread consternation among the "Molly Maguires"
than even the arrest of John P. Jones. The punishment
of murderers by death at the hand of the law had never
The "alibi" had
followed any of their numerous crimes.
To obtain
always proven a successful means of defense.
witnesses to prove such "alibi" required scarcely an effort.
Success in the past by such means inspired a well-founded
hope for the future.
But the very characteristic in their nature which induced
them to clothe cold-blooded brutal assassination with the
robe of heroism inspired them with morbid terror when
their own modes of action were applied to themselves.
The excitement prevailing after the " Wiggan's Patch mur-
der" throughout the Molly organization in the coal region

was therefore intense. A peculiarity of the " Molly" social
circle has been before referred to, that whilst, to those
outside their organization, their disregard of
inconceivable, yet among themselves there
is
dread of death.
The mourning
human
is
life
a morbid
for the unfortunate victims
was wide-spread, and their indignation

among
was as intense as if no provocation whatever had been
this class
given, f
*
John Kehoe was the prosecutor.

Both by the community at large and by the great body of the " Mollies" the "Wiggan's Patch" murder is supposed to have been the work
of the vigilance committee.
Its effect was as described in the text.
But in the opinion of John J. Slattery it was the work of John Kehoe.
It appears that after the murder of Sanger and Uren, young Charles
O'Donnell was much troubled in mind. It affected him to such a degree
that his family became alarmed John Kehoe, the brother-in-law, remonstrated with him, but O'Donnell still continued restless and disturbed.
f
THE AUTUMN OF
24o
Some were
1875.
terror-stricken, but the bolder spirits
were
and desperate. Day by day active resistance was

In Northumberland County, in
organizing against them.
in
the
Mahanoy regions, and about
Schuylkill County,
sullen
Tamaqua, and
in
Carbon County, instead of the terrorism
before existing, active retaliation was being inaugurated.

The Catholic Church, always their enemy, now formally
But the power of years, now

height, was not to be yielded without a
excommunicated them.
apparently at
its
severe struggle.
As
politicians,
they were courted
as
criminals, they were hopeful of obtaining pardons.

They
could not, and they would not, believe their reign was
drawing to a close. Never, perhaps, in the whole history
of the anthracite coal-fields, did there exist greater danger
than at this time of wide-spread destruction of
life
and
property.
Two
Schuylkill
and met
called,
County conventions of the order were

in
January, 1876, at Jack Kehoe's, in
Girardville, to take into consideration the expediency of
Kchoc became so indignant

nell's
at his
conduct that he went to Mrs. O'Don-
house and thrashed him.
O'Donnell's uneasiness remained, and it was feared by Kehoe that

all the circumstances connected with the murder would be
through him
Slattery understood the state of affairs,
exposed.
and knew of Kehoe's
feelings.
On the morning of the Qth of December, Charles Mulhearn told Slattery

he was going to Mahanoy Valley that day, and that a
"job" was to be
done at Wiggan's Patch that night.
On
the toth he heard of the murder.
His suspicions were at once

did not see Mulhearn until about four
days afterwards.
When they did meet, Mulhearn made no reference to the matter. This
increased Slattery's suspicions. He believes that had Mulhearn not known
He
aroused.
that the murder was not the work of the

vigilance committee, he would
have been much excited on the
subject.
The
affair of
Wiggan's Patch is still a mystery. It is difficult to believe

K.-h-M.. would
deliberately compass the murder of the brothers
of his wife
"
but then
Molly" murders
it
is
crnlibl,-.
only positive proof that renders any of the
THE TRIAL OF DOYLE,

furnishing the
The
members of
241
the organization with
rifles.
and complete arming of the

and an assessment was made upon
necessity of a thorough
order was agreed to,

each member for that purpose.
The spirit manifested at the meetings was a defiant one,
and curses and threats at the opposition to them were rife.

These assessments were in part paid. A most formidable
organization was only prevented by the arrests quickly following, and consequent demoralization.
A collision seemed imminent. The "Molly," on the
one hand, was exasperated at the active measures taken
against the order, and the defiant attitude assumed.

portion of the community were intensely excited in their
opposition, and fearful that in the future, as in the past,

the murderers would escape punishment.
Both parties
were in so inflammable a condition that a

tion would have produced open warfare.
CHAPTER
slight
provoca-
XXIII.
THE TRIAL OF DOYLE-CONFESSION OF KERRIGAN.

WHILST
affairs
were in the condition described in the
preceding chapter, the trial of the alleged murderers of

John P. Jones was awaited by the entire community
throughout the coal region with deep anxiety.
Those
who were ignorant of the extent of the preparation made

by the Commonwealth and such of course formed the
mass of the people had suffered so long under the rule
of the "Mollies" that the hope of punishment
following
crime in their case was but slight.
The arrests had caused the " Molly Maguires" to defer
the perpetration of contemplated murders ; but upon the
THE TRIAL OF DOYLE.
24 2
acquittal of the prisoners it was understood among themselves that certain men must die, victims to the "Molly"
bullet.
On
the other hand, there was wide-spread fear that their

acquittal would call the vigilance committee into active
operation, and that
would
follow.
all
the horrors of a state of anarchy

trial both the Com-
In relation to the
monwealth and the defense were active.

Eminent counsel were engaged for the prosecution, and
the preparation made was thorough and complete.
On
the part of the "Mollies" no effort had been spared to
raise
money, by subscription, by levies upon the different

and counties in the anthracite coal region, by balls
divisions
and
They, too, as they thought, were thoroughly

and
prepared,
appeared with a brilliant array of counsel.
On the 1 8th of January, 1876, the case was called for
trial
parties.
at
Mauch Chunk,
before his
Honor Judge Dreher.
E. R. Siewers, the District Attorney for Carbon County,

appeared for the Commonwealth, and with him the Hon.
]'. W.
Hughes, of Schuylkill, and General Charles Albright
and Hon. Allen Craig, of Carbon.
For the defense appeared John W. Ryon, Esq., and
Hon. Lin Bartholomew, of Pottsville, Hon. Jas. B. Reilly,

member of Congress from Schuykill, Daniel Kalbfus and
Edward Mulhearn, Esq., of Carbon County.
The magnitude of the case, combined with the brilliant
array of counsel employed, tended to create intense excitement in the small town of Mauch Chunk, and this excite-
ment increased as the trial progressed. The court-house

there had never before presented such a scene.
The prisoners, under guard of a strong force of Coal and Iron Police,
upon their entrance into the court-room looked and felt
lent, and answered the sympathizing glances of a host
of " Molly Maguires," who,
arrogant and outspoken, were
thronging the court-room and the streets of the town.
THE TRIAL OF DOYLE.
243
In the midst of the threatened danger they were furious.

attack upon the jail, or an attempted rescue, was feared,
An
feeling prevailed that at any moment might

come an outburst. Precautions against a rescue were enforced
when adjourning the court. First the doors were directed
and an uneasy
to be shut,
and the attendant throng confined
then the
constables were directed to take the jury from the room.

In the mean time the prisoners were handcuffed, and sent
under a strong guard to prison. Then the doors were all

unlocked, and the smothered wrath of the throng in the
court-room found vent in curses from clustering knots of
angry
men on
the public streets.
body of police
fully
armed guarded the
jail,
and a
full
supply of hand-grenades and other ammunition was kept

within its walls.
Judge Dreher, learned, deliberate, unimpassioned, but

determined, understood the danger of the situation, and,
whilst allowing every reasonable latitude to the argument
of 'counsel, preserved strict order and checked any disposition to acrimonious discussion.
An
application was
of venue.
made by
the prisoners for a change
An argument was
the motion was refused.
heard and considered, and

Dilatory motions were heard and
dismissed.
The District Attorney was directed to proceed, and the

indictment charging James Kerrigan, Edward Kelly, and
Michael J. Doyle with the murder of John P. Jones was read
to the prisoners,
who
respectively entered the plea of
" not
Separate trials were demanded, and the Commonwealth elected to try Michael J. Doyle. A jury was
guilty."
directed to be selected.
The impaneling of a jury in a homicide case is in itself

a solemn act, bringing to the minds of the parties present
the fact that human life is to be weighed in the balance,
and
that
safeguards are being thrown around
it.
The
THE TRIAL OF DOYLE.
244
jurors are called singly.
The
clerk of the court in each
instance directs, "Juror, look on the prisoner; prisoner,

What say you, challenge or no challook on the juror.
lenge?"
If,
as usual, the prisoner does not
immediately
be sworn
avail himself of his right, the juror is directed to
He is then usually examined as to

to make true answers.
whether he has conscientious scruples on the subject of
capital punishment ; whether he has formed or expressed
an opinion, etc.
The answers may be of such a nature as to render the
juror incompetent, and one side or the other may chalIf no legal cause is shown, the right of
lenge for cause.
peremptory challenge exists, in a limited degree, in the
Commonwealth, and,
to a large extent, in the prisoner.
This right not being exercised by either party, the court

The
directs the juror to be sworn in the pending case.
same formula
each juror called until
repeated with
is
twelve are chosen.

It
can readily be understood that in cases which have
occupied a large share of public attention difficulty in

In the case of Doyle
obtaining jurors frequently occurs.
several days elapsed before a jury
was selected.
E. R. Siewers, Esq., the District Attorney, well and

clearly related the sad story of the murder of Jones, and
told in detail the testimony proposed to be submitted, by
which the
The
guilt of the prisoner
case
is
was to be shown.
General Albright examines
proceeded with.
the witness, and Bartholomew conducts the cross-examination.

In the frequent points arising, all the counsel at
times engage; but Hughes, as a rule, argues the legal

points in behalf of the Commonwealth, and Ryon for the
ner.
The testimony
is
wonderful in
its
completeness.
During
the day preceding the murder, hour

by hour, almost minute by minute, the exact whereabouts of the
prisoners are
THE TRIAL OF DOYLE.
245
Doyle and Kelly are identified
shown.
the fatal shots, and their course

the moment of their arrest.
is
as having fired
minutely traced up to
after day new and unexpected testimony is ofclinching and riveting the damning evidence of
guilt, the crowd of "Mollies" in the town look sullen and
As day
fered,
dangerous.
The
officers
men, the
of the court, members of the bar, the policethrong of spectators, watch every
tipstaves, the
Even the army

step of the trial with breathless interest.
of reporters, by their profession inured to varied scenes of
excitement, and even danger, are interested in the strange
story being told, while they uneasily watch the crowd of
threatening faces with which the room is thronged.
The counsel for the Commonwealth were secure in the
of their case, and appeared confident.
They
must have been conscious, however, of the intense hate
with which many present regarded them.
If each and
strength
every of them were not armed during the
trial,
they neg-
lected ordinary precaution.

The counsel for the defense
were ui.easy. From the beginning they understood and felt
the danger to their clients far better than did the arrogant
and self-confident organization from which their fees were
obtained.* As the cause progressed, any hope of acquittal
which they might have before entertained passed away.
When
the
Commonwealth
rested their case, the carefully-
" alibi" was useless. There was

prepared
danger of prosecution and conviction for perjury to any rash enough to
attempt to prove such "alibi" upon the witness-stand.
The
counsel for the prisoners discharged the witnesses.

to swear falsely was so manifest
That they were prepared

*
It is
not intended to be intimated that the counsel foj the defense were
"
Molly Maguires" as an organization. Their engagebe presumed, were made with the relatives and friends of the
employed by the
ments,
it is
to
prisoners.
21*
THE TRIAL OF DOYLE.
246
that the prisoners' counsel felt that to call

only be useless, but that they would be
them would not

knowingly per-
mitting perjury.
That these witnesses should not be called was specially

urged upon his colleagues by Hon. James B. Reilly, who, it
is possible, had some knowledge of the nature of the testimony the "Mollies" intended to produce. Because he
was of Irish extraction, a Catholic, and a politician, he
was deemed worthy of greater confidence than any of his
The "Mollies" made a miscolleagues except Mulhearn.
take.
James B. Reilly was not prepared to become a party
to a crime.
The
case was submitted to the jury
upon the testimony

Nothing, one would imagine, could
be said in behalf of the prisoner ; but Kalbfus, who posof the Commonwealth.
sesses a
wonderful
command
ingenious and brilliant,
But no
of words, and Bartholomew,
made
stirring appeals to the jury.
however eloquent, could avail the prisoner, especially under the review of testimony made by
counsel for the Commonwealth, and the calm and dispasefforts,
sionate charge of his
Honor Judge Dreher.
Notwithstanding the completeness of the testimony, the

Commonwealth were determined to risk nothing, and Hon.
Allen Craig (the able counsel of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company), logical, self-possessed, and with high literary culture, General Albright, elaborate, thorough, with
intimate knowledge of the facts and of the law bearing on
the case, and Hon. F. W. Hughes, with large experience
and thorough knowledge of the law, trained, comprehensive, analytical, and eloquent, made their best efforts before
the jury.
On the
morning of the ist of February, 1876, the jury

brought in against Michael J. Doyle the verdict of "Guilty
of murder in the first degree."
The prisoner listened
eagerly whilst the verdict was being rendered by the jury,
THE TRIAL OF DOYLE.
247
and then instantly presented an appearance of being enThis assumed hardihood is

tirely unaffected by the result.
by no means unusual among criminals convicted of high
"
crimes, but especially among the
Molly Maguires" is it
maintained as a matter of pride.
The open
expression of emotion is a characteristic of the

and yet the verdict of "guilty of murder"
be rendered, and the prisoner will remain apparently
Irish people,
may
The
the least concerned of any present.
votion
wife,
whose de-
recognized with sympathy, will sit calmly by without evidence of emotion; the father and the brother will
is
be apparently cold and impassive
mother who
that
fills
will
utter a wail, or
the hearts of
motion
them
new
it
is
only the aged
show the mortal agony
all.
was entered a few days afterwards, but was refused, and Michael J. Doyle was by Judge
Dreher sentenced to death by hanging.
for a
trial
McKenna is of course on hand during the trial. He is

seemingly as chagrined as the worst of the throng of bad
men
As witness
present at the course matters are taking.
is called he apparently becomes more defiant.
after witness
But his interviews with Captain Linden, who is also present, taking open part in the prosecution, are arranged with
skill
and
care.
Day by day
the exact position of the
and night after night is it reviewed,

discussed, and guarded against in General Albright's office.
During the trial an incident occurred which was of ter-
defense
is
disclosed,
rible import to the
"Molly" organization. Deputy-Sheriff

Brenheiser testified to a conversation which he had overheard in prison between Doyle and Kerrigan.
The conversation had been carried on through certain pipes by
which the cells were connected. Doyle said in effect that
a statement of an "alibi" had been prepared and sent to
Reilly at Pottsville, which statement was to be shown to
the witnesses
who were
to be sent
from Mount Laffee, in
CONFESSION OF KERRIGAN.
248
order that they might know exactly what to swear to ; that

the witnesses were ready to show that Kerrigan had been
at a
wake near Yorktown at the time the murder occurred;

Mulhearn and Reilly, but must be careThis
in what he said to Bartholomew and Kalbfus.
that he could trust

ful
testimony excited Kerrigan beyond control ; he sprang to

" That is a lie
his feet, exclaiming,
By God, I have no
!
stomach
for this
this
!"
It
way
won't have
my
life
sworn away in
Kerrigan was silenced by the court, and sank to his seat.

was the turning-point in his existence. If true to his
race and inborn prejudices, certain death at the hands of

the law stared him in the face ; if false, family, friends,
associates, all he loved or
an outcast and a
who loved him, would throw him
But there was a chance for

and the love of life triumphed: in that moment he
"
determined to become an
informer.
That he wished to confess was speedily made known to
the counsel for the Commonwealth, and a day or two before
the conviction of Doyle, Messrs. Hughes and Albright, in
off as
traitor.
life;
' '
company with
a stenographer, visited Kerrigan in prison.

told his story ; he told the truth, but not at that time
the whole truth ; he endeavored to shield himself.
He
He
told the story of the murder of Jones, and also of that of

Yost, and gave a view of the inside workings of the organization, of
which
his listeners,
old residents in the coal
regions though they were, had never dreamed.

But with this revelation came a well-assured confidence
was the evil, a remedy might be applied.

well-defined hope sprang into life.
Francis W. Hughes
and Charles Albright are men of high social and
professional standing.
They differ in many respects, in apand they profess directly opposite
luar.imc, in manner,
that, fearful as
But both men are possessed of a purity of

character and honesty of
purpose carrying them beyond
political faith.
ARRESTS OF MOLLY MAGUIRES.
249
They felt a common duty, and,

petty aims and purposes.
clasping hands, expressed a common purpose to accomThe pledge then made has been
plish a common object.
well sustained.
From
months, side
side they have
by
"Molly Maguire."
from the
first trial
that
day onward, for many long

waged war against the
They have had
to the last, in
able associates, but
Carbon and
in Schuylkill,
ever at their post, they have dealt vigorous and manly

blows for the punishment of crime and the maintenance
of law and order.
CHAPTER
XXIV.
ARRESTS OF MOLLY MAGUIRES McPARLAN SUSPECTED.
BY
sired
the confession of James Kerrigan a point long deat last been attained by the civil authorities and
had
those specially active in the endeavor to break up the

Whilst the confession
"Molly Maguire" organization.
of Kerrigan as to his
own
participation in crime had been
was well understood by the Pinkerton Deonly partial,

tective Agency and by the experienced lawyers at the helm
that the entering wedge had been driven in.
They knew
it
that the unveiling of all the unholy secrets of the organiNot only in their
zation was merely a question of time.
minds was the conviction of all the murderers of John P.

Jones and Policeman Benjamin F. Yost rendered certain,
but it was now felt that with safety other known murderers could be arrested, and that those who had long been
resting in fancied security from punishment for ghastly
crimes, almost forgotten amidst present horrors, could at
last be brought to the bar of outraged justice.
It
was now
L*
felt
that the
knowledge already
in their pos-
250
McParlan could be rendered
avail-
able without calling him upon the witness stand.

him in the
they could the more readily do as with
This
session obtained through
of the
enemy every
camp
move made by them would be known
and the perjured testimony required to establish the "alibi"

universally adopted as a defense could be readily exposed.
The fact that a confession had been made by one of the
prisoners at Mauch Chunk was soon a matter of rumor ;
that the informer was James Kerrigan was soon suspected.
secure
The " Mollies" had themselves never felt
absolutely
Kerrigan, and, as a consequence, had been specially careful to give him encouragement and to attend to the wants
in
and interests of his family. For this reason, whilst the

rumor inspired fear among them, it was not fully believed.
Warrants for the arrest of the murderers of Yost were
placed in the hands of Captain Linden, and also in the
hands of Captain Peeler, of the Coal and Iron Police,
located in Carbon
County.
The
arrests
were managed
with great skill, and simultaneously made on Friday, the

4th of February, 1876, two days after the jury in the Doyle
case had rendered their verdict of "Guilty of murder in
first degree."
Early in the morning of that day Alexander Campbell was sent to Mauch Chunk, and James
the
Roarity, James Carroll, Hugh McGeehan, James Boyle,

and Thomas Duffy were brought to Tamaqua, together
sent to Pottsville, and there at once committed to prison
to await trial.
Messrs. Ryon and Bartholomew were employed for the defense, and in their behalf applied for a
writ of habeas corpus on the gth of February, which was
returnable on the i2th of the same month.
The
intensity of feeling created
iiu-d.
It
the "leakrr."
him
in
pathized
was now
by these
arrests
can well be
understood that Kerrigan was

The indignation of the "Mollies" against
fully
which a large portion of the Irish people

symwas openly expressed.
The state of feeling then prevailing was increased in inthe day foltensity by the arrest on the loth of February
lowing the issuing of the writ of habeas corpus in the Yost
of Charles McAllister and
case
Thomas Munley, charged
with the murder of Sanger and Uren
Raven's Run, and

County jail. Men
greeted each other with brightened faces, and the end of
the "Molly Maguire" was for the first time generally pretheir
commitment
to
at
the Schuylkill
dicted.
Saturday, the i2th of February, 1876, the day fixed for

the hearing of the habeas corpus in the case of the prisoners
arrested for the murder of Policeman Yost, arrived.
The
large court-room at Pottsville was packed almost to suffocation with a mass of anxious and excited humanity.
The
corridors of the court-house were filled with expectant
faces.
Crowds of people unable to gain admittance into
the court-room thronged the streets.
The nature and extent of Kerrigan's confession, who, and how many, were
implicated, were the themes of every tongue.

Disappointment had been expressed at the fact that no
had yet been obtained of Kerrigan. Multitudes of

curious had awaited the arrival of the train from
sight
the
Tamaqua, anxious
to catch a glimpse of the
"informer."
But, fearful of a disturbance or an attempt to murder him,

he had been sent from Mauch Chunk in a special car, under
Unnoticed by any one, he had

charge of Captain Peeler.
taken his lodgings in the Schuylkill County jail.* But
fresh disappointment was still in store.
Judge Pershing
made
his
appearance on the bench, and announced that
the hearing would be private, and that the room must be

cleared. It was some twenty minutes before the room could
* Kerrigan has since that time made frequent journeys openly between
Mauch Chunk and Pottsville,

From the circumstance of the
being very diminutive in
size,
but always in charge of Captain Peeler.
captain being a large man and Kerrigan

he has received the name of " Peeler's baby."
252
be emptied, and then, in the presence of their Honors Perand Assoshing, Green, and Walker, all of the law judges,
A number
ciate Judge Seitzinger, the hearing was had.
of the witnesses for the Commonwealth were present and
testified, and Kerrigan then first made a public confession.
directions were given that the proceedings were not to
be published, the curiosity of the community was in no
All of the prisoners were committed to
degree allayed.
As
answer the charge of murdering Benjamin F. Yost.

Whilst the arrest of Munley and McAllister attracted
no
other
attention
special
murderers of Yost,
it
than
alarmed
Uren
ger and
part
it
being that of the
"Molly Maguires"
did not know the extent of Ker-
The public
but they did.
information,
rigan's
themselves.
as
the
In the murder of San-
was known to them that Kerrigan had no
he was a resident of a different part of the region,

special intimate connection with the mur-
and had no
A different source of information seemed
derers.
indicated.
To
such experienced and able attorneys as Messrs. Ryon

and Bartholomew, the conduct of the prosecution in the
Doyle case had rendered evident the
fact that
information
of the defense was being disclosed and that their policy in

minute details was being betrayed by some one within their
own
lines.
This belief of the attorneys became known,
and aroused to the full extent the suspicions of the " Mol-
The
lies."
them
arrest of
Munley and McAllister confirmed
in their views.
Who
was the detective? Suspicion fell upon McKenna,

how and why is wrapped in some mystery. Vari-
exactly
ous stories are

his true
him
afloat.
One
name of McParlan
to get
is
that he was forced to sign
to a draft or
some money out of bank.
check to enable
Another, that owing

to the suspension of a
Chicago banking-house, in which
his savings of
years were deposited, he was forced to use
his own name.
Still another, that
by accident a returned
MCPARLAN SUSPECTED.
letter at the post-office
wrong hands,
there
that
It
betrayed his true character.
And
another, that a dropped letter at Tamaqua, falling into
still
the
253
led to his discovery.
a foundation for
is
all
none of them contain the
is
and
know
to
sufficient
It is
these stories
probable that
it
is
possible
true version of the matter.
that his business
was discovered,
that the discovery was imparted to several Catholic
Through these priests Jack Kehoe, the County

Delegate, and others of the Ancient Order of Hibernians,
were put upon their guard against him as being a detective.
priests.
That
that
this fact
the
should be urged by many as proof positive

Catholic priesthood, if not the Roman
Roman
"
Catholic Church, are in sympathy with the
Molly MaThe
prejudice existing
guires," can readily be supposed.
against that Church in the minds of many is bitter and
There are those who through prejuutterly unreasonable.
dice are prepared to believe any charge, however contrary
to reason,
hold
it
against
it,
without any investigation, and to

language used by any
responsible for intemperate
man holding
the priestly office, acting on his
own
respon-
under strong provocation and influenced by the

This being the case, it can be a matter
heat of passion.
sibility,
of no great surprise that the warning given to members

of the " Molly" organization should receive the most uncharitable construction, especially as the act would seemTo shield criminals, to save them from
ingly bear it out.
punishment
them
murder in the past, and to leave

unchecked a course of horrible crime in the
for brutal
to pursue
is not in accordance with either the teachings of the

Christian religion or the dictates of common humanity.
Any steps tending to the relief of a terror-stricken people,
who, feeling powerless, surrender unresistingly property
future,
and
life
itself to
cold-blooded brutality, should,
it
would
That
seem, receive the support of right-thinking men.
notice of the fact that James McKenna was a detective
MCPARLAN SUSPECTED.
254
was given to members of the organization through Catholic

The notice so given makes
priests has never been denied.
those pause and doubt who are most desirous not to benot even to imagine, the possibility of
lieve,
Nevertheless,
it is
difficult to credit that
evil.
any respectable
portion of the Catholic priests sympathized with or counIt is impossible

tenanced in any way the Molly Maguires.
to believe that Father O' Conner, of Mahanoy Plane, who
has been most publicly implicated in the matter, should
desire in
any way
to screen
them or aid them
in the
main-
His history ever since he

tenance of their bloody work.
has been in the coal region would indicate an entirely difIn the public press,
on his part.
and from the pulpit, he was open in
his denunciations.
Hardly a month had passed since he
had read the pastoral letter of Archbishop Wood excom"
municating all lawless societies, and especially the
Molly
ferent state of feeling
over his
own
signature,
Maguires." In his sermon, delivered at a time of great

excitement, and with many of the most desperate of the
organization among his hearers, he had the courage to de-
nounce them
in
most unmeasuied terms.
He
referred to the
Wiggan's Patch murder, and claimed that, as the victim was

a " Molly," full sympathy should not be extended.
He
impressed upon them the fact that war was not being waged
upon women, and that Mrs. McAllister was evidently shot
by mistake.
He
stigmatized the order as a disgrace to the
He bade
people and a blot upon the Irish name.
thtm to beware of the order for their own sake and for the
Irish
no communication with
to it, for it was outside the pale of humanity and cut off from connection
with ihe Church under no pretense to show sympathy with
them to let them fight their own battles unaided that
the scum of the earth, a disgrace to the Church,
sake of their children

friend or even brother
to hold
who belonged
to Ireland,
and to America.
MCPARLAN SUSPECTED.
That Father O' Conner was sincere
in
255
his
sermon de-
The sentiments
livered that day there can be no doubt.
he then expressed are in accordance with his whole record,
before and si nee. What is the explanation ? Unfortunately,
although willing and anxious to explain before a legal triHe is a
bunal, he could not do so, objection being made.
man of high character, and sincerely anxious for both the
and the temporal welfare of his flock. He is of

handsome and commanding presence, is a gentleman, a
man of culture, and has broad and extended views. His
nature, his instincts, his education, and his religion all
teach him to understand, to appreciate, to despise and
fearlessly condemn the horrible order by the members of
which he is surrounded, and who are the subjects of his
He groans under
anxious thoughts and earnest solicitude.
spiritual
only the disgrace they bring upon the religion of

is a priest, but the disaffection they breed in the
not
which he
Church.
He mourns for the jeopardy in which they are

As a man, he
placing body and soul here and hereafter.
shudders at their horrible barbarity; as a priest, he trembles for their personal welfare and safety not only in this
world, but in the world to come ; as an Irish-American citizen, he grieves for the honor of Ireland sullied and for America disgraced, and with foreboding he contemplates their
pernicious influence in the future upon their own families
and upon the country at large. Can it be possible that the
inborn prejudice against an " informer," which seems to be

part of the Irish nature, transmitted through generations,
unconsciously influenced his mind contrary to his instincts,
his nature, his education, and his religion ?
Can it be that
when
it
was announced that a detective was
in the midst
of this lawless gang, contempt for the "informer" and

pity for the unsuspicious criminal for the moment affected
his
judgment?
Did he believe
instigator of crimes that he
that the detective
might betray them
was the
If the
McPARLAN SUSPECTED.
256
last
was
his belief,
history to
little
he had learned the "Molly Maguire"

That his reasons were at the
purpose.
time satisfactory to his
own mind
is
certain.
His purity
and honesty of purpose are unquestionable, but, in this

matter, even in the exercise of the utmost charity his judg-
ment must be regarded as at fault.

When Jack Kehoe heard that McKenna was a detective
he gave the report instant credence. It was believed that
there was a spy among them, and that such spy was held
in general confidence.
Who
so likely as
McKenna?
He
was a comparative stranger. He was without visible means

of support ; he had never engaged in any scheme of fraud
by which money could be obtained; and yet he was always

in funds.
Who more likely? The thought caused Jack
to shudder, for he knew the extent of McKenna's
He had been his
information and the power he possessed.
Kehoe
own
trusted friend
and confidant, but the idea once sug-
gested, he knew it to be correct.

On the theory of his being a detective the arrest of
Mc-
and Munley for the murder of Sanger and Uren

could be accounted for. He sent his wife at once to PottsAllister
directing her to see Danny Hughes, the keeper of a

drinking-saloon and restaurant where "Mollies" from all
ville,
parts of the region resorted when in Pottsville, and inform

him that McKenna was a detective, against whom he should
be on his guard, and also to request Hughes to notify

all members of the order that such was the fact, obtained
from a reliable source.
McKenna was
then in Pottsville, and had been for several

previously.
Upon the day of the morning of the
habeas corpus hearing he walked down straight from the
Frank McAndrew, body-master of the

Shcnandoah Division, who gave him the first intimation
of the story afloat.
He told him that it was rumored that
he was a detective, and that the report was
being discussed
<oiirt-house with
MCPARLAN SUSPECTED.
257
throughout the order ; that very many could not credit it,
but that very morning bets had been made in the cars that
he would appear on the stand that day as a witness for the
Commonwealth
in the
habeas corpus hearing of Munley
and McAllister.
McKenna on the instant made a rapid review of the
tion.
He
situa-
appreciated the fact that since the time of the

a belief had been gaining ground that a detective
Doyle trial
was at work
He
had himself, with his usual

Muff Lawler
had been suspected, and McKenna had with a number of
in their midst.
policy, fallen into the current of opinion.
the
members of
the order discussed the question of his
guilt or innocence.
He knew not
only from his experience
in that case but from life-long experience
upon what
slight
foundations a suspicion could be aroused, and he hoped

that by assuming a defiant attitude he could crush out the
doubts with which he was regarded, and not only retain

but increase his power.
Every force of mind and body
was engaged in the task he had undertaken. He had
worked
he then held as an
had gained universal
for years to attain the position
influential
member of
He
confidence.
had
the order.
He
lifted the veil that
had shrouded
in
mystery many a bloody deed of past years, and he could

now, if firmly established, quickly and thoroughly comHe did not for a moment dream of yieldplete his work.
ing to the current setting in against him.
show fight.
Nor were
his
hopes without foundation.
He
resolved to
He
was exceed-
ingly popular. He had ever appeared to show the greatest

devotion to the order.
He was cool and determined, was
without personal
fear,
ment demanded
it,
rashness.
He
and could,
if necessity in his
judgthe
present
appearance of exceeding
had thus won great admiration. His in-
genuity had at the same time been taxed to prevent the

comiriission of crime.
He would display zeal for and ap22*
MCPARLAN SUSPECTED.
'58
proval of the object in view, would discard any question

of his own personal safety, but in his prudent care for
others generally defeated the job, at the same time adding
own reputation as a "safe hand for a clean job."

More than this, he possessed the power of intellect, ever
to his
and directed to a fixed object.

Beyond all
him with that peculiar magnetism
of manner which all appreciate but no one can understand.
He determined on the instant to join issue. He was
That he of all men
apparently thunderstruck at the idea.
should be suspected was monstrous. He spoke of his steady
and unswerving devotion to the organization, the sacrifices
he had made for it.
McAndrew, who was much attached to McKenna, quickly
sympathized with him, and regretted that the rumor had become so wide-spread. "As it is," said he, "you must prove
your innocence before a county convention." This was
on the
alert
nature had endowed
this,
in direct accordance with
McKenna's views
he believed
no proof against him could be produced, and that a

demand for the most thorough investigation would in itself
that
completely vindicate him.

A large number of " Mollies" from different points were
in Pottsville on that day, by reason of the hearing in the
Munley and McAllister.

once to manufacture sentiment in
case of
to
McKenna
his favor.
set to
He
work
at
proceeded
Danny Hughes's saloon, where he met a number of the

Hughes told him of the word received through
order.
Mrs. Kehoe.
McKenna was
indignant, was surprised, was

and malicious report should be
spread against him of all men. Danny Hughes said that he
did not believe it. They took a drink all around at McKenna's expense. In the midst of McKenna's
indignation
mortified that such a false
nsibilities
that
were affected
much.
he could bear anything but
that was too

"
They had wounded
the spirit that loved them."
MCPARLAN SUSPECTED.
2 $g
Perhaps at no time in his whole career had McKenna been

more popular than on that day in Pottsville. He carried
the crowd by storm he was greeted with the warmest exThat evening he left them and
pressions of sympathy.
;
went to Shenandoah.
There his old associates were with him.
He
He
disarmed
defied, nay, courted investigation.
It was
and a most thorough and searching examination
must be had. He insisted upon being brought face to face
suspicion.
his right,
with his accuser.
The next morning he went to Girardville. He saw Jack

Kehoe, and assumed with him a like innocent, injured,
and very indignant air. " Why," said he, "do you spread
these reports about
me?"
McKenna's manner
frightened Jack Kehoe, and for the

time being staggered even him in his belief.
He excused
"I did it," he answered, "because I heard it.
himself.
I heard it some time since, and I heard it again lately."
" Where did

you hear it ?" demanded McKenna.
" I heard it from a conductor on the
Reading Railroad,"
" He called me into the
was the answer.
and
baggage-car,
me
whether
had seen you lately, and said that I

be
certain
that
might
you were a detective. I told him
that it was not the first time I had heard the charge made
against you."
McKenna denounced the charge as a foul slander, and
demanded as his right that a convention of the order be
called and the matter investigated.
asked
"What
I am
want now," said he, "is somebody to prove

I will let the
willing to let the society try me.
and if I find out the man who is lying
society try me
about me, I will make him suffer. It is a terrible thing to
it.
charge a
man
like
me
with being a detective."
Kehoe agreed with McKenna

able,
and
that the request
was reason-
that there should be a county convention, as he
MCPARLAN'S DANGER,
260
He
suggested.
letters,
meet
in
requested that
he being, too nervous,
McKenna
calling
it
should write the

in his
name, to
Ferguson's Hall, in Shenandoah, about the ist of
March.
McKenna, taking
authorized,
to
the
writing materials up-stairs, wrote, as

several body-masters of Schuylkill
County, and, putting the letters in stamped envelopes,

directed them, and handed them to Kehoe to mail.
He stopped that night at Kehoe's house. His manner
Kehoe was
had, for the time being, the desired effect.
almost disarmed. The star of McKenna was in the ascendant, and, feeling great confidence in his ability to maintain his position, he returned the next day to Pottsville.
There he assumed a bold and aggressive tone.
He
said to
Patrick Butler, body-master of Lost Creek, as well as to

others, "I am not waiting for the order to take action
upon me; I will take action upon myself;

meeting, and I will have a fair trial."
I will
have a
CHAPTER XXV.
McPARLAN'S DANGERS, AND HIS ESCAPE.
KEHOE was
only shaken in his belief of McKenna's

not thoroughly convinced of his innocence.
He,
however, assumed, in conversation with him, an air of
entire confidence.
The manner of McKenna tended to
guilt,
create a doubt of any testimony that might be produced,

and yet the evidence in his possession against him was felt
to be unquestionable.
The two met
in
Pottsville
on the z6th of February.
AND
HIS ESCAPE.
261
Kehoe greeted McKenna cordially, and manifested his

They were about retaining John W.
McAllister.
defend
to
Ryon, Esq.,
usual confidence.
In the afternoon of the same day they met again.

"Have you any news?" asked McKenna.
" There
have a good deal of news," Kehoe replied.
are about twenty-five hundred men banded together in this
county for the purpose of prosecuting the Ancient Order of
"
Hibernians.
ives
among
There is positive proof that there are detectthem, and that these detectives get money to
go around and spend, and find out all their secrets, in

order to either send them to the penitentiary or hang
them."
"There has been in my mind," said McKenna, "for
some time
past an idea that there is something crooked

that is the reason I am doubly cautious.
going on, and
But," continued he,

information now ?"
"From Mr. John
after telling
It
is
me
" from
whom
W. Ryon;
have you received
that
the
is
this
man; he
is
Kehoe replied.
Kehoe reported literally Mr.
in his office,"
not probable that
Ryon's remarks, but
it
is
likely that
the fact that detectives were at
Commonwealth betrayed
Away from McKenna,
with redoubled force.
work
Mr. Ryon suspected

:
the action of the
inside knowledge.
the suspicions of Kehoe returned
That there was one detective
perhaps more among them could not be doubted. The

whole conduct of the Commonwealth, the confidence manifested, the startling arrests
made independent of any
testi-
of Kerrigan, rendered the matter sure.

The direct
information received implicating McKenna, and the recur-
mony
ring question,
"Who
so likely?" dispelled
all
doubt,
and
Jack Kehoe's mind McKenna was condemned to death.

There should be no convention, no trial, it would be
useless.
Before the time fixed for the convention the blow
in
MCPARLAN'S DANGERS,
262
should be struck, and the life of McKenna rendered up.

He acted vigorously; he created sentiment against the
he asserted that his information was unsuspected man
;
doubted.
He came
to Pottsville the
Shenandoah
that night.
day previous
McKenna
the convention, and asked
He
to that fixed for
he was going to
was told that he was; and an
if
arrangement was made that they should meet in the afternoon.

He called
Kehoe at once returned to Shenandoah.
Frank McAndrew, the body-master of the division, and
He told McAndrew
the order together.
McKenna was a detective beyond doubt that he
"For God's sake, have him killed tomust be killed.
a
number of
that
night," said he,
"or he
Schuylkill County."
Kehoe treated freely.
except
way.
McAndrew was
will
hang half the people
in
Friendship to McKenna in all

shaken, and even he finally gave
The murder was agreed
to,
and
in the
the arrival of the train twelve or fourteen
evening after
men assembled
on purpose to do the deed. Some had axes, some tomahawks, and some the sledges used in the mines. They
were afraid to use fire-arms, on account of the police and
assembled crowd.
In the
mean
were working
time,
McKenna was
satisfactorily.
confident that his plans
Kehoe did not meet him
during the afternoon according to appointment; but this

he judged was accidental. But he quickly discovered that,
notwithstanding all his efforts to create confidence, there
was a counteracting influence at work. In a conversation
with a man named Mullen, from Tuscarora, he found that
the assembling of the convention was
being secretly opMullen said that the idea was abroad that he was
posed.
certainly a detective, and that he wanted to get all the
body-masters and other officers together in Ferguson's Hall,
AND
HIS ESCAPE.
263
Shenandoah, and have them arrested in a body by the Coal

and Iron Police. McKenna laughed at this idea, told him
that such a thing would not be lawful, and insisted upon
the fact that he had the meeting called in good faith.
The conversation made an impression upon him. He

was intensely anxious to gain his end and establish in their
Pie saw Captain Linden and asked
view his innocence.
him to keep the Coal and Iron Police away next day that
he was perfectly satisfied he could make the convention
" I
believe he was no detective.
believe," said he, "I can
;
fight
them
right through."
He thought McKenna
Captain Linden objected to this.
was taking too great a risk; but, like him, he was anxious
that he should
establish
his
point with the convention.
Captain Linden therefore unwillingly consented that he

should make the venture without even a shadow of protection.
McKenna
was
took the evening train for Shenandoah.

He
when
Marcus
O'Donnell.
smoking-car,
sitting in the
a brother of Mrs. Kehoe, told him that his sister was in

the ladies' car and desired to see him.
At Mahanoy City
he went into the car, and found that her husband was not
He asked where he was. She replied that lie
with her.
had gone up by way of Frackville that afternoon, whilst

she had visited her mother in Tamaqua.
The idea of immediate personal danger then first preitself.
Kehoe had assumed friendship; had told
him to be sure and be in Shenandoah that night, that
he would meet him on the way.
McKenna knew Kehoe
thoroughly, and he saw danger ahead.
sented
His suspicions were still further excited upon his arrival

Reading Railroad depot at Shenandoah. He had
sent word to McAndrew that he was coming that evening,
and usually, in such case, he would be met at the cars by a
at the
number of
his associates,
who would
give
him the news, and
MCFARLAWS DANGERS,
264
whom he would take a drink. This evening he was

met by no one. This looked ominous but he was well
armed, and prepared to defend himself if necessary.
Passing up-street, he met none of the order until he came
He stopped and spoke to McHugh.
to McHugh's saloon.
He was asked to take a drink, and said he would take some
porter.
McHugh was in a tremor; he had difficulty in
with
getting the cork out of the bottle ; he was deathly pale.

McKenna asked him if he had the ague ; had he been on
?
McHugh said no, but he was
question was then asked by McKenna as
to whether he had heard the report that he was a detective.
a spree, or was he sick
very cold.
The
McHugh said that he had, but did not believe it that he

would attend the convention next day, and see how things
were going on.
;
The aspect of affairs grew still more ominous. Passing up-street, he met a man named Mike McDermott, a
member of the order, with whom he was on very friendly
terms. McDermott scarcely spoke to him. Farther on he
saw Edward Sweeny, another member, across the street at
a lamp-post.
He called to him and asked if he had seen
McAndrew.
an hour since.
Sweeny, coming over, said that he had, about

" Had he
gone to bed ?" Sweeny thought
The manner of Sweeny tended
not.
in his belief that foul play
to confirm
was intended.
He did
McKenna
not dare,
however, to let his suspicions appear, and acted as if he

had not noticed the change in his reception. He deter-
mined,
if possible, to
He knew
drew
that, usually,
learn the
full
extent of his danger.
he had much influence with
McAn-
but he had been popular with all his associates, and

he feared there was not one left upon whom he could
rely.
II<
mistrusted the immediate intentions of his companion.
They walked
together towards
McAndrew's house, but Mc-
Kenna, adjusting his pistol so as to have it within easy

reach, managed to get Sweeny a step or two ahead, and to
AND
When
keep him there.
HIS ESCAPE.
265
they arrived at McAndrew's house,

effort, endeavored to act as if he
McKenna, making a strong
were certain of a cordial reception. But the effort was in

vain. The conversation was constrained. There was something in contemplation which was concealed from him.
were standing outside the house without apparent
Two men
purpose
ing for
one was within,
some
restless
and disturbed,
McAndrew appeared
signal.
as if wait-
nervous, uneasy,
Sweeny got up and
said he was going away ;

did not respond.
Sweeny then left, but presently returned with a piece of
snow in his hand, which he threw at McAndrew's foot. It
undecided.
to this
McAndrew
was evidently intended to call McAndrew's attention to

the fact that time was passing and that nothing was being
done.
McAndrew
and then
off
my
hesitated, looked for a
said,
"
My
feet are sore
moment
I
at
McKenna,
believe I will take
boots."
This was intended, and understood, to mean that the

scheme which had been adopted to inveigle McKenna into
a crowd of men, by
in pieces, was,
Sweeny then
whom
he was to be beaten and hacked
by McAndrew
at least, that night
abandoned.
left.
McKenna, concealing his suspicions, asked McAndrew

way what arrangements had been made about
in a careless
the meeting, and received the answer that the hall had been
rented, and that everything was right.
But he was no longer in doubt. He knew that his
death was determined upon, and that any instant the attack might be made.
Still, there was much at stake ; he
had confidence in his own power; if he could only get a

hearing he was satisfied he could disarm suspicion and retrieve his popularity
but in the
mean time he had
to save
himself from present danger.

When he left McAndrew's,
instead of taking his usual route to his boarding-house, he
23
MCPARLAWS DANGERS,
2 66
passed to the back of the house into a swamp, through
which he made
reaching home
his way, and in this manner succeeded in

undiscovered.
During the following hours he had no sleep. He knew

the character of his "Molly" associates, and their modes
He knew Jack Kehoe. He knew the ease with

of action.
which he could be dragged from his bed and murdered;
and with a full determination, in the event of an attack, to
make his life cost them dear, he sat up all night, waiting
anxiously for the first gleam of dawn.
In the morning he saw McAndrew.
He met also Ned

Monaghan, the constable of Shenandoah, James Carlin,
the body-master at St. Nicholas, and Florence Mahony,
but there was no appearthe body-master at Turkey Run
ance of a gathering convention. About eleven o'clock in
the morning two "Mollies" from Mount Laffee came in.
Their names were Dennis Dowlan and Mike Doyle. Doyle
;
was getting drunk, and both presented the appearance of

having been up the night before. They said they had just
come
in the cars
but, as
that time, the falsehood
no
cars arrived at
McKennaat once made up his mind

selected to kill him.
Shenandoah
at
was manifest.
men were
and asked
that these
Dowlan took him
aside,
what was the matter, saying he had not heard. McKenna

stated the case, and then Dowlan asserted that he did not
believe he was guilty.
>esperate as the position was becoming, the detective
determined to make another effort.
He announced that
I
he was going to Girardville to see John Kehoe and learn

why it was no meeting had been held that day. He hired
a horse and sleigh, and asked McAndrew to
go with him.
Doyle by this time was drunk and in bed. Ned Monaghan and Dennis Dowlan said they also would go; and,
another sleigh having been hired, they all set off
together.
M Kenna, on their way, asked McAndrew to explain.
AND
HIS ESCAPE.
267
McAndrew hesitated for a moment ; he seemed in doubt,

but then said, " See here ; you had better look out for
Dovvlan, the man in the sleigh with Monaghan ; he calculates to
take
" Have
you
your
life."
At the same time he asked,
pistols ?"
" Yes."
answered,
" So have
said
he, "and I will lose my life for you.
I,"
I do not know whether you are a detective or not, but I
do not know anything against you. I always knew you to
do right, and I will stand by you. Why don't they try
McKenna
you fair?"
It was this point that, independent of the friendship he
had for McKenna, seemed to influence McAndrew. The
charge of being a detective was indignantly denied by
McKenna, and a full investigation demanded. It had
been refused, and, without a hearing or opportunity given
he was to be murdered in cold
McAndrew would not consent
as
his
friend,
blood, and,
to vindicate himself,
to such action.
On their way McAndrew told of Jack Kehoe's visit to

Shenandoah the day before, and the agreement then made
He told of the party in wait for him, armed
to kill him.
He was to be inwith axes, tomahawks, and sledges.
McAndrew said,
veigled among them and assassinated.
"I saved your life last night. You were in queer company then, and you will find you are in queer company
now."
McKenna's determination never faltered; he said, "I
do not care a cent, I am going to Kehoe's."
Kehoe was dumfounded when he saw the party. His
The man who he thought had
plan had not worked.
already been assassinated had called to see him, on apparently the best of terms with the man who was to have assasjinated him.
McKenna
indignantly
demanded of Kehoe
the reason
MCPARLAX'S DANGERS,
2 6S
the meeting had not been held.
why
it
was
useless, that they
were
Kehoe
satisfied there
replied that
was no use
in
trying him, and that he had countermanded the order

There was a crowd of " Mollies"
given for a convention.
notwithstanding the satisfaction
assembled there,
and,
Kehoe pretended
to feel, the appearance of matters
was
threatening.
McKenna insisted that Kehoe had injured him, and that

was only justice that under the circumstances he should
have a trial ; that he wanted to know who it was that dared
it
to charge
him with being a detective. As McKenna himit, he "took the opportunity of blowing a
self expresses
little."
Kehoe
McDermott, conductor on the Shenansaid that if he (McKenna) would go to

Father O' Conner, of Mahanoy Plane, he would find it all
said that
doah branch, had

out.
Notwithstanding McKenna had, as he says, taken this

"
opportunity of
blowing a little," the information given
him by Jack Kehoe, that the charge of his being a detective
knew
came from the Catholic

of the "
clergy, startled him.
He
Molly Maguires" were Cathfror.i policy; that they were infidels,

that some had so far thrown off allegiance to
many
name and
thatjvery
olics only in
materialists
the Church as either to refuse

rites or to receive
But he knew
but
at
upon their dying bed its last

them with ill-concealed aversion.
the same time that, whilst these men had
regard for or belief in religion, a charge against

him of being a detective, indorsed by the clergy, would
little
be almost
irresistible ; the ministers, if not the

religion,
claimed respect.
Still, even in this untoward position
lie did not
The air of unflinching defiance which
despair.
he assumed of everybody and

everything was absolutely
necessary to insure his present safety, and in asserting that
he intended to see Father O' Conner he meant what he
AND
HIS ESCAPE.
269
For the future operations of the Agency in the coal

region it was requisite to discover how much was known,
and he believed that Father O' Conner would be frank
said.
with him.
After that interview he could resolve upon
his future course.
But the crowd gathered at Jack Kehoe's that day was,

McAndrew remarked, "queer company ;" the only man
whom he could at all depend upon was McAndrew himself.
as
It
was intended to murder him then and there.* A bright

He would excite the sympa-
idea struck the detective.
of Mrs.
thies
Kehoe
in
his
behalf.
sessed considerable influence in
an O'Donnell, a
sister
Mrs. Kehoe pos-
"Molly"
She
circles.
is
of Friday and Charles O'Donnell,
She is a high-strung
a cousin of James Carroll's wife.
woman, of considerable force of character, but, like most
persons of quick emotion, sympathetic in temperament.
McKenna found her in the kitchen, and to her, as his
friend, he told his story,
and
and
to her
knowledge of
entire devotion to the order he appealed.
very
much
sacrificed,
affected as he recounted all he
and was then doing and
his full
He became
had done and
sacrificing, to
advance
the general interest; but he said he did not care for that,
he was willing to do anything, to bear anything, except
Mrs. Kehoe was fast giving way ; her sympawere being excited. McKenna saw his advantage
and clinched it. He could bear even suspicion, he said,
but, after all he had done, not the charge of being an in-
suspicion.
thies
not that ; and then he pulled out his handkerformer,

McKenna was not a beautiful
chief and burst into tears.
object as he sat there in his red wig and rough dress
but
* The intention was to take him into either the back room or shed and
His body was to remain there until night, when it was to
be carried away and thrown down some old slope. McKenna was supposed to have no relatives who would make any inquiries. They thought
murder him.
the murder would excite no attention.
23*
MC PARLAYS DANGERS,
270
the sympathies of the woman were fully aroused, and he

was the conqueror. She grasped the poker, and vowed
she would make any one suffer who should attempt to
touch him.
But he had not succeeded in allaying the suspicions of

Even
he had only secured present safety.
;
the husband
his
avowed resolution
desired effect.
to see Father O' Conner
His death was determined
had not the

upon, to be
compassed at the first opportunity, and in the mean time

he was to be closely watched. Upon his announcement of
an immediate visit to Father O' Conner, Thomas Donahue
and Philip Nash, without his knowledge, started ahead of
him. Upon his arrival at Mahanoy Plane he met them at
William Callahan's saloon.
McAndrew had come over
with him, as had also Dowlan and Monaghan.
Nash and Donahue called McAndrew aside, and had a
conversation with him.
McKenna, intent on his purpose,
went at once to see Father O' Conner, but did not find
him at home. Upon his return McAndrew informed him
men wanted
him
at once and there,

Donahue and Nash
had not insisted upon the matter, but Dowlan seemed
determined, and said that he would do the job himself.
He wanted McAndrew to lend him his pistol in addition
that the three
to kill
but that he had refused his consent.
to the
one he already had, but
this
was refused.
Dowlan, probably for the purpose of screwing his courage up to the proper point, took one drink after another,
and was fast becoming very drunk. This was perhaps
fortunate for him.
McKenna, in the midst of his dangers,

letcrmined, and after the warning from McAndrew
would not have lost his life without a severe
struggle.
McAndrew had now
fairly enlisted
in
McKenna's
half; he insisted that Dowlan,
be-
on account of his drunken

Callahan's, and that Monaghan
condition, should be left at

should drive to Shenandoah alone in his
sleigh.
AND HIS
ESCAPE.
2 yi
There was an intention that the detective should be

murdered that night in his boarding-house, and for that
purpose a number of men pretending to be tramps were
around the house the greater part of the night awaiting his
But this scheme was also thwarted by McAndrew.
arrival.
When McKenna
"
No,"
said he
proposed to go to his boarding-house,

you sleep with me."
"
;
was asked.
"It makes no difference; you sleep with me," was the
"Why?"
reply.
McKenna
and
in
did so, and next morning went to Pottsville,

Mahanoy Plane to see
the afternoon returned to
Father O' Conner.

priest
was
still
But he was again unsuccessful;
the
absent.
At Callahan's he met McAndrew, Dowlan, and Doyle

who had been left at Shenandoah drunk the day before.
McAndrew told him of the escape he had made the preceding night. The whole party treated him cordially.
But his main object now was to see Father O'Conner;
upon
that interview
depended
his future course.
cluded that he would not risk another night

doah.
He returned to Pottsville.
in
He
con-
Shenan-
He
saw Captain Linden that night and told him of the

dangers by which he was surrounded, but persisted in his
resolution of finding to what extent the suspicions had
He proposed, therefore, to go to Mahanoy Plane
gone.
Linden agreed as to the importance of the

next day.
visit, but said he would shadow him with police-officers ;
which he did.
He
desired a witness to his interview, and the next day
he asked Callahan to go with him ; but Callahan refused,

saying that he had had words with the father on account
of a sermon he had preached against the
guires."
"Molly Ma-
McKenna went
alone,
and
this
time
found
Father
McrARLAN'S DANGERS,
272
O'Conner
But he had observed a
home.
at
man named
Michael Dooley, a member of the order, following him,

and had also heard him enter the kitchen, ask the servantfor a chair,
girl
and
seat himself near
of there being a listener in the next

regulated his conversation.
fact
He
whom
told
The
room somewhat
the door.
Father O'Conner that he was the
McKenna
he had represented as a detective ; that such representation had greatly injured him ; that it had in fact
ruined him in the estimation of some of his fellow-citizens,
who were greatly enraged against him by reason of the
report.
He
insisted that
it
was not
true,
and asked him
Father O'Conner replied that he had heard

deny
he was a detective, and, although he had no personal acquaintance with him, he thought that he was cognizant of
to
it.
crime long before its perpetration, which he could and

should have prevented.
He thought that he acted as a
sort of stool-pigeon ; that he knew all about crimes and
took part in them, instead of reporting them as a detective and he did not think it right.
He said it was true he
;
had written a
Kehoe, and had given it to a party

had been brought back.
He said, further, that he had heard that he (McKenna)
was a detective belonging to the Pinkerton Agency of
Chicago, and that that Agency was employed by the
letter to
to deliver, but that
it
Reading Railroad Company; that Father Ryon, of Mahanoy City, and Father Reilly, of Shenandoah, knew more
about the matter than he did.
Father O'Conner was earnest in his denunciations of the
He said he had given these men

warning time and again of the fate that awaited them, but
they would not hearken to his voice and leave the organization, and that now they must suffer.
"Molly Maguires."
M Kcnna
was equally earnest and louder in his defense

It was a good
He had belonged
society.
of the order.
AND HIS
to
it
number of
years,
ESCAPE.
and he knew
273
it
to be
all
right.
All the crimes committed in the county were attributed

on the
to the order ; but they were not guilty of crime
:
contrary, they tried to prevent
it
that
was their special
object.
It is
Kenna
He
beyond doubt that Father O' Conner believed Mcto be a very bad man and a participant in crime.
" You were seen around
about the
Tamaqua
said,
time Kelly, Doyle, and Kerrigan were arrested, and you

were seen in very close company with Kerrigan a little
before Jones was shot."
"I had
business in
Tamaqua," was
At
this the father laughed,
"I was
the reply.
sparking Kerrigan's sister-in-law, and of course

keep close company with the brother."
had to
and said he saw no great harm
in that.
McKenna then took leave of Father O' Conner, stating

that he was going to see Father Ryon to get things straightened out, and that when he had done so he would notify
him, in order that he might inform the congregation that
he was no detective.
Father O' Conner replied that if things were settled up
way he would be happy so to state, as he had been
in that
injured in the estimation of his friends.

McKenna met Tom Donahue at Callahan's.
them
He
told
was going to see Father

Reilly on the following day, but that he must return to
Pottsville that night. Both Donahue and Callahan seemed
that
it
was
all right,
that he
pleased at the result.

On his way to the railway station he stopped at Dooley's,
who, on seeing him, laughed.

" I heard
" I was at Father
every word of it," said he.
all
the time, and it was a 'cute thing the way
O' Conner's
you gave your reasons for being in Tamaqua."
McKenna acknowledged the compliment.
M*
MCPAR LAN'S DANGERS, AND HIS ESCAPE.
274
"You
gave the society a good

I did."
lift," said
Dooley.
"I know
"You were telling the truth," was the next assertion.

McKenna assented, left him, and went to the Frackville
station.
The
career of
McKenna
as
an operating detective in
His conversation with Father

him that he was known, and that
the coal region was over.
O'Conner had
satisfied
further concealment was impossible.

He came that evening to Pottsville on the same train with Captain Linden.
The
next morning he
left for
Philadelphia.
But he had succeeded in mystifying the organization.

His loud assertions of innocence, his demand for a trial,
Father O'Conner, and, above all,
the conversation overheard by Dooley, combined to increase
the doubt felt by many as to his being a detective.
his persistent efforts to see
His disappearance created no surprise. Innocent or

guilty, in the coal region his life was in danger.
Shortly
after he left, the case of Kelly was on trial at Mauch Chunk.
It
was known to the order that
in this case
he could be
a most important witness for the Commonwealth, but the

He had
prosecution did not seem aware of his existence.
It was hoped and beentirely disappeared from view.
lieved by Kelioe and others that there had been a false
Under any circumstances it was supposed that he

had been frightened away.
James McKenna was being forgotten ; James McParlan,
the detective, they had never heard of.
alarm.
KERRIGAN THE INFORMER.
CHAPTER
275
XXVI.
KERRIGAN THE INFORMER-THE TRIAL OF KELLY-PREPARATIONS FOR THE YOST TRIAL.
THE
excitement occasioned throughout the entire com-
munity by the confession of James Kerrigan has been hereThat confession was the immediate
tofore referred to.
cause of alarm to the
"Molly Maguire" organization.

That McKenna was a detective was, in its worst phase,
only a subject of suspicion, whilst in the matter of Kerrigan there was immediate, direct, positive danger.
Notwithstanding the fact that McKenna's death had been

determined upon, and that a large number of the organization had been willing to compass it, it must be borne in
mind that such action on their part by no means indicated

any firm and well-grounded belief in their minds as to the
Once he had betruth of the charge made against him.
come an
object of suspicion ard
momentary
dislike, the
death of an innocent man, occasioned by themselves, would

excite
no compunctions.
Whilst, as a matter of fact, they had never throughout

the coal regions suffered by reason of the spy, informer, or
detective, nothing was
more common than
the denuncia-
tion of parties innocent of even such a thought, with the

deliberate purpose to betray them.
This grew out of the morbid suspicion with which their

But suspicion had in every case here-
natures are cursed.
tofore proved without foundation, and although in this

instance the directness of the charge made and the source
from which
it
emanated might well excite alarm,
their
276
KERRIGAN THE INFORMER,
hopefulness of character induced them to dismiss unpleasant forebodings.
must also be considered that, bright and quick-witted,

Sympathetic in a
they understand one another perfectly.
high degree, they will accord to a morbid suspicion all the
It
force and consequences of an established fact, and act accordingly, but at the same time it excites no surprise when
appears that what has been asserted as a fact proves to be

mere groundless suspicion. They are governed perhaps
more by impulse and prejudice than they are by reason.
McKenna was thoroughly aware of this peculiarity, and
hence it was that he had a firm faith that, once having a
hearing before a convention, he could mould them through
their impulses and passions, even were the evidence
stronger
against him than he then believed it to be.
it
Jack Kehoe, too, understood this trait in their charachad himself been shaken in his belief by the mag-
ter; he
netism of McKenna's presence.

He was not disposed to
run any risks, and therefore he had countermanded the
order for a convention, and decided upon his death
without giving him the opportunity for a hearing.
Reason might have taught them that the charge made
but the courage that induced McKenna to incur
;
a danger of which they knew he understood the full extent,
his whole bearing and conduct on the last
days of his
was true
intercourse with them, and, above
the fact that, after
all,
demand made, he had been denied a

sympathy and a disposition
to
accept
fair
his
trial,
created
protestations
of innocence.
In regard to
Kerrigan, however, there was no question.
had been guilty of the highest crime known in
He
"
Molly" ethics, and had done that which aroused against
him the feelings of the Irish peasants as a class, however
opposed
as individuals
they might
;iml to
"Molly" crimes.
be to the "Molly"
or-
277
When Jimmy Kerrigan made his confession the great

mass of the community rejoiced. A way seemed to be
opened by means of which dark crimes would be punished,
property rendered more secure, and a series of bloody, reand aimless murders checked. It was true that
volting,
according to his own account he was perhaps as bad as any

It was
of his fellows charged with crime, if not worse.
had always been lawless and desperate, and,

except that as a soldier during the war he had borne himself gallantly and well, there was nothing to relieve the
true that he
unbroken record of a vicious
life.
It
was also true that
nothing either heroic or lovable in the character

of an informer actuated by a mere hope of personal escape
there
is
from punishment ; on the contrary, there is in human

nature a proneness to admire the more courageous scoundrel, who, regardless of consequences, resisting all temptation, stands, in the face of death itself,
hand
in
hand and
shoulder to shoulder with his companions in misfortune.

But it was not material in the minds of the mass of the
community whether Jimmy Kerrigan was a hero or a
dis-
honorable, cowardly wretch ; he was guilty of murder, selfconvicted ; the question was, whether through his means
dark crimes could be unmasked, criminals brought to

tice, and an era of law and order inaugurated.
jus-
That an "informer" could be found had been long

hoped for and now that one had come forward, there was
no disposition to believe that because he was wicked and
guilty those implicated by his confessions were pure and
;
innocent.
his uncorroborated testimony men should
extreme penalty of the law no one claimed and
no one desired, but there was no feeling of indignation
That upon
suffer the
aroused to prevent his testimony having weight if properly

If he told the truth, there was little fear felt
supported.
but that he would be sustained by cumulative proof.
24
278
But by many, very
many
of the best of Irish-American
the news of Kerrigan's confession was received

Men blameless in their
with ill-concealed indignation.
citizens,
lives,
devoted to their Church, abhorring the "Molly Ma-
guircs" and holding no intimate intercourse with its members, and who truly and sincerely bewailed the bondage of
terrorism under which the coal region was held,
denounced
Kerrigan in unmeasured terms, and proclaimed him unworthy of belief. The evil deeds of his past life were
brought to
light.
discussed, Kerrigan
was Kerrigan who was

vindictively denounced, Ker-
With them
who was
it
who was held in special abhorrence.

Was there other testimony against the men charged
rigan
the murder of Yost
with
That point was not considered.

What were their antecedents? What had been their
lives?
Might they not be guilty? and, if guilty, should
?
they not be convicted?

No matter! Kerrigan was to be upon the witness-stand;
Kerrigan was to testify against them.
Kerrigan was an
"informer," and therefore, forgetting the crime committed, forgetting laws,
foot,
human and
sympathy was extended
insisted
that a conviction,
divine, trampled under
to the prisoners,
and
it
was
Kerrigan being the witness,
would be an outrage.
A good Irishman is equal to any other good man, of
whatever nationality.
It
happens, unfortunately, however,
good men of other nationalities rejoice in the

detection and punishment of crime, good Irishmen, as a
class, rejoice only when that detection and punishment
have been brought about by other means than that of the
" informer."
that whilst
From this prejudice, almost

much of the trouble in the
inherent in the Irish nature,

anthracite coal region has
arisen.
That there are exceptions to the universality of
this

prejudice
is
279
That prejudices and modes of
admitted.
thought having their origin beyond the ocean, with no

application to existing conditions here, should be discarded
is
not only of great
nation, but
American
is
moment
to
the whole
body of the
absolutely essential to the welfare of Irish-
citizens.
If their prejudice against
an "informer"
induce sympathy with criminals, they will themselves be responsible for general judgment against the whole
body of the Irish people.*
But if the indignation of very many of the best of Irishis
to
men
arose against Kerrigan, the intensity of feeling among

the "Mollies" can be better imagined than described.
No man with whom he had intimately associated or had

been on terms of friendship spoke of him except with
Aid of every kind, from such, was withdrawn.
curses.
Men whom he had never seen, never heard of, had been
willing to
half.
come forward and
Now, however,
that he
former," even the wife
and companion, ready
perjure themselves in his behad proved to be an " in-
who had been

screen
to
his faithful friend
him from the conse-
quences of his darkest crimes, who had borne his bruhe had made his
tality when, drunken and quarrelsome,
home a hell on earth, who had experienced with him want
and
suffering without a
murmur, who loved him, sympa-
thized with him, did kindly, tender things when he was

accused of murder and confined in prison, even she now
turned against him.
The
walls of the jail were the only
protection for his life.

During the prevalence of this feeling the case of the
* Since the
true character of the
"
Molly Maguire" has been shown by
indisputable testimony, there has been open denunciation of the order by

the Irish people in the anthracite coal regions as well as elsewhere. That
they should be unwilling to believe in the possibility of so terrible an
organization among Irishmen is natural; they regard the order as not

only a disgrace to common humanity but as a special stigma upon the
Irish
name.
2 So
THE TRIAL OF KELL Y.
Commonwealth
vs.
Edward
P. Jones, was on the 2yth
Kelly, for the murder of John
day of March, 1876, called
for
Mauch Chunk. The same counsel appeared on the

On the
of the Commonwealth as in the Doyle case.
of the defense appeared Hon. Lin Bartholomew,
trial at
part
part
Daniel Kalbfus, Esq., General John D. Bertolette, and

Esq.^ Application was also made in
a change of venue and refused.
After disposing of all dilatory pleas, Judge Dreher di-
Edward Mulhearn,
this case for
The trial occupied about ten

rected a jury to be called.
The evidence was a repetition of that already given
days.
on the trial of Doyle, and was of the same overwhelming
and crushing character. The whole story of the crime
was given in evidence, and the prisoner was identified as
one of the murderers. Great excitement prevailed, but
not approaching in intensity to that existing during the
trial of Doyle.
It
had been confidently expected that James Kerrigan
would be offered
but the experienced counsel

;
were too wary for such a course. With-
as a witness
for the prosecution
him they felt secure in establishing by unquestionable

testimony the guilt of the prisoner. They did not propose
to open the door to testimony relative to the character of
out
Kerrigan and thus furnish material for the speeches of the

any attack that might be made on
prisoner's counsel in
him.
By reason of this policy being adopted, this case, like

the one before tried, was submitted to the jury on the testimony offered by the Commonwealth.
The prisoner's counsel made eloquent appeals. They
urged that a doubt might exist as to the guilt of the prisoner,
and they invoked sympathy on account of his youth, and
for the sufferings of the poor, desolate, widowed, almost
crazed mother of the boy.
The review of the testimony by the Commonwealth, by
THE TRIAL OF KELLY.
2 8i
which every point was covered, removed any possibility

of doubt, and a reference to the widowed wife and or-
phaned children of John
P.
Jones changed the current of
sympathy.
The charge of Judge Dreher

ical,
unimpassioned,
was, as usual, clear, methoda calm review of the facts and the
law.
On
the
morning of the 6th of
second time
in the history
April, the jury, for the
of the anthracite coal regions,
rendered a verdict of " murder in the
first
degree" against
a " Molly Maguire."
motion was made and reasons were filed for a new

A few days afterwards an argument was heard, and
the motion dismissed.
trial.
The
prisoner was sentenced to death by Judge Dreher.
Death-warrants were issued by Governor Hartranft fixing

the day of execution for Doyle, May 3, and for Kelly,
May 4, 1876.
On the 2yth
of April writs of error were taken to the
Supreme Court, which superseded the death-warrants

the time being.
The
for
cases have not at the time of this
writing been argued.

To say that by the verdicts in the cases of Doyle and
Kelly, and the prompt issuing of the death-warrants by
the Governor fixing a day of execution, with the confes-
"
Molly Maguires" were thoroughly

aroused and alarmed, hardly expresses their condition.
They were almost, but not quite, panic-stricken.*
sion of Kerrigan, the
It is true that their usual
defense of an " alibi," in which,
-from experience, they had learned to place implicit con* By a number of the most ignorant among them the acquittal of
Kelly
anticipated, Doyle having been already convicted of the same
That two men should suffer for the same murder was, according
offense.
to their ideas, rank injustice.
This view was strongly urged by Irishwomen
had been
of " Molly" proclivities.
24*
282
PREPARATIONS FOR THE YOST TRIAL.
had in these cases proved unavailing; neverthenot

less,
only was their antagonism aroused, but they were
growing desperate under the repeated blows struck at
fulcnce,
them, and a determined resistance was necessary to preAfter a long lease of almost
vent total demoralization.
One great
absolute power, utter ruin threatened them.
source of their power had been in the absolute control of
During the year preceding the trial of
the
and
township affairs of Schuylkill County
Doyle
Kelly,
were investigated by special auditors, under the direction of
the courts.
Reports of these auditors had been made, and
township funds.
others were expected, which developed a damaging condiIn the

tion of management in those having the control.
of February an arrest of a township official had

been made on the charge of forgery. Other arrests were
anticipated, and earnest efforts were made, under authority
latter part
of special laws, to enforce an honest administration in the

future.
The "Mollies" were checked
in their career of
open
outrage not only by the strong arm of 'the law, but also by
and retaliation which during the

few preceding months had been waged against them.
Nevertheless, active measures of defense were determined
upon in the Yost case, with strong hopes of a successful
the unexpected resistance
result.
The character of the several "alibis" for those charged

with the murder of policeman Yost had been determined
upon. The witnesses had been obtained, and were prepared to swear as the necessities of the case might demand.
In the case of McGeehan, witnesses were
prepared to
swear that he had been at Summit Hill the afternoon and
evening of the 5th of July, the date of the murder, and
that he
rence.
was
in his
Boyle,
bed and asleep
who was a man
at the
time of
its
occur-
of intemperate habits, was
PREPARATIONS FOR THE YOST

to be
shown
to
very drunk.
TRIAL.
283
have been that evening among his friends,
Several of the witnesses selected for his case
were mere children, but were well schooled in the story

they were to tell.
So far as Roarity, Carroll, and Duffy were concerned,

the truth as to their whereabouts that night was to be
shown. If the absence of McGeehan and Boyle from the
scene of the murder were fully proven, it was confidently
anticipated that the character of the witnesses could not
be successfully attacked, especially not to the extent of

sustaining Kerrigan, who was himself a self-convicted
murderer.
Kerrigan's testimony impeached, Roarity, Carroll, and
That any person could be
Duffy were considered safe.
of
murder
in
the
first
guilty
degree who was absent when
the act itself was committed, and was not physically con-
cerned
in inflicting the fatal
The older villains in

men forward under the
blow, was not understood.
the order had pushed the young

belief that they thereby screened
themselves and in case of detection avoided punishment.

case of murder in which the "alibi" was powerless to
prevent conviction was to them a profound mystery.

The theory of the defense, therefore, was that, whilst
It was to be
Kerrigan was guilty, he alone was guilty.
feelvindictive
he
had
a
from
that
motive, arising
proved
ings towards Yost, whilst McGeehan, Boyle, and Roarity

were to be shown to have been utter strangers.
The defense was a plausible one, and it is not by any
means impossible
that, against Kerrigan unsupported, it

might have been successful. If the attorneys for the defense were confident of acquitting the prisoners, as it is to
be assumed they were, the nature of the defense proposed
might well
justify their confidence.
ble that they
It is
not at
all
knew anything about " McKenna"
anticipate any danger from that quarter.
probaor could
284
PREPARATIONS FOR THE YOST TRIAL.
Irish criminals, as a rule, do not know how to tell their

attorneys the truth, and very frequently a case is prepared
out of court which bears no resemblance whatever to that
which in court the attorneys are called upon to try.

But support to Kerrigan was to come from a source
which the prosecution had not hoped for and which was in
no degree anticipated by the defense.

McParlan consented to come on the witness-stand.
Then for the first time he had a personal interview with
Mr. Gowen. He told him the story of his life in the coal
regions and of his determination to become a witness.
Mr. Gowen well knew that no better work could be done
for the companies of which he was the president than the total
overthrow of the "Molly Maguires." He was impressed
with the man, and he determined not only to give the
Commonwealth the benefit of his legal ability, but also to
give the witness the moral support of his presence in court
as president of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company, who had employed the Pinkerton Agency.
Mr. Hughes and District Attorney Kaercher also had an

interview with McParlan, and heard his story.
They, too,
were deeply impressed. They were not only satisfied of
the wonderful ability of the man as a detective, but also
thoroughly convinced of his entire honesty and of his
capacity to
Both
coming
tell his
story
on the witness-stand.
and full of courage, awaited the
parties, confident
struggle.
FIRST TRIAL OF THE YOST MURDERERS.
CHAPTER
XXVII.
THE YOST MURDERERS MORE ARRESTS.
FIRST TRIAL OF
AT about
285
two o'clock
in the
afternoon of Thursday,
May
1876, District Attorney Kaercher announced to the

court, then in session at Pottsville, that the Commonwealth
4,
was ready to proceed in the trial of James Carroll, James

Roarity, James Boyle, Hugh McGeehan, and Thomas
Duffy, charged with the murder of policeman Benjamin F.
Yost on the night of the 5th and 6th of July, 1875, at
Tamaqua.
Although
was expected, and the court-room thronged
this
in anticipation of such action, the
marked
In
announcement created
sensation.
County
Schuylkill
have been tried

dollars;
titles
where human
suits in
cases of the greatest
magnitude
which were involved millions of
to lands of almost
fabulous value;
issues
was felt
that this case was truly, and to the full extent, an issue
joined between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
There was no turbulence disthe prisoners at the bar.
played ; there was no vindictive feeling towards the unfortunate
men
was held in the balance; but
life
about to be put upon
trial
it
but there was
guilty no false sympathy, no manufactured testimony, should save them from judicial conviction.
The feeling was deep and wide-spread that if guilty, and
intense desire that
if
"Molly Maguire" would have won

danger would then exist of capital being
they should escape, the

in the contest; that
withdrawn from the coal region, of property depreciating

in value, of life
being rendered so insecure as to drive
FfXST TRIAL OF
286
away honest labor and

In addition to
one time on
at
leave the lawless
and desperate
in
control.
full
this,
the unusual spectacle of five men

increased the interest
trial for their lives
created by the magnitude of the issue.

The case was to be tried before a full bench, his
Honor
Judge Pershing presiding, with their Honors Green and

Walker, and Associate Judges Kline and Seitzinger. The
Commonwealth, as in the former trials at Mauch Chunk,
felt
fully
secure in
its
position, whilst the defense, calculating
on breaking down the testimony of Kerrigan, were
hopeful.
When
the case was called the
Commonwealth was
repre-
sented by District Attorney Kaercher, with whom were

associated Messrs. Hughes, Albright, and Guy E. Farquhar ;
Messrs.
J.
W. Ryon, Bartholomew, and
Kalbfus appeared
for the defense.
The
The
prisoners had determined to be tried together.

bill of indictment was read.
Clerk Aregood, ad-
vancing to the table arid addressing the prisoners, said,

" Are
you guilty or not guilty ?"
The
"
plea of
How
will
" not
guilty" was entered.
you be
Roarity responded,
our country."
tried
?"
"We
want to be tried by
God and
A jury was then directed to be impaneled. This occupied until the close of the court the following day (Friday).
It was evident, during this time, that not only the friends
of the prisoners but also the prisoners themselves, guarded
as they were by a strong force of police, and entering the
room handcuffed and conscious of guilt, were exceedWith apparently perfect unconcern they
ingly hopeful.
conversed together. They received, when they could be
approached,
many
kindly token,
a hearty shake of the
hand and
a package of tobacco, a cigar,
little
a thing of
THE YOST MURDERERS.

no
value, but displaying heartfelt affection,
287
and indicating
an innate refinement in the Irish nature which not even the
"
brutality of the
Molly Maguire" can extinguish. The
conduct of the prisoners in court may have afforded no
indication of their real feelings
they are born actors, and
;
it
was
in the part
they played to manifest unconcern.
Carroll alone seems to appreciate fully his position ; there

a sad look in his eyes, as if his thoughts are in the past,
as if recalling an innocent boyhood, a youth and early
is
manhood held
in
respect
and esteem.
He
feels the dis-
He cannot join in
grace now upon himself and family.
the assumed careless airs of his companions.
When addressed, he will perhaps smile slightly, but sadness at once
settles on his features.
He holds himself in a certain de-
gree apart from his companions.
Young McGeehan
Throughout the
trial,
assumes,
perhaps
feels,
that he has once lost
defiance.
hope does not
appear.
Boyle, evidently weak and irresolute, is yet impressible.

is to him evidently the master-mind.
McGeehan
Duffy is rather handsome ; dark-haired, with a sullen cast

of feature ; he betrays no emotion.
Roarity has himself well under control. During the trial
he does not blanch under the most damning testimony.
He
does not appear exactly reckless ; rather curious as to

said, but indifferent to its personal applica-
what may be
tion.
Mrs. Carroll, with her two little children, is seated beShe understands the nature of the trial,
side her husband.
and would go through fire and water to save the father of

her children.
She excites sympathy, but it is whispered
around that she is an O'Donnell, a cousin of Mrs. Jack
Kehoe, a cousin of Friday and Charles O'Donnell. Still,
no word
is
breathed against her.
Mrs. McGeehan, a bride
when her husband
is
torn from
FIRST TRIAL OF
2 88
her arms and thrown into prison,
happy
Young and
ently
sits
by
his side, appar-
in his presence, hardly realizing his position.

pretty, small in figure, with auburn hair and
fair complexion, decked in her wedding finery, she does

not seem even to hear the testimony being given by the
witnesses on the stand.
Her husband
gazes proudly upon
her, whilst she, fondly clasping his hand, or, when wearied,
leaning upon his breast, has thrown aside the memory of
past misery, has discarded fear for the future,

feels that in the present she is with him.
Mrs. Roarity, careworn and sad, brings her

into court.
The youngest
crows and laughs.
on
trial
for his life,
sits
upon the
and only
little
children
father's lap
and
fondly pats the face of the parent

and, unconscious of the fearful fate
It
awaiting him, in baby wonder gazes at the crowd by which

is surrounded and the strange scene in which it finds
it
itself.
The
jury was obtained with less difficulty than had been
little prejudice was manifested against

there was a very general belief expressed
by the jurors that they would be able to decide the case
according to the evidence.
anticipated.
the prisoners
Very
Whilst the jury were being impaneled, earnest preparations for the prosecution were continued.
Captain Linden, on the alert, and full of resources and energy, in this
case, as in the cases before and since tried, would quickly
but quietly make his appearance, whisper a few hurried
words to the District Attorney, and then as suddenly disapThis excited no attention at the time, but arrests
pear.
made on the following day recalled it to mind.
At nine o'clock on Saturday morning the case was
He
District Attorney Kaercher.

told, with his
usual clearness, the familiar story of the murder of Yost,
and of the evidence that would be produced establishing
the guilt of the prisoners on trial ; that the testimony of
opened by
THE YOST MURDERERS.
289
James Kerrigan, the accomplice, would be offered, and

that a man who for years had lived in the county, associating with these men, and who had learned the history
of their crimes, known to them as James McKenna, would
His real name was
also be put upon the witness-stand.
James McParlan, and he was a detective employed by the
Pinkerton Agency.
It was an eventful day.
During the opening speech
of the District Attorney, Mr. Gowen entered the court
and took his seat at the counsel-table of the prosecution.
Benjamin Franklin, chief of the Pinkerton Agency at
Philadelphia, entered at the same time, and took his seat
close by.
No
outward manifestation was made, but the opening
of the District Attorney excited most intense expectation.

The Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company had openly
shown their position, and no secret was made of the fact that
they had engaged the private counsel in the present proseThe presence of Mr. Gowen indicated that not
cution.
only was his great and acknowledged legal ability to be arrayed in behalf of the Commonwealth, but also that the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, with its vast
and power, was openly engaged in the contest

with the " Molly Maguires."
The appearance of McParlan was anxiously awaited.
The court-room had been crowded with people from an
resources
early hour
and
the,
until
then, unusual sight of ladies
grand jury box, attracted by the deep

the case, added to the prevailing sen-
in court, filling the
interest
felt
in
The morning hours
were, however, consumed in

Mrs. Yost, sad-looking and subproving the murder.
dued, an object of universal sympathy, told of the lurking
sation.
the fatal shots to which she was an eye-witness ;

;
I am
her husband's cry of mortal agony, " Oh, my God
his
and
wife
of
his
to
the
shot
!"
house,
My
staggering
N
25
assassins
FIRST TRIAL OF
290
Dr. Solliday told the

falling dying on his threshold.
nature of his wounds, his certainty of death, and his dying
declarations.
Whilst
this
testimony was being offered, a rumor, soon
made a certainty, ran round the court-room that a

number of important arrests had been made. Very quickly
to be
copies of the Evening Chronicle passed from hand to hand.

It was true.
That morning eight important arrests had
been made, and at this time the jail was opening to receive
the prisoners.
They were John Kehoe, High Constable
of Girardville, and County Delegate of the Ancient Order
:
of Hibernians; Michael Lawler, of Shenandoah
Frank
O'Neill, of St. Clair; Patrick Butler, of Lost Creek;

Patrick Dolan, Sr. of Big Mine Run ; Michael O'Brien and
,
Frank McHugh, of Mahanoy City; and Christopher Donnelly, of
Mount
Laffee.
There was no loud expression of feeling. Events were

crowding too rapidly. Men gazed at one another in blank
" the end is
amazement.
"Surely, surely," it was said,
now at hand." " Surely the day of organized murder has
The members of
passed forever."
whom
were
the order,
many of
crowd, seemed scarcely to realize what

But on that day, for the first time, the ap-
in the
had been done.
upon them. It was a struggle for life.

At Mauch Chunk, during the trial of Doyle, they had
been fearfully excited, but it was owing to the fact that
individual members of the organization were in danger.
palling truth burst
They were then
arrogant, proud, defiant, glorying in their
resentful that even the strong arm of the law

should dare to lay hold on them. Now, however, members
strength,
and
who had come into the court-room that

no
morning hopeful and confident were panic-stricken
one among them felt safe; but they looked dangerous; the
of the order
feeling of utter desperation was
James McParlan was
called.
upon them.
The
stillness
of expectancy
THE YOST MURDERERS.
29 I
Gentlethroughout that large assemblage was painful.

manly, quiet, and unassuming in manner, but cool and selfpossessed, neatly dressed in black, wearing spectacles, the
detective made his appearance.
He
told his story in slow, measured sentences, without

His
manifestation
of feeling or attempt at display.
any
words were listened to by
all,
judges, jury, attorneys, prison-
assembled, with breathless interest. Carroll

and McGeehan and Roarity gazed upon him with wonder-
ers, officers, all
ment.
Upon
their faces there
"Can
was an expression which
be possible? Is this man now

calmly and coolly telling of our past confidences the same
Jim McKenna who, dashing and venturesome, we believed
seemed
to say,
it
the biggest 'Molly' of us all?"

He tells his story. He was a detective in the
employ of
Allan Pinkerton, of the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
came
He
County from Chicago to join, if possiHe

ble, the "Molly Maguires" and discover their secrets.
told of his life step by step since he had arrived.
He had
He was acjoined the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
quainted with Carroll, McGeehan, and Roarity; had been
to Schuylkill
in their confidence.
He had
them.
He
described his
interviews with
a slight acquaintance with Duffy.
He
had
never met Boyle.
Saturday night had arrived, and with

his evidence-in-chief but partly given the court adjourned.
On the following Monday it was evident that a bitter
struggle was
on hand. The Commonwealth had given some

was a flaw in McParlan's testi-
fearful blows, but if there
the attorneys for the defense were determined to
mony
discover
it.
The
Hon.
The
array of counsel on both sides was brilliant.
F. W. Hughes, the senior counsel for the Common-
wealth,
is
a lawyer by nature, education, and
training.
Thoroughly grounded in the principles of his profession,

by long and extensive practice he seems equally at home
FIRST TRIAL OF
292
any court or
in
in the practice of
any branch of
his pro-
Impulsive by nature, he has become by long practice remarkably calm and collected in the trial of a cause.
fession.
He
but rarely loses his temper, and
never forgets the
points at issue. Comprehending and urging with force the

He
strong points of his case, he is fair to the other side.
His
is logical and analytical in mind, and a fine speaker.
greatest talent, perhaps, lies in the general management of
a cause ; his greatest danger, perhaps, in the too great refinement of an established principle.
Mr. Gowen, a much younger man,
is
also of splendid
wonderful, and the rapid

strides he made to the foremost ranks of his profession whilst
legal ability.
His memory
is
On becoing presibar are almost unprecedented.

dent of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad he abanat the
active practice of his profession, and it is only

It is only by reason
occasionally that he appears in court.
of their importance to the general interests of the coal
region, and in fulfillment of a promise made to McParlan,
doned the
that he takes part in these
and pleasant manners.

broad and comprehensive
witnesses with great
trials.
He
is
of fine appearance
He
has literary tastes, and is

in his views.
He cross-examines
skill,
and
is
an eloquent and im-
Like Mr. Hughes, he is at home in all

passioned speaker.
the courts, and very familiar with general practice.
His
wonderful energy, executive ability, and versatility are, it
most prominent characteristics. Although

very gentlemanly in the trial of a cause, he is perhaps too
quick to resent an offense where, sometimes, none may
is
possible, his
have been intended.

General Albright has been already referred to.
He
served with distinction in the army during the war of the
rebellion,
and has been Congressman-at-large from the
State of Pennsylvania. He
of the State, and is in the
a leading lawyer in his section

enjoyment of a large practice.
is
THE YOST MURDERERS.

He
prepares a case with great
oroughly the
facts
and law
skill,
293
and understands thor-
in controversy.
He
clear
is
and methodical. He watches closely every point of his

case and is ready with his authorities.
In these cases he
feels most deeply interested.
District Attorney George R. Kaercher is a young man,
member of the Schuylkill County

enjoyment of a large and lucrative practice in the civil courts, and will attain eminence.
He
takes great pride in his profession, and has a judicial cast
of mind, being cool, logical, and analytical.
but already a leading
bar.
He
Guy
is
in the
E. Farquhar
is
an attorney of ability, logical, ener-
getic, and a sound lawyer, a rising man in his profession.

He is the law-partner of Mr. Hughes.
John W. Ryon, Esq., the senior counsel for the defense,
is one of the able lawyers of Pennsylvania.
He has had
large experience in the practice of the law, has been a hard

student, and has a remarkably clear, strong, logical mind.
When roused, his statement of his points is as clear as possible to be made, his reasoning accurate and conclusive.
His practice has been extensive and varied. He is slow

and deliberate in speech, but is full of wit and humor,
which bursts out on the most unexpected occasions. He
a successful practitioner, but his strongest point is in the
discussion of law questions arising during a trial.
His
combative nature sometimes arouses antagonism in the examination of witnesses.
is
some respects a most remarkable

witty, and eloquent, possessing in a
is a
high degree magnetic power of voice and manner
good judge of human nature, and understands the motives
and hidden springs by which human conduct is governed.
As a consequence he selects a jury well, exercises judgment
in his offer of testimony, and cross-examines witnesses with
His strong position is before the jury. By
prudence.
Mr. Bartholomew is
man. He is brilliant,
in
25*
FIRST TRIAL OF
294
reason of his quick perception on questions of law he

danger of too rapid conclusions.
Mr. Kalbfus has before been referred
command
of language,
is
to.
a good speaker,
He
is
is
has a fine
of sanguine
Like Mr. Bartholomew, his great power
temperament.
in
is
before the jury.
Martin M. L'Velle, Esq., of Ashland, has been engaged

as counsel for
Saturday.
Jack Kehoe and others arrested the preceding
He
is
at
the table of the prisoners' counsel,
watching with interest the progress of the
trial.
Mr.
a young Irishman, a Protestant, a graduate of

an Irish college, and of literary tastes. Although in gen-
L'Velle
is
eral practice,
he
is
much engaged
in the criminal courts.
McParlan, being again on the stand, gave the signs and

passwords of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which he
"
identified in the coal regions as the
Molly Maguires."
He
explained the criminal nature of the organization, the

systematized commission of crime, and the efforts used to
obtain the acquittal of criminals.
He told of his intercourse with Kerrigan, his visits to Campbell, and the bargain made by means of which Yost was killed in consideration of the promised murder of John P. Jones.
McParlan was on the witness-stand for four days.
His
cross-examination was thorough and exhaustive.

He told
the story of his whole life, where he had been, at what he
had worked, and for whom he had worked. The crossexamination recoiled on the prisoners. A large amount
of testimony, rejected on his examination-in-chief, was
brought out upon his cross-examination. When he told
the story of his being suspected of being a detective, his
demand for a trial, his escape from assassination, and his
interview with Father O' Conner, those present witnessed a

scene never to be forgotten.
Intense silence prevailed
throughout the court-room, the only sound heard being
the slow, measured words of the witness.
The
prisoners
THE YOST MURDERERS.

for the
first
on both
295
Even the counsel

away by the tale of wonder
time manifested uneasiness.
sides were carried
plainly but
there were
thrillingly told.
The "Mollies,"
of
whom
present, listened with blanched cheeks,

whilst the thronging mass of humanity in the court-room
many
displayed an almost painful interest.

That McParlan had not been as bad as he had represented himself to be, his former associates could hardly
credit.
" Did
you not murder a man in Buffalo ?" was asked.
" I never
did," was the reply.
" Did
you not say you did?"
"Yes; I also said that I passed counterfeit money, that

had obtained a pension from the United States Government to which I was not entitled, and many other things
I
of like nature."
" Were these

things true ?"
" Not one word of truth in them."
"Then you lied when you said so ?"

"Most certainly I did."
" What induced
you to tell these lies ?"
"
did
it
do things of
because
this
found they liked a
man who
kind and not be found out.
did
could
it
to
obtain confidence."
The above, whilst not an exact quotation, is in substance

a portion of the testimony given on cross-examination.
The witness, under the long ordeal to which he was put,
never once contradicted himself. He was
and he told it without embellishment.
telling the truth,
During the examination, a question arose as to whether

the witness should be permitted to answer a question asked
by the counsel for the Commonwealth. Mr. Gowen contended that he should, and in the course of his argument,
becoming apparently carried away by suppressed

in
feeling,
an impassioned burst of eloquence told the story long
FIRST TRIAL OF
296
confined within his
own bosom, of a "Molly" candidate

"Molly" Commissioners, "Molly"
He told of a
"Molly" constables.
for Associate Judge,
township
officers,
"Molly" who had been admitted to the jail as a guard

over these prisoners, and of a "Molly" Commissioner
He turned
carrying the key of the prison in his pocket.
to the audience, and proclaimed the court-room full of
them, and then, addressing them, warned them that the
day of their power had passed, and that the avenger was
on their track.
The effect was electrical ; up to that moment the full
power of the organization had never been appreciated.
Jimmy Kerrigan came upon the witness-stand. He was
no longer regarded with undivided hatred: McParlan had
rendered him of
guarded.
it
was
less
importance.
never moved without being well
At the same time, he was never regarded, after
McParlan,
at this time,
satisfactorily
shown
that he
was a
police-officer, with
the same hatred that was visited
upon Jimmy Kerrigan.

That he would have been killed had an opportunity offered
but it would have been done
there can be no question
;
simply for the purpose of getting rid of his testimony.

Kerrigan had by this time made up his mind to tell the
whole
He
truth,
and not
to shield himself in
any
particular.
very bright and quick-witted, and understands fully

that if any favor is shown him it will only be in considis
eration of his having concealed nothing.

Day by day the trial progressed. The testimony corroborating the evidence of both McParlan and Kerrigan
was overwhelming, and when the Commonwealth closed

the conviction of the prisoners seemed certain.
Mr. Kalbfus opened for the defense. He was denunciatory of both McParlan and Kerrigan, and promised testimony which would show an alibi so far as McGeehan and
It was not contended on the part
Boyle were concerned.
THE YOST MURDERERS.

of the
Commonwealth
engaged
that the others
in the perpetration of the
297
had been actually
murder.
The alibi as suggested was being given. The most

notable witness was the wife of Kerrigan, who was called
to contradict her husband and to fasten the whole guilt
upon him.
In her testimony
is
given a striking illustration of the
an " informer." She had been a faithful wife to Jimmy long after he had been committed to
prison at Mauch Chunk ; but now her contempt for him
was open and avowed.
Irish detestation of
" When did

you stop
visiting your
husband?" asked Mr.
Gowen.
" Ever since he committed the
crime," was the answer.
"Crime! What crime?"
Mrs. Kerrigan saw her position in a moment she hesitated, became embarrassed, and then answered, "Ever
since he tried to put his own guilt on innocent men."
But the crime that Mrs. Kerrigan meant was that of
He had been drunken and quarrelbeing an informer.
He was now an informer,
some, and she had loved him.
and he had committed a " crime ;" he was an outcast, and
:
she turned against him.*
When James McKenna
paid attention to Miss
Mary Ann
Hegins, he was a reputed passer of counterfeit money,

without visible means of support, of more than question-
and known as a desperate character. She was

rather an object of envy among her companions.
When
James McKenna proved to be James McParlan, an honest,
able record,
respectable man, a detective
and jeered
at
Mary Ann
by
for
profession, the girls laughed
having an "informer" for a
beau.
* Mrs. Kerrigan has
since relented.
She has been with her children
see her husband, and a reconciliation has taken place.
N*
to
MOLLY
298
PLOTS.
On the 1 8th of May the testimony on the part of the

defense was nearly closed, and a speedy termination of the
trial was hoped for.
Just after court opened, it was announced that one of the jurors Mr. Levi Stein, of Pine
Grove was ill, and not in condition to remain in court.
In hope of his speedy recovery, the jury was kept together
This
until the 23d of the month, when Mr. Stein died.
sad event of course rendered
jury,
necessary to discharge the
it
and the case went over.
Notwithstanding the
known
fact that
" the
tained, what
is
remembered
in Schuylkill
as
no verdict had been ob-
first
County
Yost
as
trial" will
long be
more important
in its
It is
general effects than any case ever before tried there.
true that no verdict had been rendered, but the full nature
of " Molly" crimes was now understood, the members of
the nefarious organization were known, and their conviction had become possible.
CHAPTER
XXVIII.
MOLLY PLOTS TRIAL OF ALEC CAMPBELL TRIAL OF THOMAS

MUNLEY SECOND TRIAL OF THE YOST MURDERERS.
THE intense anxiety prevailing among the better class

of citizens throughout the coal regions reached its culminating point during the trial of the Yost murderers at
Pottsville.
Great interest thereafter
down
to the present
time has been manifested, as the history of the " Molly

Maguire" has more fully developed; but the fear which
had been entertained that crime would remain undetected
and criminals escape punishment has given way to a feeling

that the power of the law would be maintained there as in
MOLLY
PLOTS.
2 99
other sections of the country, and that the destruction of

an organized band of murderers was assured.
The
fact that Carroll, Roarity,
and Duffy, although not

might still be
present at the actual assassination of Yost,

guilty of
"murder
in the first
degree," was then
first
gen-
and satisfaction was openly expressed

that the deeper and more hardened villain who laid the
hellish plan could receive the same punishment as the
erally understood,
oftentimes
To
less guilty
instrument executing
" Mollies" themselves
it.
knowledge was a
matter of deep consternation, mingled with surprise and
incredulity, and the approaching trial of Alexander Campbell, at Mauch Chunk, was looked forward to with great
It was not contended in his case that he had
anxiety.
been actually present at the murder of John P. Jones.
Nevertheless, the arrest of Jack Kehoe and others at an
early stage of the Yost trial, and still other arrests rapidly
Crime
following, created intense alarm among them.
had been discussed, sympathized with, and perpetrated
within their own knowledge, and to aid and abet the
escape of a criminal had been by them- regarded as a most
the
virtuous action.
Many
this
were conscious of the extent to
which they were themselves implicated, and lived in continual dread of arrest.
Numbers, under the influence of
fear, left the anthracite coal regions, it is hoped forever.
A general feeling of uneasiness pervaded the whole organization.*
It
was no longer a question as to whether the organizapower and position ; the arrogant, con-
tion should retain

fident feeling
remained,
had passed away, and the appalling question
"Who
among
us
is
safe?"
The
leaders of the
* Even under these circumstances the Irishman could not

"
And whin
shall
see
resist
you again?" asked one son of the Emerald
a jcke.
Isle of
another, on a street corner in Pottsville, one evening about this time.

"
On Monday next, me mon, if I'm not thin in jail," was the answer.
MOLLY
300
PLOTS.
order throughout Schuylkill and Carbon Counties were

being arrested or were fugitives from justice.
That in this condition of affairs, driven as they were to
the wall, desperate means of relief should suggest themselves
is
The women
but natural.
sympathy with the
in
organization were the last to realize that its power was on

the wane, and by their voices and influence they counseled
In Carbon County General Alactive, bitter resistance.
bright* was regarded with special dread, whilst in Schuylthe destruction of Messrs. Gowen, Hughes, and District
kill
Attorney Kaercher was discussed. They were regarded as

their great enemies, and they falsely assumed that, these
gentlemen disposed of, they could have more assurance of

That they had no conception of the fearful retrisafety.
bution which would have followed the destruction of any
one engaged
They
in the
enforcement of the law
reason from their
own
is
not surprising.
and de-
feelings, prejudices,
and they had not then, they never had, and with all
up to this time they have not now, a conception of the intense detestation with which their crimes
sires,
their experience
The reason of this is obvious they have

not themselves any adequate conception of the fearful,
terrible nature of their brutality.
are regarded.
During the Yost
trial
and afterwards
several plans were
* In Carbon County a plan for the rescue of Doyle and Kelly and the
capture of Kerrigan had been matured. Two members of the order were
be brought to Mauch
General Albright, to form
to
Chunk from
Pittsburg.
They were
to
watch
acquaintance on pretense of business, and to

arrange an evening interview with him in his office. He was to be dehis
tained there by force until after midnight,
when
it
was supposed
that
under
the influence of threats he could be induced to procure them admission

into the prison.
The general and the jailer were then to be murdered and
the prisoners released. The arrest of the Yost murderers and Alec CampAs the
bell, charged also with the murder of Jones, disarranged the plan.
details of the matter were understood at the time, the conspirators had no
chance whatever of success.
MOLLY
PLOTS.
301
among them, in one of which the destruction of

who might happen to be in the court-house was involved.
discussed
all
Difficulties
to
as
vented any serious

its
its
practical
execution,
however, pre-
efforts in that direction.
execution, the lives of some of their
have been necessarily
Besides, in
own number would
forfeited.
The
chief object of their fear was, however, Mr. Gowen,

It is
the president of the Reading Railroad Company.
not to be supposed that he was regarded with any personal

There is among no other class of people a more
thorough recognition of the position of the opposite coun-
dislike.
sel,
and of the distinction between
his official position as
an
No people
attorney and his acts as a private individual.
better understand the difference between McParlan, the
and detective, and Kerrigan, the " informer."
They recognized in Mr. Gowen the attorney against them,
rather than the president of the Reading Coal and Iron
police-officer
Company.
But it was not a question of personal like or dislike the
attorneys were against them, and inflicting fearful blows,
and Mr. Gowen wielded the full power of a great corpora:
For their own personal safety they desired him out

of the way, and that to do so they would have to destroy
life was, in their view, immaterial.
tion.
The apparent indifference of nearly all the prisoners

excited surprise, and a belief has been entertained that
news of an intended rescue had been given them ; and this
" Molplan discussed among the
details of which are known, embraced not
seems probable.
lies," the full
One
only the breaking in of the jail, but also the destruction

of the town of Pottsville, and, if necessary, the murder of
many
of
its
inhabitants.
In the fact that
that such schemes are contemplated
may
it
exist
is
known
the safe-
guard against their perpetration. It must be borne in mind,

however, that whilst in past experience almost numberless
26
TRIAL OF ALEC CAMPBELL.
^02
crimes have been committed, far more have been the subject of
mere
idle talk.
On
the 2oth of June, 1876, the trial of Alexander Campbell for the murder of John P. Jones was commenced at
Mauch Chunk.
The counsel appearing
for the
Commonwealth were
Dis-
Hughes, Albright, and

Craig; and for the defense, Messrs. E. T. Fox, Esq., of
Easton, Daniel Kalbfus and Edward Mulhearn, Esqs.
This case was regarded as of the greatest importance
both by the Commonwealth and by the defense.
Campbell was one of the most influential men in the order, and
trict
Attorney Siewers, Messrs.
He had planned, had

regarded as specially dangerous.
aided and assisted, but had not executed the murder.
He
was known to have been
for years the instigator of the

horrors by means of which Carbon County had been held
in terror, and his conviction was felt to be justly due.
that his conviction would be most salutary

the
desperadoes of the region that the acconvincing
cessory before the fact, in the case of murder, could be
It
was also
felt
in
held as "guilty in the first degree."

The " Mollies" had attempted to rally their forces since
the close of the first Yost trial, and a determined effort
was intended to be made
As
to
break
down McParlan's
tes-
had no difficulty in
murder
of
witnesses.
The
Jones was proven, as
obtaining
in former cases, to have been committed by Doyle and
timony
if
possible.
usual, they
Kelly.
The whole history of the transaction, including the bargain in consideration of which John P. Jones was assassinated in exchange for the murder of policeman Yost,
was given in evidence by McParlan and Kerrigan.
A
most gallant contest was made by E. T. Fox, Esq., who
has justly the reputation of a leading lawyer in the Lehigh
Valley, supported by Mr. Kalbfus.
TRIAL OF ALEC CAMPBELL.
303
whom was John
Witness after witness was called, among
contradiction of the detective and the "in-
J. Slattery, in
former;" but unfortunately
for the
prisoner,
tunately for the witnesses themselves, they
and unfor-
broke down, as
was to be expected, under able and well-directed crossexamination.

Not only was James McParlan, the policeofficer and honest man, sustained, but also James Kerrigan,
the self-convicted murderer.
And
for the
same reason
they both told the truth. When the Commonwealth closed

their testimony, the conviction of the prisoners was probable.
When
the testimony for the defense was all in,
was absolutely
During the
it
certain.
trial
crowded.
the court-room was, as usual in these
One
of the most notable scenes occurred

argument on the admission of Kerrigan as a witness.
Mr. Fox objected to his testimony on the ground that he
cases,
in
was an accomplice, and that
its admission was discretionary

In arguing that, in this case, the court
should exercise its discretion against such admission, he
with the court.
Jimmy in most unmeasured

and spoke of the wrong that would be done to
Mr.
society in convicting any one upon such evidence.
Hughes, in the first instance, discussed the legal proposition, and then, in a burst of thrilling eloquence, portrayed
the wrongs done to society by Campbell, who was a leader
among leaders and a chief among chieftains, and by his
took occasion to denounce
terms,
criminal associates; he spoke of the "Molly" reigning

with brutal and unhallowed power in the past, and of the
doom
that was
upon him
in the present
how, by
his foul
crimes, society had been disorganized, homes rendered

desolate, and the widow and orphan thrown unprotected
on the world.
The testimony of Kerrigan was admitted by Judge

Dreher upon the
his discretion.
legal proposition
and
in the exercise of
TRIAL OF THOMAS MUNLEY.
3o4
On the ist of July the jury returned a verdict of "guilty

of murder in the first degree" against Alexander Campbell,
the third conviction of this kind in the coal regions, and
all
of them in Carbon County.

trial a number of witnesses for the de-
Shortly after this
fense were arrested and bound over to answer the charge

of perjury.
In the mean time, on the 2yth of June, at Pottsville, the
case of the Commonwealth vs. Thomas Munley and Charles
McAllister was announced for
trial
before his
Honor Judge
Green.
Charles McAllister, one of the defendants,
separate
first
try
trial,
and
District
demanded a
Attorney Kaercher elected to
Thomas Munley.
The
case opened with District Attorney Kaercher, F. B.

Gowen, and Guy E. Farquhar, Esqs., for the Common-
wealth, and Messrs.
Ryon, Bartholomew, L'Velle, and S.

A. Garrett, Esqs., for the defense. Upon the conclusion
trial at Mauch Chunk, Messrs. Hughes
and Albright also appeared for the Commonwealth. The
prisoner was charged in the indictment with the murder of
Thomas Sanger at Raven's Run on the preceding ist of
of the Campbell
September.
It will be remembered that
Thomas Sanger was, together

with William Uren, murdered by Friday O'Donnell and
Thomas Munley, whilst Charles O'Donnell, McAllister,
and Doyle were at the same time firing at the crowd and
There were nearly one hundred
preventing interference.
men assembled at Raven's Run, and yet, strange to say,
of all the workmen there assembled, not one could be found
who could
identify Thomas Munley as having been there

that morning, though there were none who would swear
that he was not present and committed the act.
had
They
seen five
hats,
and
men
there, but their faces
their coats
were hidden under their
drawn up; they were bewildered
the
35
action of the tragedy had been too rapid.

Robert Heaton,
one of the proprietors of the colliery, who had rushed from
porch and exchanged shots with the
his
fugitives,
was alone
able to swear positively to the identity of the prisoner.

The defense was an " alibi."
McParlan,
it
is
made
true,
swore positively to the confessions
Muff Lawler's tavern at Shenandoah,

on the morning of the murder, and directly after its perpetration, but ground for his contradiction was laid by the
defendant's attorneys in his cross-examination.
Hope was
entertained that by means of the number of witnesses to
of Munley,
at
be produced, showing Munley's presence elsewhere at the

time of the murder at Raven's Run, a question might be
made
as to
whether Mr. Heaton was not mistaken, and such
a reasonable doubt established as would acquit the prisoner.

But the ill success attending the attack upon McParlan at
Mauch Chunk was discouraging; and

contradict
whilst the attempt to
him was not wholly abandoned, many of the
made at Mauch Chunk were not pressed.

The Commonwealth, moreover, unexpectedly obtained
points
two witnesses
that had not been calculated upon.

Mrs. Williams, who lived at Raven's Run at the time
of the murder of Sanger and Uren, impelled by curiosity,
court-room during the progress of the trial.

the place where she was sitting in the room she had
a side view of the prisoner's face ; she recognized it at
once.
She was in her house with her son, a mere lad, on
visited the
From
morning of the murder. Hearing the noise outside,

boy ran to the door, and the mother, anxious for his
The door was
safety, followed him to draw him back.
opened, and just at that moment a man passed with a pistol
in his hand, and his side face towards her.
The view she
had was but for an instant, but an impression was made
never to be forgotten.
That face was printed on her
the
the
brain.
It
was the face of Thomas Munley, the prisoner

26*
at
3 o6
the bar, she told a friend sitting by her side.

Quickly
was Captain Linden in possession of the fact. Quickly
was it known at the counsel-table of the prosecution ; and
before Mrs. Williams fairly
comprehended her position she
was on the witness-stand and had told her story.

The Commonwealth had closed their case, the defense
had opened and were offering their testimony, when Captain Linden unexpectedly discovered another witness able
Munley. A young girl named Belinda Bickelman, a sister of Mrs. Weevil, into whose house, it will be
remembered, Sanger ran after being shot, was present at
the time, but, keeping herself in the background, had escaped attention. She had no previous acquaintance with
Munley, but had recognized him as soon as she saw him in
court as the stranger she had seen with a pistol on the
morning of the assassination. She had applied to Captain Linden for permission to return home, when in conto identify
versation with her he learned that she too could identify

the prisoner.
Application was at once made to the court,
and, under the circumstances, Judge Green permitted the

testimony to be given.*
The
father
his side.
amined
It
and brother of the prisoner were seated by

being understood that they were to be ex-
one was requested to withdraw
as witnesses, the
during the examination of the other.
On
house
the
main
fact, that
Thomas Munley was
in his
own
time of the murder, they agreed, but in other

their
contradictions were flagrant.
A sister of the
respects
prisoner testified to the fact that he was at home that mornat the
Mrs. Hyland also testified to meeting him in his

at a time which, if she told the truth, would
have rendered his commission of the crime charged iming.
own house
* Prior
to this, the testimony of either of these

witnesses, it is probable,
difficult to obtain.
Even at this time Mrs. Williams was
would have been
the object of threats
and alarmed
for her safety.
TRIAL OF 77/0 MAS

possible.
The
Kaercher and
MUNLEY.
30 7
case was ably argued to the jury by Messrs.

Gowen for the Commonwealth, and Bar-
tholomew and Ryon for the defense.

The argument of Mr. Gowen was an arraignment of the
"
Molly Maguire" organization. It has been published
and extensively circulated.
The case was fairly and impartially presented to the jury
by
Honor Judge Green.
his
On
the
2th of July the jury rendered a verdict of "guilty

first degree" against Thomas Munley, the
of murder in the
first
verdict of that kind in Schuylkill County against a

the fourth in the anthracite coal
"Molly Maguire," and

region.
It
was discovered through the examination of McParlan

under arrest and in-
in this case that Charles McAllister,
dicted for the murder of Sanger and Uren, was innocent
of active participation in that offense.

It was James
McAllister, the brother of the prisoner, who was present
at Raven's Run with Munley, the O'Donnells, and Doyle.
James McAllister
is
a fugitive from justice.
The
prosecution of Charles McAllister for the murder

of Sanger and Uren has not been pushed, but he has
since been tried and convicted for the attempted assassination of
It is said
James Riles, of Shenandoah.

to have been arranged by the "Mollies"
Mr. Gowen should be shot
that
in the court-room during the
trial.
The perpetrator of the act was to be
protected, and his escape effected, by a number of armed
men who accompanied him. At the time appointed, how-
progress of this
member of the organization was sitting in such a

position that his life would have been endangered by any
shot fired at Mr. Gowen. To have executed this plan
ever, a
would have been such utter madness that it is more than

probable that it would not under any circumstances have
been attempted.
SECOND TRIAL OF
308
On
the 6th and 7th of July, and before the conclusion of
Munley case, a jury was impaneled in the case of the

Commonwealth vs. Carroll, Roarity, McGeehan, and Boyle.
Thomas Duffy demanded a separate trial. The case was
the
tried before his
The
Honor Judge Pershing.

Commonwealth and
counsel for the
for the defense
were the same as had been employed in the Munley case.

An application for a change of venue was made and
refused.
reason that the jury was impaneled at this time was

no jury had been summoned for the following week,
and, owing to pressure of business, the District Attorney
was anxious to dispose of this case during the term.
The trial began on the I3th of July. The evidence,
with but immaterial exceptions, was the same as that adMrs. Kerrigan, however,
duced in the first Yost trial.
The
that
did not appear upon the witness-stand.

even before the conclusion of the first
It is stated that
trial
she had re-
pented, and had determined to come upon the stand and

tell the truth.
Certain witnesses also who had consented
to perjure themselves in order to establish
McGeehan,
influenced either by fear or
refused to
fulfill
was made out as
their promise.
an "alibi" for
by a higher motive,
The "alibi" of Boyle
in former trials.
But, independently of the testimony of McParlan and

Kerrigan, in material points corroborated by other witnesses, the evidence of Robert Breslin was utterly at
variance with the "alibi" set up for McGeehan and Boyle.

It will be remembered that Breslin met these two men a
on the morning of the 6th of July,

him they were returning from a ball at
Mauch Chunk. It was shown that this was on the road to
Tamaqua, and testimony was given to prove that there had
been no ball or party the preceding
night at Mauch Chunk.
The effort to impeach the testimony of McParlan was
little after
and
four o'clock
that they told
THE YOST MURDERERS.
39
His cross-examination was thorough,

now been examined at great
trials
in
three
the
preceding, and in a number of
length
"habeas corpus" hearings, no material contradiction in
any portion of the testimony he had given could be disnot yet abandoned.
but notwithstanding he had
The conclusion was being unwillingly arrived

he was impregnable.
The speeches of the counsel in this as in preceding cases
covered.
at that
were earnest and able. The speeches of Messrs. Hughes

and
have been published in pamphlet form, and
AJbright
have had a wide circulation.
On
Saturday evening, July 22, the jury retired, after

listening to the able, well-prepared, and impartial charge
of his Honor Judge Pershing.
At about eleven o'clock that night the jury brought in

a verdict of "guilty of murder in the first degree" against
all the defendants.
The scene was a
startling one.
Notwithstanding the
and the fact that the court-house

is situated some distance from the centre of the town, a
few moments after the ringing of the bell the room was
lateness of the hour,
Judge Pershing took his

upon
prisoners were brought in handcuffed.
Their wives and relatives took seats beside them.
The jury then entered the box. The verdict was rendered.
thronged to
seat
its
utmost capacity.
the bench.
The
The
counsel for the defendants asked that the jury might

be polled, and then each juror, separately as to each prisoner, declared the verdict, "Guilty of murder in the
first
degree."
The ceremony occupied nearly half an hour. There were

but few there assembled who did not feel the solemnity
of the scene, and yet the prisoners sat, with their wives
beside them,
evidently by preconcerted arrangement,
all seemingly careless and unmoved.
The mental strain
upon them
all
during that hour must have been
terrible.
THE CONSPIRACY
3IO
CASES.
The wail of mortal agony wrung from those poor women,

when the eyes of the curious crowd were removed, must
have been heart-rending.
CHAPTER
XXIX.
THE CONSPIRACY CASES TRIAL OF DUFFY.
WHEN
first
the jury brought in a verdict of
degree"
against
Carroll, Roarity,
" murder
in the
McGeehan, and
"
Molly Maguires" as an
organization had been fought and the victory had been
won. Although a united effort for the defense was made
in the conspiracy cases against John Kehoe and others, it
Boyle, the battle against the
was entered into with
little
reasonable hope of success.
earnest
Since that time the fight has been spasmodic,
sometimes, in the hope of clearing the individual charged
with crime, but with no expectation of saving the association from
its just
doom.
That McParlan was
telling the truth
was
now
generally
admitted by all classes of the community.

Very few even
of known " Mollies" longer denied it. He was recognized
not only as a truthful witness, but as a fair, cautious, unprejudiced one
appreciating, if not to an unusual at least

extent, the sanctity of an oath.
This conclusion had been produced, in a very great de-
to the
full
by the internal evidence of the truth of his stateThat such a state of the public mind was a high
compliment to McParlan is unquestionable; that he should
gree,
ments.
himself be gratified at strong corroborative evidence, soon

offered, is but natural.
The prisoners convicted of the murder of policeman

Yost entered a motion for a new trial, which was argued
THE CONSPIRACY
and
refused.
CASES.
They were sentenced by
3II
the court to un-
dergo the extreme penalty of the law.

Death-warrants were issued against them, and also
against Thomas Munley, convicted and sentenced for the
murder of Thomas Sanger.

Writs of error have been issued in behalf of each
pris-
oner, which have for the time being acted as a superseded*.

The cases have not as yet been heard by the Supreme
Court.
That perjury
is
a crime, punishable
by law, and
that
danger of the enforcement of the law existed, the arrests

of witnesses in Carbon County, testifying in the case of
Alexander Campbell, and in the trials of Munley and the
murderers of Yost, in Schuylkill County, now rendered

evident.
The "Mollies" found themselves beaten at all
points.
At the time of the verdict against Carroll and others,

had been made of men charged with the murder of
F. W. Langdon, committed over fourteen years ago. Yellow Jack Donahue was in prison. Dennis F. Canning, the
County Delegate of Northumberland, had been arrested.
John Gibbons, John Morris, John J. Slattery, Charles Mularrests
hearn, John Stanton, Michael Doolan, Edward Monaghan,

and others, in addition to those before noted, were await-
ing
trial.
was known as to those implicated in " Molly" crimes

and not arrested, that the officers of justice were on their
Sooner or
track, and that death alone would save them.
later they would be called upon to answer at the bar of
It
outraged justice for their crimes.

On the 8th of August, 1876, at Pottsville, before his
Honor Judge Walker,
District Attorney
Commonwealth
Kaercher called for
John Kehoe,
Michael O'Brien, Christopher Donnelly, John Donahue
alias Yellow Jack, James Roarity, Dennis F. Canning,
trial
the case of the
against
THE CONSPIRACY
3I2
CASES.
Frank McHugh, John Gibbons, John Morris, Thomas

Hurley, and Michael Doyle, charged with assault and batAll of the
tery with intent to kill William M. Thomas.
accused were produced
in
custody except
Hurley and
Doyle.
District Attorney Kaercher, F. W. Hughes, F. B. Gowen,
Charles Albright, and Guy E. Farquhar, Esqs., appeared
for the Commonwealth, and Hon. James Ryon and Martin
M. L'Velle and
S.
A. Garrett, Esqs., for the defendants.

case, giving a clear and lucid
Mr. Farquhar opened the
statement of the facts to be proven.

The case was a very
McParlan was on the stand, and examinteresting one.
ined at great length.

character, his
its
His history of the organization and

adventures, were
own experience and
given perhaps at greater length and with more detail than

in any of the preceding trials, with the exception perhaps
of the first trial of the Yost murderers.
The
of the convention held in Mahanoy City

of July of the preceding year were given, and
the division meeting held in Shenandoah, called for the
on the
full details
ist
purpose of selecting the party to execute the

also described.
"job," was
Testimony as to the details in the preparation of the

was given.
Young Frank McHugh, one of the prisoners, was called
to the stand, and testified to the
meeting in Mahanoy City,
assault
completely corroborating McParlan.
McHugh was the first

of the prisoners, after Kerrigan, to make
public confession.
result had now been attained which for some time had
been expected.
ization
As the fortunes of the "Molly" organbecame desperate, a very general desire to turn
among the prisoners. A

Commonwealth now was as to how
State's evidence manifested itself
serious question for the

far
it
could avail
itself
of that evidence under any implied
obligation which the use of such testimony would seem
THE CONSPIRACY
McHugh
to create.
CASES.
^$
was a mere boy, and the
of any of those charged with the crime.

under the influence of Mike O'Brien, but,
was not yet wholly corrupted.
least guilty
He
it
had been
was believed,
In this case the printed constitution and by-laws of

the Ancient Order of Hibernians were given in evidence.
There is nothing in this constitution or by-laws to indicate
It is manifest fi..
in the organization.
the evidence given in the several trials that the avowv',
principles of the order are used as a cloak to cover its
any criminality
criminality
they
"
Stole the livery of the court of heaven

To serve the devil in."
The argument was made to the jury on the part of the

Commonwealth by F. B. Gowen and George R. Kaercher,
Esqs., and on the part of the defense by M. M. t'Velle
and Hon. James Ryon.
On
Saturday, the i2th of August, the case was submitted

under the charge of his Honor Judge Walker.*
to the jury,
The verdict rendered was "guilty"

recommendation
in the case of Frank McHugh.
in custody, with a
as to all the defendants

to the court of
mercy
On the following Monday, his Honor Judge Green presiding, District Attorney Kaercher called the case of the
against John Kehoe, Christopher DonDennis F. Canning, Michael O'Brien, Frank McHugh, John Donahue, and James Roarity, charged with
conspiracy to murder William and Jesse Major.
Commonwealth
nelly,
The same
counsel appeared as in the case tried the week
immediately preceding.
* A full
report of the testimony, arguments of counsel, and charge of
court has been published under the supervision of R. A. West, Esq., by
whom the same was stenographicalljr reported, and to whom the writer
takes this occasion to
make acknowledgments
report has been extensively circulated,
27
for repeated courtesies.
and fonuo an
The
interesting volume.
THE CONSPIRACY
3I4
CASES.
was entered in behalf of the prisoners, to

was joined, that they had been already con"
victed of the offense charged, by the verdict of
guilty"
rendered by the jury in the case for assault and battery
special plea
which
issue
with intent to
kill
acy entered into

kill
1875,
William M. Thomas; that the conspirMahanoy City on the ist of June.
at
and the same transaction

Thomas, and inseparable from it ;
had merged in the actual assault and
the Majors was one
as the conspiracy to kill
that as the latter

battery,
The
no
right of action for conspiracy existed.
question as to whether the prisoners had already

for the offense charged was submitted as a ques-
been tried
tion of fact to the jury, under the charge of Judge Green,

instructed them that the mere fact that these prisoners
who
came
together,
and
at the
same meeting entered into a
conspiracy not only to kill one person, but to kill more,

did not necessarily constitute a single conspiracy.
The
wealth.
jury rendered a verdict in favor of the CommonThe prisoners entered the plea of "not guilty,"
and a jury was called and sworn
to try the question of their
guilt or innocence.
The testimony was
in many particulars the same as given

The story of the meeting on Sunpreceding trial.
day at Tuscarora was told by Kerrigan ; the shooting at
the mark; the selection of the party to do the "job;"
in the
the offer of Slattery to pay five dollars to any man to take

his place; the interest manifested by Yellow Jack Donahue, Michael Doolan, and Charles Mulhearn ; the details
of which have been given in a previous chapter.

On the 1 6th of August the case was submitted to the
jury,
who rendered
a verdict of " guilty" against
all
the
defendants.
The same day District Attorney Kaercher called the

>f the Commonwealth
against James Roarity, Christopher Donnelly, John Donahue, Michael O'Brien, Patrick
THE CONSPIRACY
CASES.
3*5
and Patrick Butler, charged with aiding and

Thomas Hurley for the murder of
Corner James, the counsel on both sides being the same
as in the two preceding cases.
The interest excited by this case can readily be imagined. The full story, the particulars of which are already
known to the reader, of the convention held on the 25th
Dolan,
Sr.,
assisting
to reward
of August, 1875, at tne n o use of James Carroll, in TamaBy reason of the strange
qua, was given in evidence.
developments before made as to the open character and
free discussion of many of the crimes perpetrated under
sanction of this order, it would be imagined that nothing
But the history of this day is
could occasion surprise.
almost beyond belief.
That in broad daylight men from
sections of Schuylkill County should openly attend a
meeting held at a tavern on the main street of a populous
town, and without one dissenting voice, after open discussion among themselves, agree to reward the perpetrator of
all
a brutal, cowardly, aimless murder, is in itself almost incredible.

But when, beyond this, it conclusively appeared
that another person, jealous of the honor and reward
claimed, should falsely assert himself to be the perpetrator of this dark crime, and that a committee should be
appointed to decide the question and report, it was felt that

a depth of brutality and debasement had been reached by
men possessing influence, and met in daily

which
even the long record of horrid crimes
association,
and ghastly murders could scarcely explain.
But the evidence of McParlan, given in plain, simple
a large body of
words, without any attempt at embellishment, has since

been corroborated to such an extent that the possibility of
On this trial James
a doubt of its truth no longer exists.
Kerrigan told his knowledge and his part in that day's
proceedings, and now the evidence of another actor in that
scene was also added.
TRIAL OF DUFFY.
3I 6
Patrick Butler, body-master of Lost Creek, who, it will

be remembered, was appointed with McKenna to examine
into the respective claims of Hurley and McClain to the
reward for the murder of Gomer James, was called to the

stand on the part of the defense.
Unexpectedly to most
persons present, he told the truth ; he corroborated McParlan to the fullest extent, and, more than this, he told
of other terrible deeds perpetrated or in contemplation.
There was no longer in the mind of even the most preju-
diced any doubt of the entire truth of McParlan's stateThe day of sneers and innuendoes as to a paid
ments.
"spy" and ''informer," who,
for selfish purposes, magknowledge he had obtained, had passed forever.

On the 2oth of August the jury rendered a verdict
"
against all the prisoners of
guilty" in manner and form
nified the
as they stood indicted.
The time
fixed for the trial of
Thomas Duffy
for the
murder of policeman Yost was approaching. Duffy had

made no confession of his participation in the crime to
McParlan. The defense persuaded itself that there could
be no testimony of the guilt of the prisoner apart from the
evidence of Kerrigan. That they would be able to contradict Kerrigan in such material points as to render him
unworthy of belief they felt sanguine.

The case was prepared with great care. Patrick Duffy,
the brother of the prisoner, had since his arrest devoted
all his energies to
He had
accomplish his acquittal.
'been at work night and day.
During the first Yost trial,
by
his
wonderful energy he assumed the main part of the
labor necessarily required

preparation and during the trial.
vast
he had been
by the attorneys
On
his brother's
in
its
account
during the trial of Carroll and

was coming the struggle, in which his whole
interest was centred, and the hope expressed by the attorneys redoubled his efforts.
others.
just as active
Now
TRIAL OF DUFFY.
317
Honor Judge Walker, at

on the 6th of September, 1876.
District Attorney Kaercher, and Messrs. Hughes, Albright, and Guy E. Farquhar, appeared for the Commonwealth, and Messrs. Ryon and Bartholomew for the deThe
case was called before his
Pottsville,
fense.
The
contest
made on
the part of the defense in this
The energy and ability

bitter.
of the learned counsel for the defense were fully engaged
in the struggle.
Nothing was overlooked, the case was
But, notwithstanding their efforts,
fought inch by inch.
trial
was earnest and even
the same evidence, with immaterial exceptions, was presented to the jury as in the former trials of the prisoners
The whole story was
charged with the Yost murder.
told.
Kerrigan as a witness sustained himself well.
It
was claimed by the defense that he was contradicted on

material points, and on the part of the Commonwealth
that his testimony was entirely reliable.
With the corroborative testimony offered he was sustained by the jury.
The testimony produced in all the cases is strongly conHis own statements
firmatory of Kerrigan's truthfulness.
He
bear internal evidence of their general correctness.
has been corroborated to a wonderful extent in very many
material points. Unprincipled and wicked as he most certainly has been, there can be little doubt that he has
his mind to conceal nothing, as against either
He appreciates that in that one
himself or any one else.
But he is very
line of conduct is his one hope for safety.
a very
bright, quick in motion and quick in intellect,
made up
rapid talker, anticipating the question before it is fully

His answer is on the instant, and the utmost skill
asked.
of the stenographer is taxed in reporting him, entire accuracy being next to impossible. That he should exercise
caution and care to the extent observed by McParlan is
not to be expected.
The two men

27*
are actuated
by entirely
TRIAL OF DUFFY.
3I 8
different principles.
McParlan appreciates the sanctity of
Kerrigan's past life would not indicate respect

for anything; but he tells the truth because he conceives it
an oath.
to be his interest to
do
so.
The
case was concluded
on
the 2oth of September, 1876.

The arguments of counsel were carefully prepared, and,
as in the preceding cases, exceedingly able.
In the "Molly" trials preceding the present, Messrs.

Ryon and Bartholomew had made able and probably their
best efforts in the case of Thomas Munley, charged with
In that case, too, in the
the murder of Thomas Sanger.
concluding argument, Mr. Gowen's speech had been imIt was an

passioned, eloquent, and of great literary merit.
arraignment of the "Molly" organization, and, delivered
by the president of the Reading Railroad Company, commanding its power and resources, its effect on the public
mind, which under any circumstances would have been
great,
was increased.
General Albright's argument in the case of Carroll and

others, charged with the murder of Yost, was an elaborate
and telling speech, whilst Mr. Hughes, generally ingenious

and convincing, had prior to this time made his best effort
in argument at the trial of Alexander Campbell at Mauch
Chunk.
In this case the speech of Mr. Hughes, who opened in
the concluding arguments before the jury, was both in
He endeavored
conception and delivery a masterpiece.
to show the jury that the testimony, independent of Ker-
would justify a verdict against the prisoner; that

Kerrigan's testimony alone would demand it, that KerAs
rigan's testimony as corroborated would compel it.
evidence was reviewed and connected which, scattered
rigan,
through the case, had excited but little attention, the conviction was forced that such corroboration of Kerrigan had
been given as to place
his
evidence beyond doubt.
TRIAL OF DUFFY.
319
Mr. Hughes, in treating the testimony of Kerrigan, contended that it bore internal evidence of truth, and in illustration related an anecdote in his own experience, which,
as
it
may
illustrates
what has been heretofore contended
not be inappropriate to relate.
"Many
for, it
years ago,"
John Bannan, Esq., and myself were

Edwards, charged with
engaged
We both knew Edwards
the murder of James Richards.
well, and were both satisfied of his innocence of the crime
said he,
"the
late
in the defense of Daniel
A witness was, however, produced who testified

charged.
that he had been present at the time of the difficulty, that
Edwards had incited a quarrel, and with premeditation inflicted the fatal
blow.
Both Mr. Bannan and myself knew
the witness was testifying falsely, that he was a bitter enemy

of Daniel Edwards, and that he was extremely shrewd ;
we knew further that no perjured witness could sustain

himself against a patient, well-directed, careful cross-examBut this witness seemed invulnerable. His story
ination.
but
was a short one, containing but few facts, and to those he

He was two days on the witclung with great tenacity.
ness-stand, and no impression on his testimony had been
made, when, after he had fully committed himself, the

question was asked, 'You stated, did you not, that you
were standing very near by when this occurrence took
You also stated that you were a friend
'Yes.'
place?'
'Yes.'
of Edwards and of Richards?'
'Then, if you
were in such position and a friend of both Edwards and
'
Richards,
why
is it
that
you did not
interfere in order to
prevent the murder of one friend and the sin and punishment of the other ?' For the first time the witness faltered.
The weak
point had been found at
he broke down.
was
last.
From
that
moment
Within twenty minutes of that time he
off the witness-stand, but within that
time court, jury,
and all present were convinced that he had been

Edwards was triumphantly acquitted."
lying.
TRIAL OF DUFFY.
32 o
In this case Mr. Bartholomew perhaps made his best

He was deeply interested and anxious for an ac-
effort.
He
quittal.
self
his
argued that Kerrigan had contradicted him-
on material points and was not worthy of credit. All

-ingenuity, his magnetism of voice and manner, were
fully enlisted.
his utmost depths and was inappeared convinced of the innocence

of his client and that Kerrigan was with fiendish malice
Mr. Ryon was roused to
tensely earnest.
He
endeavoring to swear away
his life.
Mr. Ryon has powers
of invective, and those powers were exercised that day on

Kerrigan.
District Attorney
ment.
Cool, calm,
Kaercher had the concluding arguand logical, if the jury had for a
moment been shaken by
the powerful appeals made to

them, their doubts were brushed away by a clear and succinct answer to all questions raised and fresh review of the
facts in
evidence bearing upon the guilt of the prisoner.
The prisoner's counsel had prepared, with much skill, a

number of points of law upon which they asked the court
to instruct the jury.
Great ingenuity had been displayed
in this matter.
As a rule, the correct principle of law was
stated, but in such a
hardly warrant the
manner
would
His Honor
that the facts of the case
application
intended.
Judge Walker answered most of the points in the affirmative, and his charge, carefully prepared and well conThe
sidered, was regarded as favorable to the prisoner.
case had extended into the night, when the charge of the
court was given to the jury.
The next morning the jury brought in their verdict,

and the prisoner was found "guilty of murder in the first
degree."
The
friends of Duffy were determined, if possible, to

An important witness for the Common-
secure his safety.

wealth,
who was
to have
been called in rebuttal, disap-
TRIAL OF DUFFY.
peared
last
just before
he was needed.
seen he was in
the prisoner, and with policeman
abouts could not be discovered.
much comment.
It
company with
321
was shown that when
Duffy, the brother of
McCarron.
His where-
The circumstance
excited
conspiracy for the rescue of Duffy is

said to have been planned the night the charge of the court
was delivered. A way had been found by which entrance
could be made into the cellar of the court-house.
It
was
arranged that two men should go into the cellar, and to

At a given signal
the point where the gas-meter was fixed.
The prisoner, who underthe gas was to be turned off.
stood the plot, was to spring forward at the
moment
the
gas was extinguished, whilst friends stationed near by were

In the confusion and darkness his
to occupy his place.
escape was to be effected.
The charge
of the court was,
however, deemed so favorable to the prisoner that this project was abandoned, and the chance of his acquittal by the
very doubtful whether the plan would
Captain Linden had heard of attempts
of that kind during night-sessions of courts, and as a conjury was risked.
It is
have succeeded.
sequence he was himself, with other
officers of the law, so

stationed that in the event of the slightest disturbance the
prisoner would at once have been seized and removed.

If the plan had been pursued, the scene that might have
That
occurred cannot be thought of without a shudder.
large
crowd
left
in total darkness
uncertain of what was
in the room at midnight;

intended, panic-stricken
officers of the law anxious to retain the prisoner;
the
the
friends desperate, determined to effect his escape; the

screams of the women, the rush for the doors, the use of
the dirk, and the report of the pistol ; friend and foe not
recognizing each other in the madness of fright ; men and
women
out
trampled under foot, mangled, and the life crushed

Imagination alone can paint the horrors of such a
scene,
o*
TRIALS
01*
"MOLLIES."
CHAPTER
XXX.
TRIALS OF " MOLLIES"-THE SHEET-IRON GANG JACKSON'S

PATCH WHOLESALE CONFESSIONS SENTENCES.
IMMEDIATELY after the Duffy trial, and during the September term, 1876, "Molly Maguire" cases were disposed
The power of
of with great rapidity in Schuylkill County.
The prisoners were
the organization was entirely broken.
forced to depend on private resources, and in a number of
instances counsel for the defense were appointed by the
It is but justice to such counsel to state that they
court.
were, and at the time of this writing are, as earnest and

conscientious in the discharge of their duties as if they
were the recipients of large fees.
Mason Weidman, J. M. Healey, Charles N. Brumm,

Samuel A. Garrett, Hon. Myer Strouse, and W. J. Whitehouse, Esqs., of the Schuylkill bar, have been called upon
in important cases
by the
court,
and
freely
and willingly
accorded their services.
James Duffy, Barney N. Boyle, Kate Boyle, and Mrs.

Bridget Hyland were respectively convicted of perjury,
the offense of the first three having been committed in the
Yost trial, and that of the last in the Munley case.
For all these prisoners sympathy is felt. James Duffy is
an old man, whilst the two Boyles are in early youth. Mrs.
Hyland is a married woman, the mother of a number of
young children, who need care and

offense of perjury should
attention.
That the
be severely dealt with, that the
purity of the witness-stand should at all hazards and

under all circumstances be upheld, that in the maintenance
TRIALS OF "MOLLIES."
333
of
its purity all the ends of

justice are involved, that the
crime of perjury justly merits the full extent of the penalty allowed by law, cannot be questioned; yet to these
unfortunate victims of " Molly" crime a pity is given that

cannot be accorded to the "Molly Maguire" himself.
There dare not, under the circumstances, be thought of

mercy, and yet, as contrasted with those who induced them
to commit the crime and have escaped punishment, they
are comparatively innocent.
The "Molly" has corrupted
the moral sentiment of all over whom he exercises influ-
ence.
to his
The punishment of these prisoners for obedience

commands renders the detestation with which he is
regarded deeper,
if possible,
than before.
Edward Monaghan,
convicted
assault
ex-constable of Shenandoah, was

of being an accessory before the fact to the
and battery on William M. Thomas.
Michael O'Brien, Chris. Donnelly, and Frank O'Neil

were convicted of aiding and abetting the escape of
Thomas Hurley.
Michael, or Muff, Lawler was tried on the charge of
being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Sanger
and Uren. The jury did not agree.*
Lawler came on the witness-stand upon his own motion,

and made what purported to be a confession. That he has
made
full
confession
is
doubted.
He
told,
however,
matters of very great interest.

He entirely corroborated
McParlan in his description of the visit to his house by the
murderers of Uren and Sanger.

details
relative
to the attempted
Riles, in August, 1875, at
He
gave very important
assassination of
Shenandoah.
He
James
asserts that
he (Lawler) was regarded with suspicion by the "Molly"

organization, a fact known from other sources, and that
he was suspected by Jack Kehoe of being the informant
*
He was
again tried, and found guilty, November, 1876.
THE SHEET- 1RON GANG.
3 24
through
whom Munley and
McAllister were arrested
foi
Uren ; that Jack Kehoe had

death, and was endeavoring to com-
the murder of Sanger and
determined upon
his
very time when, with characteristic hypocrisy,

he had issued to him a card reinstating him in full compass
it
at the
munion with
the order.
His evidence was clear
as to
the
criminal character
of the organization.
He told a story, which is otherwise
authenticated, of an intention to burn down and murder
the residents of Jackson's
Mahanoy
City.
The
facts
Patch, a colliery town near

this case, as derived from
of
the testimony of Muff Lawler, and from other sources,

are about as follows
Throughout the coal regions, and particularly in the

county of Schuylkill, there exists a feud between the Kilkenny men and those from Queens and some other counties in Ireland.
This feud of course originated beyond
the ocean, but has been intensified in Schuylkill County.
Some years ago the "Molly Maguire" organization was
very powerful in Cass township, in that county, and among

its members were a number of Kilkenny men.
The old
quarrel and prejudice could not, however, be repressed ;
and the'Kilkenny men, being in the minority in the order,
it or were turned out.
Continual quarrels then
and what is known as the "Sheet-Iron Gang" was
formed in opposition to the "Mollies." The extent of
this organization is not very well understood.
That there
either left
arose,
is
anything criminal in
it
is
not supposed.
Its
object
would appear to be that of defense against "Molly"

outrages. In the course of time the Kilkenny men became
the most powerful in that section of the county, and the
of the " Mollies" in Cass and
majority
adjoining
townships, finding that retaliation followed very quickly
any outrage upon a Kilkenny man, beat a retreat and
great
settled
in
force over
the
Broad
Mountain and
in
the
JACKSOWS PATCH.
325
Mahanoy Valley. But there, too, a number of Kilkenny

men resided, and the "Sheet-Iron Gang" was introduced.
The two divisions of Irishmen naturally chose different
localities,
and Jackson's Patch was held
in possession
by
Kilkenny.
good Catholic priest was much conand crimes committed by the

"Mollies," and called a number of his parishioners into
He suggested that, in order to do his full
consultation.
duty, and that he might break up the order, if possible, he
It
said that a
is
cerned
at
the
outrages
should have knowledge not only of the crimes of the

"Mollies" but also of the names of the members*. He
asked
the assistance of his parishioners.
His idea was
form a sort of .detective police.

But not so did they understand it. They took an origiTheir idea of breaking
nal but Irish view of the matter.
to
up the order assumed a
different form.
They
traveled as
and very frequently, when

"
a
known
met
Molly," they would give him a severe
they
thrashing.
They made a number of incursions into Mahanoy City, and upon one occasion beat James Doyle and
Michael J. Doyle, who were on a visit there from Mount
Laffce, the last being the man now under sentence for the
murder of John P. Jones.
That this condition of affairs should excite bitter feelings
Two
of resentment among the "Mollies" was natural.
men, named Edward Burke and James Whalen, residing, at
Jackson's Patch, had rendered themselves particularly obnoxious, and against them special vengeance was sought.
Where one of this band of " model detectives" could be
much
as possible in a body,
found, there also were his companions.

They generally
in a body.
Irishmen have a habit, when walking
moved
together along a country road, of marching Indian file.

The Kilkenny boys form no exception to the rule, and in
Indian
file
they were generally seen.

28
From
this
circum-
JACKSOX'S PATCH.
32 6
stance,
and from their being constantly together, the "Molthem the name of the " Chain Gang," in addi" Sheet-Iron
that of the
lies" gave
tion to
Gang."
The purpose
of revenge upon Whalen and Burke excited

considerable discussion throughout the order of " Mollies"
in that section,
and
it
was
finally
determined
to
burn down
their houses at Jackson's Patch during the night-time
(which
would have caused the destruction of the whole town) and
to shoot them down as they came out.
Philip Nash,
Bucky Donnelly, and John McDonald, of Mahanoy City,

were said to be at the head of the movement.
This occurred in the autumn of 1873.
Muff Lawler,
who
not naturally blood-thirsty, endeavored to prevent

of this crime.
Lawler, although not
willing to engage in the active participation of high crime
himself, was in constant association with the criminals,
the
is
perpetration
had
their confidence, and did not as a rule discourage it.

Because in this matter he was expected to take part, he endeavored to prevent it.
He went over to Mahanoy City,
to persuade him to abandon
pointed out the serious nature of the
crime contemplated, the burning of houses, the destruc-
saw McDonald, and attempted
He
the enterprise.
tion of property,
men but also of
and the
sacrifice of the lives not
only of
women and
children, together with the

would arouse in the whole community.
indignation it
The matter was discussed at length, and McDonald was
at last convinced.
He agreed to aid Lawler in preventing
the outrage, if possible.
On the night of the 28th of
November, 1873, about two

hundred men, under the lead of Philip Nash, Bucky Donnelly, and John McDonald, assembled in front of Lawler's
house, with the intention of going over to Jackson's Patch.
Eel Monaghan was in the party, as was also Patrick Butler,
of Lost Creek.
It
was expected that Barney Dolan, County Delegate,
WHOLESALE CONFESSIONS.
327
would be present and lead the crowd. Dolan not making

was thus offered to both Lawler and McDonald to make objections.
Philip Nash and
wanted
to
consummate
the
enterprise, but
Bucky Donnelly
under the influence at work it was abandoned. Many of
the men assembled did not know what was intended to be
his appearance, opportunity
done, nor did they care.
They were ready
for
any
act,
however criminal.
During the September sessions Thomas Donahue, who
had years before been tried and acquitted in Columbia
County for the murder of Alexander Rae, was convicted
of being accessory after the fact to the assault and battery
upon William M. Thomas. It will be remembered that

Donahue paid John Gibbons some money, and took him
over to Rupert in a carriage, after that assaulu
The case of the Commonwealth against Charles Mulhearn, John J. Slattery, John Stanton, and Michael Doolan,
was called by District Attorney Kaercher on the 23d of
September.
The charge against the prisoners was that of conspiracy
to kill the two Majors, with the details of which affair the
reader
is
already familiar.
was a memorable day in court.

That the "Molly
Maguires" were disorganized, demoralized, and desperate
was known, but the evidence of that fact, now being preIt
sented, was nevertheless the occasion of heartfelt rejoicing.

Charles Mulhearn, one of the defendants, a member of the
"Mollies" of many years' standing, and deep in the confidence of the organization, entered the plea of "guilty,"
and the jury was sworn as to the others.
James McParlan was called
to the witness-stand,
and
gave testimony as to the convention held on the ist of

His
June, 1875, and the character of the organization.
testimony was received with scarcely a question, and yet
Messrs. Ryon, Bartholomew, and S. A. Garrett appeared
328
They had learned from experience that

Frank McHugh, convicted
for the defense.
McParlan was impregnable.

of the same offense, told his
story.
John Maloy, one of
the guilty parties, told of the meeting of the Tuscarora

Division. James Kerrigan, the "informer," also testified;
but Jimmy, having been the first to "squeal," and being

regarded with the greatest antagonism, was subjected to
severe cross-examination.
Charles Mulhearn testified as to the main facts of the

case, and, as
and
an older
member of the order
than McParlan,
not only fully corroborated

this case gave information
for years in its confidence,
the detective,
but
even in
beyond McParlan's reach.

John J. Slattery, of whom much mention has been made,
upon his own motion went upon the witness-stand and told
his sad story.
Slattery was a man of ability and influence,
and deep in the secrets of the order.
The scene afforded a marked contrast to that of but
little over four months before,
on the 6th of May, when
first McParlan went upon the witness-stand, in the same
court-room, in the "first Yost case," with the organizaHe then stood alone,
tion, bold and defiant, facing him.
from such support as Kerrigan could give him he delittle comfort.

To guard his life he was surrounded
by a strong body of police. To maintain his character he
was doubly guarded, for, though he was telling nothing but
for
rived
the truth, he was attacked by skillful and earnest attorneys,

and he well knew that if by perjured testimony he could be
contradicted, hundreds would be ready to testify.
But on the 23d of September he took his place upon the
stand, having
up
to this time not only
unaided sustained
himself, but having materially assisted Kerrigan.
Within
a few days Muff Lawler and Pat Butler had told their
corroborating his testimony, and this day he was

almost unquestioned.
He was now again corroborated by
stories,
329
young Frank McHugh, Jimmy Kerrigan, John Maloy, John

Slattery, and Charles Mulhearn, and the two latter
J.
understood the order thoroughly.

McParlan was now able to walk the streets of Pottsville
had been supposed that he had painted the

but that he had laid on the color with a
cautious hand was at last recognized.
But there was one not then ready to flinch, and that was
unguarded.
It
devil too black
Yellow Jack Donahue, convicted and awaiting sentence for

the same offense for which Slattery and others were on trial.
question arose as to whether Stanton, the prisoner at

the bar, was the Stanton who had come to Tuscarora with
McParlan had no information or knowledge
Jerry Kane.
on the subject. Kerrigan said he was. Charles Mulhearn

said the Stanton who had come to Tuscarora was a different-looking man.
Captain Linden was anxious that no mistake should be

made. On the part of the Commonwealth, whilst there
was a determination that no guilty man should escape,
there was no desire to convict the innocent.
One of the police-officers, well acquainted with Yellow
Jack, conceived an idea, and upon his own motion put it
in execution.
He visited him in prison, told him the cir-
cumstances, and of the

Stanton on trial was the
in Tuscarora.
The old
trial
going on, and asked
man who had been
at the
if
the
meeting
rascal looked the officer full in the
There
and said, "The whole thing is a d d lie.
never was such a meeting at all."
Slattery and Michael Doolan were convicted, but the
doubt which had been thrown upon the question of Stan-
eye,
by the evidence of Mulhearn occasioned

and discharge from custody.
ton's guilt
acquittal
Immediately
after the
his
adjournment of the regular session
of the court a "habeas corpus" hearing was held in the

case of Thomas P. Fisher, County Delegate of Carbon
28*
SENTENCES.
330
County, and Patrick McKenna, body-master of Stone Hill,

arrested during the week, charged with the
who had been
P.owell, at Summit Hill, in 1871.

Charles Mulhearn, an accomplice and eye-witness, told
the story of the murder, implicating Yellow Jack Dona-
murder of Morgan
hue,
Matthew Donahue, Alexander Campbell, Thomas
Fisher, Cornelius
McHugh,
Patrick
McKenna, and
P.
others.
Slattery gave evidence of the confession of Yellow Jack.

The prisoners were sent to Mauch Chunk for trial, the
offense having been
committed
in
The wind had been sown, and
Carbon County.
the whirlwind was to be
reaped.
On the i6th of October a long line of convicted "Mollies," handcuffed and together fastened to a chain, were
brought into the court-room of Schuylkill County for

sentence.
The solemnity of the occasion impressed all present

except, seemingly, the prisoners, who assumed an air of
unconcern and talked and laughed among themselves.
Thomas Donahue, accessory after the fact to the assault

and battery on William M. Thomas, was sentenced to two
years' imprisonment at labor.
Edward Monaghan, accessory before the fact to assault
and battery on William M. Thomas, to seven years' imprisonment at labor.
Barney N. Boyle, perjury, three years at labor.
Kate Boyle, perjury, two years and six months
Bridget Hyland, perjury, two years and
six
at labor.
months
at
labor.
Thomas
John
Duffy, perjury, two years and six months at labor.

Kehoe, John Morris, Dennis F. Canning, Christo-
pher Donnelly, John Gibbons, and Michael O'Brien, convicted of complicity in assault and battery with intent to
kill
William M. Thomas, were respectively sentenced to

at hard labor.
seven years' imprisonment
SENTENCES.
331
John Kehoe, Dennis F. Canning, Patrick Dolan, Sr.,

Michael O'Brien, Christopher Donnelly, and Frank
O'N'eil, convicted of conspiracy to kill Jesse and William
Major, were sentenced as follows:
John Kehoe, seven years.
Dennis F. Canning, seven
years.
Patrick Dolan, Sr., one year.
Christopher Donnelly, five years.

Michael O'Brien, five years.
The two last named, together with Frank O'Neil, were
sentenced to two years, respectively, for aiding Thomas
Hurley to escape.
The sentences of Michael Doolan, Charles Mulhearn,

John
J. Slattery,
Patrick Butler, and Frank
McHugh
were
postponed.
But if the prisoners appeared careless and unconcerned,
not so did their wives and families. With them the day for
As the sentences were pronounced,

acting had passed.
The dread
unrestrainable cries of heartfelt agony arose.
reality
was upon them.
Punishment had come
at last.
prison-doors were now closing for years upon those

Wives and little children outside the
loved best on earth.
The
Desolate and unprotected,

prison-walls are the sufferers.
they are thrown on the world with blackened name and
desperate fortune.
God
help them
THE MURDER OF MORGAN POWELL.
332
CHAPTER
XXXI.
THE MURDER OF MORGAN POWELL TRIAL OF YELLOW JACK

DONAHUE.
AT Mauch Chunk, on
the court there held, his
the iQth of October, 1876, before
Honor Judge Dreher
presiding,
District Attorney Siewers called for trial the case of the
Com-
Yellow Jack, Thomas

P. Fisher, Patrick McKenna, and Alexander Campbell,
charged with the murder of Morgan Powell. Separate
monwealth
trials
to
vs.
John Donahue
alias
were demanded, and the District Attorney elected

Yellow Jack Donahue, who had been sent from
try
Pottsville to
Mauch Chunk
to answer for the crime
now
charged.*
And now again was shown how the fortunes of the order
had fallen. Yellow Jack Donahue was without counsel. He
is an old member of the society, was body-master of Tuscarora Division, and a successful defense for him was of
great importance not only to those with whom he was
jointly charged, but also to the organization generally.
yet he was on trial for his life, and his friends and
And
former associates were powerless to
assist
him.
court appointed Wm. M. Rapsher, Frederick Berwho

tolette, Peter J. Meehan, and James S. Loose, Esqs.,
have not saved him from conviction, for no skill, labor, or
The
preparation could have done that, but who, nevertheless,

represented him before the court with zeal and ability.
The murder of Morgan Powell

scribed.
Its history as
has been heretofore de-
developed on
this trial
was substan-
TRIAL OF
tially as follows.
YELLOW JACK DONAHUE.
Alexander Campbell,*
in the
333
summer of
made
application to Morgan Powell, a boss in the

employ of the Lehigh Navigation and Coal Company, for
a contract as a miner to work a breast of coal in one of the
1871,
mines of the company.
This was refused, and he in conHe made complaint to the

became
sequence
very angry.
"Labor Union," but his was a case possessing no merit
whatever.
He was not a skilled miner, and had but little
knowledge of the business, whilst at the time old and experienced miners were out of employment for want of work.
The "Labor Union,"
therefore, refused to interfere.
This enraged Campbell
still
further.
He
had
ability
and
He
operated among the "Mollies," and very

soon inflamed them against Powell. He asserted that an
influence.
Irishman had no chance whatever to obtain work
that the
contracts were given to the Welsh and English, whilst an

Irishman was refused work, and in proof of this cited his
own case as an instance. He very soon had Thomas P.
Fisher and Patrick
McKenna actively
enlisted,
and
as earn-
His
himself in plotting the destruction of Powell.
assassination must have been generally understood and
est as
agreed to
among
the order there, as
McKenna and
Fisher
one hundred men were willing to pay one

dollar each to have it accomplished.
Men from a distance were required. Yellow Jack Donahue, who was then, and up to the time of his arrest, at the
head of the order in Tuscarora, was consulted, and undertook "the job."
He started for Summit Hill from Tusasserted that
carora for this purpose on the afternoon of December 2,

1871, in company with Charles Mulhearn and Matthew
Donahue. On their way they stopped at Paddy Maley's

tavern in Tamaqua, where they met by appointment a man
named Cornelius McHugh, who joined the party, and
* Convicted of the murder of
John P. Jones.
334
guided them by an unfrequented road to Sweeny's tavern

at Summit Hill, where McHugh said they were to meet
Campbell and Fisher.*

At Sweeny's they found a number of men assembled,
some of them not belonging to the order. On this account
the contemplated murder was not discussed. The drinking
was heavy, and several fights occurred. This was about eight
o'clock in the evening.
After remaining at Sweeny's for
some time, the two Donahues, Mulhearn, Patrick McKenna,

and Fisher walked down the street to the railroad, at a
point between a store kept by a man named Williamson
and the office of the coal company. While there they
were joined by Campbell, who was at this time wearing a
soldier overcoat for the purpose of a disguise.
Powell was in the store with his son. The party waited
for some minutes on the street for him to make his appear-
ance.
The two Donahues,
gether, Pat
Fisher,
and Campbell stood
McKenna and Mulhearn some
away from them.
little
to-
distance
Whilst waiting, the character of Powell
Both Pat McKenna and Tom Fisher said

that he would give an Irishman no show, whilst Fisher, as
was discussed.
proof of the truth of the assertion, called attention to the

fact that he had refused Campbell's request for work.
Powell came out of the store and was on his way to the
office
It
of the
now
company
to see
Mr. Zehner, when Yellow
appears (Dec. 16, 1876) that the murder of John P. Jones was
agreed to before that of Morgan Powell. Thomas P. Fisher urged the

Jones murder, but Campbell, who either had more influence or more
energy, was
first
successful.
At
that time
Tamaqua was
included in the
Tuscarora division, and part of the consideration for the murder of Powell
was that men from Summit Hill should murder a man named Colerainc
at Tamaqua, who was living with the wife of an Irishman there.
A party
from Summit Hill went over to do the "job," but Coleraine had disappeared. When Powell was murdered, a party of men stood off at a distance to sec " the fun."
Cornelius McHugh has testified as to his knowl-
edge of the transaction.
TRIAL OF
335
Jack stepped forward, and on the instant leveled his pistol
and shot him
in the
body.
my God! lam shot!"
fell
Powell, exclaiming,
upon the
railroad track.
"Oh.
He
was mortally wounded, but he lingered until the following

Monday morning, when he died.
After the shot was fired, the assassins, without waiting to
what was the result, dispersed. The two Donahues,

Mulhearn, and Pat McKenna ran to the bush. The murder
was perpetrated about nine o'clock in the evening, and
find out
near the centre of the town.

The sound of the pistol attracted attention, and before the fugitives could escape
When outside of the town and in
they met several men.
the bush, they saw a
man named Sweeny, under whose
guidance they wended

Tamaqua.
their
way by unfrequented paths
to
When there, the party again visited Paddy Maley's, to

whom Donahue, proud of the work he had done, gave a
detailed description of the transaction.
A few days after the murder, Campbell, the two
Dona-
Mulhearn, and others, again met at Paddy

Fisher ordered liquor to be sent to a room on
hues, Fisher,
Maley's.
the second floor, to which
room the party assembled adThere were nine or ten men present. Fisher
journed.
had not raised the one hundred dollars promised ; he had
not been able to do so, he said, but he had succeeded in
getting thirty dollars, which he handed over to Yellow
He suggested that the money should be divided
Jack.
Mat Donahue and Mulhearn. This was agreed to;

Mat Donahue received ten dollars, but Mulhearn was never
with
paid.
Yellow Jack Donahue is a much older man than either

Thomas Munley or Thomas Hurley he had committed
;
more crimes than
them; and yet on this occasion

he displayed the same arrogance and self-consequence
that Munley afterwards did when Sanger was killed, and
either of
336
Hurley displayed after the murder of Gomer James.

These parties not only claimed admiration and demanded
authority by reason of their crimes, but their claims and
that
demands were acceded to. The members of the organization, as McParlan has testified, liked a man who committed
crimes and escaped punishment.
Yellow Jack, on this occasion, was specially important and
He said that he had notified John Maloy,

Johnny Maloy, and Pat O'Donnell to go over with him on
that they had not
the 2d of December to Summit Hill
done so, and he intended to fine them five dollars apiece
for not obeying orders.
Paddy Maley excused them ; the
three had come to his house, he said, for the purpose of
going over, not ten minutes after the party had left.
authoritative.
"Very
well," said Yellow Jack:
"they have
just
saved
their distance."*
Campbell was envious of the glory with which Donahue

had covered himself, and sought to undermine him. He
criticised him severely to Mulhearn because he had not
given him (Mulhearn) any money. He also blamed Fisher
for not raising the
one hundred
dollars,
and said
that he
could have been more successful in obtaining it.

The murder of Morgan Powell is a crime of which Yel-
low Jack Donahue has always been proud.

The point
seems to be that almost superhuman courage is displayed
if a single man with a pistol suddenly approaches an un-
armed and unsuspecting man whom he shoots and mortally

wounds. For such a reason Tom Hurley claimed credit
for his murder, and it was for this reason that Campbell
* More admiration was accorded to a man who shot his victim than to
one who accomplished his purpose without the use of fire-arms. This is,
pi-rhaps, owing to the fact that in Ireland but few fire-arms are owned by
In the early days
isantry, and they are unaccustomed to their use.
of the " Buckshots" and " Molly Maguires," a billy with iron or lead on
the end was used.
It was a formidable weapon.
TRIAL OF
insisted that
Hugh McGeehan was
man
the best
in
337
Carbon
County.
Boyle was present, but McGeehan did the work.
Yellow Jack was boastful for years afterwards of this crime.
He
told Slattery the story in detail
he told McParlan,
and he told Kerrigan and others.*

It will be observed that in the year 1871 (the same year
the Ancient Order of Hibernians was incorporated by the
Legislature of Pennsylvania) the criminal purposes of the
The
organization were fully recognized by its members.
murder of Morgan Powell was perpetrated, without any effort
at secrecy
and
among
in the street
the order, at an early hour in the night,
of a town where persons were continually
passing.
According to the statement of Fisher, made to Donahue,

one hundred men around Summit Hill knew and
approved of the act. When the price of blood was paid
at least
It is
some
" Yellow
asserted that even
Jack" at one period in his life had
Shortly after the commission of his first murder, his
conscience.
Donahue told a friend that he was, after her

died.
company with ghosts; that the murdered man would
often appear to him, and that his little girl would come and stand before,
him at any hour of the day or night, with a sad and sorrowful expression
of countenance, and in a beseeching attitude. The child was one-half of
inky blackness, and the other pure white.
a
child,
little
girl,
death, in constant
He confessed his sufferings to a priest. He was informed that the apparitions visited him as a punishment for his sins, and that by reason of
his crimes his child was in suffering and in pain
that the black part seen
;
came from the mother;

and the child was in his true
repentance of past sins and in his observance of good and righteous conduct in the future. Nevertheless, he was still haunted the murdered man
He
still appeared, and the child, still black and white, besought him.
went from one priest to another, and all spoke to him of repentance and
pure living. Finally he went to New York, where, Jack says, he met a
in the child represented himself, whilst the
white
that the only source of relief for himself
who
priest
amend
He
him.
so
his
far as is
relieved him.
Whilst he was suffering, Jack endeavored to
but the ghostly apparitions ceased, and never again visited

again commenced a career of crime, in which he has continued,
life,
known, without one pang of conscience.

29
338
strange to say, the equivalent of thirty pieces of silver
the
money was handed over in the presence of strangers, whose

names were not known to the murderers, and whose persons
are forgotten.
Yellow Jack talked coolly of fining three
men five dollars each for not obeying his summons to kill
man whom they did not

bore no malice.
a
The murdered man was
know and
against
whom
they
a boss in the employ of the Le-
high Navigation and Coal Company, and as a consequence

that company has taken an active part in bringing the
criminals to justice.
Common-
District Attorney Siewers appeared for the
The
wealth, and with him Messrs. Hughes and Albright.
gentlemen before named appointed by the court appeared
The preparation made by the Commonfor the defense.

wealth was perfect. Charles Mulhearn* testified to the full
details of the murder, and strong corroborative testimony
was given. Men around Sweeny's tavern on the night of
* Mulhearn
is
no favorable specimen even of a
"
Molly."
On
the
trial
of this cause he was outspoken and frank as to his own crimes, as well as
those of others, but admitted that he was so in the hope that he could in
that
way somewhat lessen his own punishment.

told, among other things, of his having severely beaten a
He
Hazleton
"
boss"
at
at the request of
Charley Boyle, the body-master at that place.

to the "boss" and asked for a job of work.
The
He said that he went up

"boss" replied that they did not need any more workmen at that timei
whereupon he (Mulhearn) knocked him down. When down, assisted by
two men named Ben McMannin and Jimmy Malloy, he gave him a severe
"
They then told the boss" he might
would
let
him alone in the
good boy" they
beating.
"
a
When
Mulhearn was
get up,
and
if
he would be
future.
scene and of the

him intense satisfaction the
villain chuckled and laughed as if he were relating a commendable action,
of which he was proud and in which he had been the chief actor.
In describing to each other any outrage or murder committed, the
"
Mollies" seem to revel in the recollection of the agony and sufferings of
the victim. Several have asserted that the great pleasure of a murder con"
sisted in hearing what they termed the
squeal" of the dying man.
testifying, the recollection of this
sufferings of their victim
seemed
to afford
TRIAL OF
339
2, 1871, the men who met the murderers on their

retreat to the bush, and men corroborating Mulhearn on
December
other points, were called to the witness-stand and testified.

Jimmy Kerrigan testified that he was one of Yellow
Jack's confidants in this matter.
tery.
So
also
was John
J. Slat-
Slattery's testimony in this case has excited
attention.
It
was on
this occasion that
much
he stated that the
Ancient Order of Hibernians was a criminal organization

throughout the country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
He claimed that
to Maine.
knowledge was derived from county delegates and other
members of the order. He testified that Jack Kehoe, the
County Delegate of Schuylkill County, had told him that
the National Board in New York had contributed to send
Patrick
a murderer (Michael Doyle) out of the country.
Butler had previously testified to the same effect in one of
and from the Gulf of Mexico
his
the conspiracy cases.*

It was in this case that Slattery testified to the sale of
the " Molly Maguire" vote in Schuylkill and Luzerne Counties,
and
also in Pittsburg, in the gubernatorial election of
He
its purchase by Republican politicians.
and John Kehoe had agreed in behalf of the "Mollies" of
Schuylkill County, and he had also arranged for the purHe also testified to
chase of the Luzerne County vote.
1875, and to
former corrupt political practices by the organization.

* The detectives have now
(December, 1876) obtained information,
reliable, that the officers of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in New York assisted with money Friday O'Donnell and James
McAllister in their escape from arrest as the murderers of Sanger and
Uren. They were sent to England.
An effort has been made by McAllister's friends to create the impression
that he is dead
that he died somewhere in the Western States from the
which they consider
effect of the
more
wound
received in December, 1875, at Wiggan's Patch. From

now obtained, this is not credited. It would not
reliable information
be proper
to state the source of the information at this time,
fore withheld.
and
it is
there-
340
On the 24th of October, after argument of counsel and

the charge of his Honor Judge Dreher, the jury rendered
a verdict of "murder in the first degree" against John
Donahue,
During
alias
this
"Yellow Jack."
term of court at Mauch Chunk there were
several convictions for perjury
of Alexander Campbell, and
committed during the
trial
others that of a
man
among
named McShea, who had
testified that Kerrigan was in

Luzerne County, attending a "wake," the night previous
to the murder of John P. Jones.
Strangely enough, the
principal witness against McShea was Jimmy Kerrigan
himself.
Jimmy, emulous of McParlan, played the part of a detectand conversed with McShea through the pipes of the
ive,
Mauch Chunk
and a
false
prison..
Kerrigan gave McShea a false name
account of himself, and invited confidence.
McShea told him the whole story as to how and why he

was induced to testify. McShea soon discovered his misIn this
take, and abused Kerrigan for deceiving him.
matter a singular coincidence occurred.
On
the 191!! of
October, 1875, McShea came to Mauch Chunk prepared to

swear in behalf of Kerrigan.
The story then prepared he
did swear to on the
trial of Alexander Campbell.

Exactly
one year afterwards, on the iQth of October, 1876, he was
convicted of perjury, mainly on the evidence of KerriThere was no semblance of ingratitude on Jimmy's
gan.
McShea was not an acquaintance, and did

part in this.
not come to testify out of any personal regard or care for
him.
He was merely obeying the commands of the order.
When
he did
testify,
dicting Kerrigan,
it
was
for the
who had made
purpose of contra-
his confession
months
before.
On
the 8th of
November, 1876, the notorious Patrick

and Michael Graham were brought to Pottsville
and committed to prison under the charge of having murIk-ster
TRIAL OF
34I
dered Alexander Rae, in Columbia County, on the iyth

of October, 1868.
On the same day Patrick McHugh,
ex-County Delegate of Northumberland County, was also
committed
to answer the charge of having been an accomAnother prisoner now in the Schuyl-
plice in that murder.

kill
County
has confessed and has appeared on the
jail
A man
named Tully, who it is charged

which caused Mr. Rae's death, has also been
arrested.
Hester, along with Patrick Duffy and Thomas
Donahue, was charged with this offense shortly after its
commission. Duffy and Donahue were tried and acquitted.
Hester, on motion of his counsel, was discharged.
witness-stand.
fired the shot
At a court held in Pottsville the second week of NovemMuff Lawler was again tried on the charge of
an
being
accessory after the fact to the murder of Thomas
On the former trial the jury had failed to agree.
Sanger.
In the trial now had the jury rendered their verdict of
Lawler is shrewd and plausible. He made his
guilty.
statement on the witness-stand at both trials. He corroborated McParlan in the statements made, but he so colored
ber, 1876,
his testimony as to create the impression that, notwithstanding his gUilt, he was more sinned against than sin-
ning.
Lawler
is
man
of intelligence, of good appearamong the worst men in
ance, and can hardly be ranked

the order.
The following week the case of the Commonwealth vs.

Charles McAllister, charged with assault and battery with
intent to kill
James
Riles,
was called by District Attorney
The facts of this case have been

The prisoner was convicted.
Kaercher.
tailed.
During the week McAllister was

paneled
in
the
case of
the
heretofore de-
tried a jury
Commonwealth
was imvs.
Neil
Dougherty, charged with the murder of F. W. Langdon.

Dougherty was charged as one of the perpetrators of the
murder, along with John Kehoe, John Chapman, John

29*
342
Campbell, Columbus McGee, and Michael McGee.

arate trials had been
demanded, and the
Sep-
District Attorney
elected to try Dougherty.

noteworthy incident occurred
the prisoners first appeared in court several of them
when
refused to shake hands with or in any

Kehoe. How had the mighty fallen
way recognize Jack

The main reason
was the
fear of his associa-
for
demanding
And
separate
trials
Kehoe was
County Delegate of Schuylkill, who but one year before had claimed to hold in his
hand the political destiny of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and whose claim was certainly more than a mere
idle boast
His influence was bought with money and
with honeyed words.
Much less than one year before, he
was a chieftain in his order, and now his fellows in crime
turned from him with aversion, with disgust, and in fear.
Truly the power of the "Molly Maguire" had passed
tion.
yet
the
away
Dougherty was without counsel. The court appointed
J. M. Healey, W. J. Whitehouse, and S. A. Garrett, Esqs.
!
He
was defended with
ability.
Dougherty's connection with the murder of Langdon

was shown. A description of the murder has been heretofore given,
and need not be here repeated.
November
of
On
the 29th
the jury found the prisoner "guilty of
murder
second degree."
F. W. Langdon was murdered fourteen years ago ; one
of his murderers has now been convicted ; others charged
in the
with the crime are awaiting
As
this
is
trial.
being written,* the case of the Commonwealth
Thomas
P. Fisher, the County Delegate of Carbon

and
Patrick McKenna, body-master of Storm
County,
Hill, charged with the murder of Morgan Powell, is on
trial in Carbon County.
vs.
* December
10, 1876.
TRIAL OF
The murderers
343
of Geo. K. Smith are known, and some
of them will probably have to answer for that crime. The

secret of the Littlehales murder it is believed has been discovered, and
deed
it is
hoped
that the perpetrators of that foul
soon be called upon to answer.

The story of many an outrage and murder
will
is
still
ob-
day new and strange developments are

made. It is not true "that time at last sets all things
even." The detection of crime and the punishment of
criminals may insure peace and the supremacy of law
scure, but every
throughout the anthracite coal-fields, but the punishment

of criminals affords no compensation for the outrages perpetrated upon the innocent.
many good men murdered
It
cannot bring to life the

nor blot out the
in cold blood,
tears or assuage the sufferings of the sorrowing wives and

children.
Justice demands that the poor wretches convicted of crimes shall be punished ; but their punishment
will not purify the
lives
blackened souls or restore the wrecked
who have been under "Molly" control and

"
by Molly" precepts. The punishment of the
of those
influenced
criminal cannot blot out the record of the past, nor can it
destroy the memory of the terrorism, the lawlessness, and
many years. Nor does punishment answer any purpose of revenge. There is among
the masses of the people no craving for blood ; sorrow is
felt for the criminals, and deep pity for their unfortunate
the wide-spread corruption of
families.
Punishment
is
demanded, not
in
compensation
sufferings nor in a spirit of anger, but in the
the future the existence of the
become an
painful
impossibility,
"
for past
hope that
will
in
have
Molly Maguire"
and the past be recalled only
as a
memory.
But the lesson must be taught that the lapse of years

not save the murderer from punishment; that the
criminal may become proud, arrogant, defiant, and ap-
will
TRIALS CONTRASTED.
344
parently secure, but the day of reckoning must

last
come
at
"
Though
the mills of
God
grind slowly,
Yet they grind exceeding small

Though with patience he stands waiting,
;
With exactness grinds he
CHAPTER
all."
XXXII.
TRIALS CONTRASTED-THE CATHOLIC CHURCH-HAS THE END
COME?
THE
seem
to
trial
and conviction of Yellow Jack Donahue would

"
fitting conclusion to a history of the
Molly
form a
Maguire" of the anthracite
coal-fields of
Pennsylvania.
The " Molly Maguire"
society is shattered, disorganized,

and, it is hoped, forever broken.
Yellow Jack was not only an old member of the order,
but he had for years been a leader.
He would approve of
a crime as quickly as Jack Kehoe, and would, like him, insist upon its perpetration.
But Kehoe, as a rule, was satisfied with suggesting and otherwise furthering crime.
He
was too cowardly for its actual perpetration. Yellow Jack
was one of the very few old men who both advised and
executed.
to
His acquittal was of the greatest importance

Fisher, and McHugh, also charged with the
which he was on trial. He is believed to have
McKenna,
murder
for
been the principal actor in at least four murders, and his

connection with conspiracies to murder is in some cases
And yet Yellow Jack,
proven, and in others suspected.
the instigator, the abettor, the leader in crime, was on
trial for his life, and his friends and former associates
were powerless to
How
assist.
different the scene but a few short
months before
TRIALS CONTRASTED.
345
same court-room, when Michael J. Doyle was on

the murder of John P. Jones
Doyle was a young
a mere follower, not a
man, comparatively unknown
in the
trial for
leader in the order; but danger existed that as against

the law would%e enforced. Throughout the anthracite
him
coal-fields the "Molly Maguire" was aroused, assistance

was given, and sympathy expressed. Nearly thirty witnesses were ready, still more were willing, to perjure
themselves in his behalf.
The " Molly" of Luzerne, of
Northumberland, of Schuylkill, and of Carbon Counties
crowded the court -room and the streets of Mauch Chunk.
In the court their presence was recognized and their inter-
ference guarded against.

They were boastful, arrogant,
defiant.
Eminent counsel appeared for the defense;
and
was not feared, but an attack upon

in wrath, and threats of
were
rife
summary vengeance
among them.
When Yellow Jack was tried, he was ably defended,
danger
one of
to the order
its
members was resented
but by counsel appointed by the court ; his fellows were

scattered, disorganized, or within prison-walls.*
There has been no intention to give in this history a

all the outrages and murders committed by
this terrible organization.
To have attempted it would
have answered no good purpose ; their general character
has been the same, and a mere summary of the crimes
would fill volumes. The object in view has been to show
description of
the nature of the organization and its mode of perpetrating

crimes, to give some idea of its extent, and to explain the
possibility of its existence.
Its
general characteristics,
it
* During the trial, Yellow

Jack, who has some education, was reading
a newspaper.
He asked permission of the owner of the paper to take it
with him to jail, saying, at the same time, that he had nothing to read.
"How
that?" inquired the gentleman: "your friends will be allowed

you with reading-matter." "Friends!" replied Yellow Jack.
God! I have not a friend on earth."
is
to furnish
"
Good
P*
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
346
is
believed, are
now
understood, but new and sickening

to light, and such developments
details are daily
coming
will continue for
yearsô come.
Much
has been proven, and much more has been learned,

but from many a terrible and bloody d^d of the past the
It was thought that McKenna,
veil will never be lifted.
without relatives or friends, might be murdered, his body

McKenna escaped but
hidden, and no inquiries be made.
a poor laborer and miner has been murdered, and

the influence of the terrorism existing, and the disgrace
many
attaching to an informer, have prevented inquiry or even

If the true history of many a "premature expublicity.
plosion in the mines" were written, the hellish work of
the "Molly" would be revealed.
By the whole community the "Molly Maguire" has been dreaded, and against
the whole community has his hand been lifted.
The detection, exposure, and disorganization of the

order have been told.
The execution of the final sentence
of the law
law, in
be
no
is
inflicted.
nals, but
yet in the future,
and the sentence of
that
of revenge, but as a painful necessity, must

Pity may and will be extended to the crimi-
spirit
there must be
no
false
mercy, no sham philan-
The penalty to be inflicted is a fearful one, but

thropy.
how much more fearful the crimes committed how much
more fearful the organization in which those crimes had
!
If firmness is maintained, the organization is broken

forever; if weakness or irresolution is shown in carrying
out the full sentence, the order will again spring into existence, a greater terror than ever before.
birth
The " Molly Maguire"
is an Irishman, or the son of an

That he
Irishman, professing the Roman Catholic faith.
is a blot and
disgrace to the land of his fathers, as well as
I
to the land of his adoption,
is
felt
great body of the Irish people than

the community.
more strongly by the

by any other class of

He
347
must profess the Catholic faith, and yet, to be a

of the order, he must remain outside of the pale
member
of the Church and be denied Christian burial.

those ignorant of
By
the true facts of the case,
the
knowledge that a "Molly Maguire" must be an Irishman

and a Catholic is used as an argument against the Church.
But the charge rests upon no foundation whatever. It may
be possible that more than one Catholic priest has sympathized with the order, but if so it has been in violation not
only of his religion but also of his Church government.
priest, like any other mortal, may be tempted and fall.
The "Molly"
has had money, influence, power, to disor-
ganize the congregation and to
very
instances he
many
tensely wicked and
is
inflict
personal injury.
an open and avowed
In
infidel, in-
beyond control.
If through criminality, indolence, or fear a priest should

yield, the
man, and not the Church, must be denounced.

is no more responsible for the acts
The Catholic Church
of a recreant priest than is the Christian religion for the

bad practices of any of its ministers. Religion, it is true,
is
by many held responsible
acts of
thrust
its
upon
for the
ing and unbelief.
Nothing can be more

itself that some of
argue against religion

hypocrites.
immoral and criminal
representatives, but such responsibility is only

it
by those who wish to excuse their own scoff-
These are simply
illogical than to
its
false teachers
ministers are
of a true doc-
trine.
In practice and in theory the Catholics have been and

are in active opposition to the "Molly Maguire" and kin-
dred organizations.
When the "Ribbon" society was in its full strength in

Ireland, the Catholic priesthood was accused of being in
The accusation was pressed
sympathy with the order.
with such a degree of force that the matter was deemed
worthy of attention by Parliament, and an investiga-
343
The
tion was directed.

laid bare
Ribbonmen were
among them, the in-
secrets of the
the detective had been
former had betrayed ; but the charge against the priesthood

was found to be mere idle scandal, and report was made
It must be
to Parliament completely exonerating them.
borne
in
mind
that this report could only have resulted
from a disposition to render

the prejudices
and
strict justice, for
belief of a large
it
was against
body of the English
people.
That
in this country
Archbishop
Wood
has been earnest
in his efforts to break
up the "Molly" organization is well

known. He was aware of the progress of the detective as
one by one the dark records of crime were exposed.
On
the 3d of October, 1874, at a time when the great

of
the community were resting in fancied security,
body
the Catholic clergy were outspoken in their denunciations
of the order and active in their opposition.

In the Free?nan s Journal of that date the following
Rev. D. J. McDermott, now of Pottsville,
priests, viz.
y
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; Rev. Michael Sherman,
Ashland, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania;
Rev. H. F.
O'Reilly, Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania;
Rev. D. O' Conner, Mahanoy Plane, Schuylkill County,

Pennsylvania; Rev. Jos. Bridgeman, Girardville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; Rev. E. T. Field,
Centralia,
Columbia County, Pennsylvania ; Rev. Joseph Koch,
Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, puband indorsed the following propositions
lished, signed,
1.
"Ribbonmen and kindred
societies
have been nomi-
natim condemned by the Holy See."
"A
society in America organized on the same basis,

holding the same principles, and animated by the same
2.
spirit,
comes within the condemnation of
its
prototype in
Ireland."
3.
" When the
spirit
and principles
as manifested in acts

are the same,
is
it
matters very
little
349
by what name
the society
styled."
"The
testimony of members, ex-members, public

and our experience compel us to believe that the
A. O. H. has all the vices of societies nominatim con4.
report,
demned
in Ireland."
"
Experience has proved that no faith is to be placed

the most solemn promises or denials of the A. O. H."
5.
in
"
6.
It is
certain that a fear, terror of punishment, that
be decreed
in secrecy
may
bers to execute
no matter how repugnant

those
in
upper
circles,
commands given under
compels
mem-
the countersign,
to the laws of
God and man
commands may be."
" Men of
7.
notoriously infamous character (the constitution and by-laws to the contrary notwithstanding) have
not only been admitted to membership, but elected to
office,
and actually control the society
in
many
places."
"Evidence sufficient to convince the most skeptical

has come to light that works forbidden by the commandment 'thou shall not kill' are traceable to the A. O. H."
" The
spirit and acts of the A. O. H. are clearly
9.
condemned by the plainest teachings of the Decalogue."
" It is in vain to eliminate the
features
10.
8.
objectionable
of the laws of ûch society while the same
the same traditions remain, and the same men con-
from the
spirit,
letter
trol it."
Rev. D.
n,
J.
McDermott,
1876, gives
Hibernians
is
it
in a published letter,
as his opinion that the
dated
May
Ancient Order of
a "diabolical secret society, and that
it
is
and government."
The opinions expressed by the reverend gentlemen above
named were generally held and expressed by the clergymen
everywhere the same
society in spirit
of the Philadelphia Diocese.

The Catholic denounces all secret societies outside of
the pale of the Church, however innocent
30
may be
their
HAS THE END COME?
35
The Church has claimed for centuries a

object.
right to interfere in the temporal concerns of kingdoms
avowed
and of men. It brooks no rival, it claims full allegiance.

Whatever opposition there may be to the claims of the
Church by those not its members, and however those claims
may be denounced, it is beyond denial that its religion

and morality are pure. To sympathize with the "Molly
Maguire" would be contrary to the religion, the spirit, the
government, and the traditions of the Church. A charge
"
against the Catholics of sympathy with the
Molly Maguire"
is
not founded in the facts of the case,
is
against the
theory of their Church government, and therefore either

has its origin in misrepresentation or is made through
ignorance and prejudice.

is
"
Molly Maguire" outrage at an end?

asked in fear and answered in doubt.
Is
The
organization
is
The question
broken, but in the throes of
its
dis-
solution spasmodic but fearful crimes may be perpetrated.

Writs of error have been, or probably will be, taken in
all
the cases where there have
been convictions of murder
in the first degree.
In Schuylkill County, sentence of death has been passed
upon Thomas Munley for the murder of Thomas Sanger,

and upon James Carroll, James Roarity, Hugh McGeehan,
James Boyle, and Thomas Duffy for the murder of B. F.
Yost. In Carbon County, Michael J. Doyle, Edward Kelly,
and Alexander Campbell have been convicted of the murder
of John P. Jones, and John Donahue of the murder of
Morgan Powell.* There will probably be other convictions
* December 16, 1876, Thomas P. Fisher,
County Delegate of Carbon
"
murder in the first degree." He was charged
unity, was convicted of
with the murder of Morgan Powell.
On the same day Patrick McKenna,
"
(h.iriM-d with the same offense, was convicted of
murder in the second
Tin.- proof of McKcnna's guilt was
probably as strong as that
'
of
FihliL-r's,
but
it
appeared
in
evidence that Fisher was the worse
man
of
IfAS
THE END COME?
35 x
and sentences of the same nature within the next few

months in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Columbia Counties.
The execution of so great a number of criminals must of
necessity create great excitement among the members of
The stern reality must be considered
the organization.
and
openly.
fairly
Not one of these men, nor any of his friends, believe that
the final sentence of the law will ever be executed. There
is not much hope felt by them of any action of the Supreme
Court
It is possible there may have been

rulings of the courts below; that is
the province of the Supreme Court to determine ; but there
is no presumption that there has been
the presumption is
in their favor.
some of the
error in
to the contrary.
known
that the several judges in Carbon and

Schuylkill Counties, whilst they did not shrink from any
just responsibility, and whilst they would not permit the
It is well
ends of justice to be defeated through captious objections to evidence, have, in a spirit becoming to the high
offices they fill, ruled the several questions presented un-
influenced by public feeling, and in a spirit of especial

care that no just rights of the prisoners should be withheld.
They have very properly tempered justice with
mercy, and in doubtful questions have ruled in favor of the

prisoners.
The
great hope of the convicted
men and
their friends
may escape by reason of the large number of

convictions.
"They might hang one or two," Edward
is
that they
Kelly was heard to say to a fellow-prisoner through the

pipes of Mauch Chunk prison, "but they dare not hang so
many
free.
the two.
they let any one go free, then they must let all
would not be fair to hang one and not the rest."
if
It
It is possible that the
the verdict.
jury intended to express that opinion by
HAS THE END COM2?
352
When
the full truth is known and appreciated, that the

sentence of the law must be executed,
that, whilst
pity may be felt for the criminals, upon that point there
a wild and
dare be no hesitation, no doubt, no question,
final
bitter feeling of despair will
their families,
and
their
fill
the breasts of the prisoners,
former associates.
What may be the result no one can say. True, the leaders
of the order, or most of them, are in prison or scattered,
but the women are still free and without fear.
good woman
man
is
better than a
man
could hope to be
woman
can reach a depth of iniquity of which a

could scarcely dream.
but a bad
Under " Molly"
influence
there
are
women
fully
as
men, and these women may urge the commission of acts from which men might shrink.
wicked
The
and
as the
and,
On
is not without danger, very great danger,

but right that such danger should be appreciated,
situation
it is
if possible,
guarded against.
it is beginning to be feared in the

such a feeling existing in the community
that upon the perpetration of any great outrage vengeance
will be quick, sure, deadly, tenfold.
Many who belong to
the other hand,
order that there
is
the order are known, and would be held responsible for outrage. Another element of safety lies in their fear of the de-
and of the informer. They know not the McParlan

among them now, and they regard one another with suspicion and distrust.
They know that, although McParlan
is not among them, their secrets are still laid bare, and
tective
they know, further, that "Kerrigan" it is who has to bear

the brunt of the scorn and contumely of being an " informer," while the many who have exposed their secrets
since have hardly excited passing attention.
Outrage in the future, if it occurs, will therefore proceed
from spasmodic individual efforts, on the part of persons
blind to consequences.
HAS THE END COME?

The "Molly"
organization
is
353
broken, but that crime
resulting from that organization should end can scarcely

be hoped. It was a school for criminals, and many of its
pupils are still at large.

hoped, forever. To be a
That school
"good hand
is
now
it is
closed,
a clean job" will

be no longer an object of youthful ambition.
It is to be hoped that the execution of the unhappy men
now under
who
are
after
be sentenced
will
firmly establish law
at
sentence, and of those
for the crimes of the
"
who may
here-
Molly Maguire,"
and order throughout the coal
regions.
In 1852, Hodgens and Breen were condemned and executed in Monaghan, Ireland, for a conspiracy to murder
Patrick McArdle.
That in Ireland that offense was pundeath

could
hardly be realized, and that they
by
would be executed was not believed up to the last moment.
ishable
On
the
day 'appointed
for the execution, delegations
from
different lodges of Ribbonmen came into Monaghan in

order to learn whether such a thing was possible.
Exactly
at the
hour fixed the prisoners were executed.
There was
deep feeling, but no open manifestation ; that was guarded

against, and the Ribbonmen knew that precautions had
been taken.
The execution of Hodgens and Breen was the deathto the "Ribbon" society in that part of Ireland.
blow
Many years passed by, and no outrage occurred. It is

trusted that a like result will follow punishment of crime
Neither Carroll, Roarity, Duffy, nor Campbell was
Their
in the actual commission of the murders.
here.
engaged
fate
may prove a warning to other old and cautious fiends

who suggest crime. If it has that effect, boys
in the order
will not be
It
is
encouraged to perpetrate it.

true that in Ireland many active
"Ribbon"
members of
the
once fled to America,

and others received such warning as induced them quickly
society, frightened, at
30*
HAS THE END COME?
354
to follow.
very possible that
among
the
"
Molly
Maguires" of -the anthracite coal-fields are many who in
former years terrorized Ireland.
It is
The same class of men are now in danger here. Some

have gone to Ireland, but most of them have scattered
throughout the United States. It is possible that, dispersed
and away from the influences by which they have been sur-
rounded, their mission for evil may have ended.

It must always be borne in mind, in considering these
men, that, whilst they are criminals, they are not the ordinary criminals against whom all nations, all localities, and
every age have had to guard. They are a class of criminals
whose origin is traced to another land, and who are im-
bued with ideas and prejudices
for
of foundation in this country.
which there
is
no shadow
Their existence in
this
country has been shown to arise from certain peculiarities

of their residence in the coal regions.
Their motive for crime not being the same as that of the
may learn amidst other associations
ordinary criminal, they

to
throw aside Old World ideas and prejudices.

be hoped for.
This
is
result at least to
In this country such an organization was not deemed
"
and, unsuspected and un watched, the
Molly
a
in
the
anthracite
reached
and
influence
Maguire"
power
possible,
coal-fields of
Pennsylvania he never obtained in Ireland.
The end has come
The
at last.
organization,
its
char-
and its purposes are understood. Its members are

"
known, and will hereafter be held responsible for Molly"
If it occurs in the future there will be no imoutrage.
munity from punishment. The American people must
work out their own destiny they have a broad land, a
varied climate, a productive soil, and rich minerals. Nature
has been kind
she offers an inducement to enterprise and
The laws give to the
industry on an extended scale.
acter,
foreigner, in
common
with the native-born, equal protec-
CONCLUSION.
tion, equal rights,
common
hopes
355
no more
is
accorded to
any one, so much is accorded to all.

If present and past members of the "Molly" organization, who have not been guilty of criminal acts, or who
World ideas
Old World prejudices, and become
in honesty and good faith American citizens, interested in
the present and future of their adopted country, in their
may
and
own
escape punishment, should banish Old
rid themselves of
well-being,
brought
they
" McParlan
may
learn
the detective"
CHAPTER
to
bless
the
day that
among them.
-XXXIII.
CONCLUSION.
THE
reign of the
has been
made and
"
Molly Maguire"
is
over.
His record
His
was a reign of blood. In the days of his pride and power
no monarch was more potent, no Eastern despot more
cruel and merciless.
He held communities terror-bound,
and in wanton malice he defied law, destroyed property,
his acts have passed into history.
and sported with human
life.
But retribution, long deferred, has come at last. Arrests

have been made, and before the bar of outraged justice
the accused have been called upon to answer charges of
The protection of the law which they de-
fearful crime.
and trampled upon has been accorded them. They

have had the benefit of able counsel, and it was only after
spised
fair and impartial trial that the verdict of "guilty" has

been rendered. The dread sentence that the extreme penalty of the law shall be inflicted has been pronounced, but
the punishment is yet to come.
CONCLUSION.
35 6
Again has the "Molly" appealed
to those laws
which in
the days of his power he scorned, and from the court of

It is
last resort on earth to him he seeks succor and aid.
in the province of that court to
trial
determine whether in the
of these cases in the courts below there has been error
by which the prisoners have been
affected.
The
decision
of the judges of that court should, and no doubt will, be

uninfluenced by public feeling, by prejudice, or by any consideration of the fearful character of the crimes of
Law
which
founded upon principle,

and in accordance with principles that have received the
the prisoners are guilty.
is
sanction of ages will these cases be determined. Judgment

will be rendered in accordance with the law applicable to
the records presented.
belief in the actual guilt or in-
nocence of the prisoners cannot affect the decision of legal

A judge who would seek so to construe the
questions.
law as to make
it
conform
to the facts of a special case,

may in such case render
instead of deciding upon principle,

a righteous judgment; but as the
"Molly Maguire"
de-
stroys the life of his victim, so will such judge destroy the
life of the law.
To construe the law to suit cases, instead
of deciding cases in accordance with law, occasions distrust, destroys confidence, and introduces confusion into
all
business and social relations.

There can be no doubt that in these cases
will
may
just decisions
But, whatever the judgment of the court

be, the utmost that the prisoners could gain would be
be rendered.
some few months' longer

would come at last. Evidences of
and testimony hitherto unavailable
delay,
lease of life
the end
guilt are
is
accumulating,
being obtained.
The verdicts of the juries have received general approval.

The penalty for crime is due. The shades of the multitude
of murdered men who have fallen innocent victims to
"Molly" outrage
rise,
and with warning gestures and

mourning and bereaved fami-
ghostly fingers point to their
CONCLUSION.
The memories of
lies.
357
the past, the hopes of the future,
forbid any thoughts of relenting.

That so many should suffer the extreme penalty of the
law excites a feeling of repulsion and horror. It is upon
an understanding of
this feeling that the "Mollies" found

their opinion that the authorities "dare"not hang so many.
In their own case they err; as to them there "dare" be no
thought of mercy.
Justice
demned
demands
that for their
own
foul deeds the con-
shall suffer
punishment. By the community their

punishment is required, not only in expiation of their own
crimes, but also by reason of the crimes of the order in
In the future, for a single "Molly" outyears gone by.
the
whole
order
will be held responsible.
rage
As against the condemned as individuals, vindictive,

But none the less
revengeful feeling has passed away.
must the stern reality be appreciated. The penalty of
death for murder will be
From
inflicted.
judgment of man there can be no appeal on

earth.
But in appeal to
Earthly hope must pass away.
Him whose "mercy is everlasting and endureth forever/'
a hope beyond the grave.
If such appeal is made
and with humble and contrite heart,
though sins be as red as scarlet, they shall be made white
there
in
"
as
the
is
true repentance,
snow; though
have gone over

be their destruction." The
their wickedness shall
their heads, yet shall they not

thief in his last dying agonies
on the cross asked for parwas granted ; and to the soul parting from its
earthly tenement the promise yet remains, "Ask, and it
shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and
don, and
it
shall
it
be opened unto you."
APPENDIX.
LIST OF
OUTRAGES
SCHUYLKILL AND SHAMOKIN REGIONS.

PUBLISHED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SPEECH OF F.
B. GOWEN, ESQ., BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, JULY 29 AND 30, 1875.
1874.
December
13.
John Taylor, inside foreman
at
Richardson
colliery,
received a threatening notice to leave. See notice marked "A." George

Rose, watchman at Indian Ridge, warned by two strangers not to go
down
it
the shaft of the colliery to grease the pumps, as in their opinion

his duty, but that of the fireman.
was not
December 28. Communication marked " I" was received by Mr.

H. Olhausen, superintendent Mahanoy and Shamokin branch.
J.
1875.
at Preston No. 2 colliery, John
January.
Finigan, Samuel Davies, William Williams, were notified to cease
driving a tunnel, or submit to a fine of fifty dollars each, imposed
Three tunnel contractors
by the Miners' and Laborers' Benevolent Association.
About four o'clock in the morning, the shaft frame

14.
West Norwegian shaft was destroyed by fire, the work of an in-
February
at the
cendiary.
February 24.
mysterious fire occurred at the East shaft about nine
o'clock at night, originating in the fan-house, where there was kept a
359
APPENDIX.
360
limited quantity of giant powder; there being no fire near at hand at

the time, no cause can be given for the fire other than that of incendiarism.
February 26. Burning of giant powder at the Norwegian shaft ; supto have been the work of an incendiary.
posed
House burned down by
February 28.
son colliery.
March
and
19.
J.
Showerley, watchman
from him.
parties
at
unknown,
at
Richard-
Ellsworth colliery, beaten
his revolver taken
March
Communication marked " III." was received by Mr.
19.
Olhausen.
March
Watchman
20.
at
Mine
Hill
Gap
colliery beaten
and
tied
with a rope; watch stolen.
March 25. Train-employees of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company quartered at Ashland were molested by parties of men.
These persons endeavored by threats and persuasion to intimidate the
men and
March
induce them to leave the service of the company.

25.
Telegraph-office at Locust Summit destroyed by an
in-
cendiary.
March 25. Thirty-two cars loaded with coal dumped on track at

Locust Gap, and six at Excelsior.
March 25. A train of one hundred loaded cars were started down
the grade and run off the track on Excelsior branch.
Eight of the
cars were badly broken in consequence.
Damage, three hundred dollars.
few
March
26.
March
26.
men
at
Palo Alto renounce the
M. & W.
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad

No. 288 ran off the track at Mine Hill crossing.
Unknown
parties
B. A.
Company engine
dumped twenty-nine loaded
on siding at Locust Gap Junction.

March 26. Six loaded coal-cars dumped by unknown
coal-cars
parties at
En-
terprise siding.
March 27. Train-hands on Philadelphia and Reading Railroad

Company's train stoned at Locust Gap. A number of men sent from
Reading were met on their arrival at Gordon by a party of persons and
persuaded not
to
go
to
work.
March 28. Warehouse Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company at Mount Cannel broken open, and three barrels flour, six hundred pounds
open and
fish,
and one barrel butter
stolen.
Tool-house broken
tools stolen.
March 29. A large number of persons congregated at and near

Locust Gap and stoned the crews of passing coal-trains.
APPENDIX,
March 30.
mixed
March 30.
tion
left
3 6!
Switch turned wrong and spiked
at Shenandoah
Juncengine off the track in consequence.
Tool-house No. 5 broken open and tools stolen. Notice
there addressed to Daniel Yost, boss of section.
New men were
;
train
threatened, and
March
celsior.
March
left,
saying they were afraid to work.
House-car burned and
totally destroyed on siding at ExLoss, six hundred dollars.

31.
party of men boarded a coal-train between Locust
31.
Gap and Alaska
stations, drove off the engineer and crew, damaged

the engine, and blocked the road with stones.
March 31. Parade of miners and railroad-men at Gordon.
large
number
of miners from Heckscherville on
Gordon to participate took possession of coal-trains, and on arrival at head of plane

compelled the plane-hands to run them down to Gordon. The men
employed at the planes were also notified to quit work or abide the
consequences. The strikers stated that after the parade they would go
through the shops and compel all the men to quit work which no doubt
would have been carried into effect had it not been for an accident
which occurred, resulting from the premature discharge of a cannon
which the strikers were using to fire a salute, and by which three men
were injured, one of them fatally. Track barricaded near Locust Gap
with stones and railroad-sills, train-men stoned and shot at by parties
with muskets and other fire-arms. The mob took possession of engine
No. 260, a revolver pointed at the head of the engineer, Hiram Trout,
and told to clear out or they would blow his brains out. Engine No.
260 was left in the hands of the mob three engines following, having
been warned of the trouble ahead, returned with their trains to Alaska.
They were, however, together with train No. 260, subsequently brought
safely to Gordon.
Damage sustained by engine No. 260 at the hands
of the mob was seventy-five dollars. A large and excited mob awaited
the arrival of the train-men at their boarding-house in Ashland, and
way
to
together with the previous occurrences of the day, rendered it

necessary to withdraw the men from the region until- other arrangements
this,
could be made.
March
.Indian Ridge and Plank Ridge collieries. Threats
made by strange men at two different times to burn breakers of the
company if work was not soon started. Governor Hartranft consulted.
April
I.
No movement
guarded by police force.
of coal trade to-day.

Company's property
Werner, of Schuylkill County, applied
Sheriff
to for protection.
31
APPENDIX.
362
Threatening notices posted

See notice marked " B."
I.
April
lieries.
at
& Newkirk
Colket
col-
Repairs-men Thomas Catalow, Henry Fulke, and Philip

April I.
Blake, on Preston branch, Mahanoy and Shamokin Railroad, threatened with violence if they did not quit work.
April
Switch-lock broken and switch misplaced near
2.
City, throwing freight-train off track
down
Mahanoy
and engine and portion of
train
the bank.
Engine No. 237, on
2.
April
Elmwood
an embankment at
by some unknown person.

Sheriff
Werner
freight-train
No.
II,
was run over
having been misplaced

Damage, one hundred and ten dollars.
colliery, a switch
distributed his proclamation through the riotous region.

his proclamation.
Governor Hartranft also issued

April
2.
Mahanoy
large party of men and boys boarded a freight-train at

City in defiance of the crew.
They were driven off by aid
of Sheriff
Weaver and
police force.
An
attempt made to burn the office of the Philadelphia

and Reading Railroad Company at Tuscarora.
April 2. John Stephens, a brakeman, living at Mahanoy Plane, shot
April
at
2.
and stoned
for refusing to unite with the strikers.
Northumberland promised
to
be
at
The
sheriff of
No
Locust Gap next morning.
movement of the coal trade.

Twelve empty coal- cars run
April 3.
off the track by unknown pertwenty-five dollars.

freight-cars run off the track at Ellangowan colliery
sons at Hillside colliery.
April
Two
3.
by unknown
April
party.
Damage, two thousand and eighteen
Tool-house
6.
Damage,
at
Locust
Gap thrown
dollars.
into the creek.
A piece of iron was found wedged in a frog on the main

April 7.
track east of Mahanoy Plane.
It was discovered in time to prevent
damage.
A loaded car at Burnside colliery siding

April 7.
the grade by parties unknown.
April
started
down
A pistol notice was fastened to blacksmith -shop at Newkirk
7.
See notice " C."
colliery.
April
was
8.
Attempt made to run loaded cars down the grade
at
Burn-
side colliery.
A car started on Heckscher branch, near Shenandoah,

April 12.
running down main line of Shenandoah branch about the time the
passenger-train from Mahanoy Plane to Shenandoah was due.
April 12.
Switch and two caution-boards torn out
Mount Carbon
Railroad.
at
Wadesville,
APPENDIX.
363
half-drift wagon-wheel placed between two

April 12.
the track at Horseshoe curve, Mine Hill Railroad.
on
17.
Switch-lock broken at Glendower, Mine Hill Railroad.

Block of houses at Bast colliery burned by parties un-
8.
Two
April 15.
April
sills
known.
April
mules stolen from stable of the West Shenandoah
found the next day near Conner's mines.

Men about starting to work in Greenback colliery deApril 21.
colliery
terred by threats
and abusive language.
April 19. Tool-house No. 6, above Landingville, was broken into,

tools taken out and thrown down the bank, and the hand-truck at tool-
William Timmins, Benjamin

in the same way.
Gough, Joseph Gough, West Shenandoah colliery, were intimidated
and stopped from working by a party of men, and again on May 13
were told by them that they would be reported to the M. & L. B. A.
and be fined fifty dollars.
Hose of water columns at Mahanoy Plane, Gordon, and
April 22.
house was disposed of
Excelsior cut.
Two
April 22.
gondola-cars, loaded with
ties at
Excelsior, set
on
fire.
Switch
April 22.
obstruction
at
Enterprise Junction set
removed before damage
wrong and
rails
blocked;
resulted.
Special policeman Doolan, while in discharge of duty

April 22.
train, attacked by five men, thrown from the train, and severely
beaten.
on
April 23.
Two
railroad
employees, Frank Backman and
Owen
Lawrence, having resigned their connection with their Union and agreed
to go to work, their houses were visited by strikers, shots fired, and
threatening language used to stop them from working.
House of Christian Calleary, miner, at Bast colliery,

windows broken, and damage done to furniture.
April 29. Freight depot at Mount Carmel broken into, and proApril 28.
stoned,
visions stolen.
Three pistol notices posted at North Franklin collieries,

April 29.
"
where men were working at reduced wages. See " D," " E," G."
At different times during April, the following men, working at the
North Franklin collieries, were subjected to abuse, and their houses
stoned and furniture damaged by strikers: Peter Hoffman, abusive
language used and windows of house broken ; Henry Lagerman, Sr.,
windows broken ; Henry Lagerman, Jr., abused; Peter Strasser, win-
dows broken; David
Strasser,
windows broken;
Henry Rhoads,
APPENDIX.
364
abused
for
working
Eliza D. Jones saw and heard parties planning
burn the breaker.
to
May I. Freight-car at Locust Gap broken open,

stolen to the amount of thirty-five dollars.
and
flour
and feed
May 2. The houses of men at Gordon, who had left the Miners'
and Workingmen's Benevolent Association and gone to work, were
visited at night by parties, threats made, and shots fired.
May 3. Freight-cars started from siding at Mahanoy City by
persons unknown, and run off the track at main road switch.
some
Obstructions placed on track below Girardville.

" Gem" was stoned while
passing through Girardville at about nine P.M.
May
May
May
May
3.
3.
4.
4.
driven off
May
4.
Engine
Ben Franklin colliery burned the work of an incendiary.

A watchman and two other men at Helfenstein colliery
by an armed party.
Watchman at Locust Gap beaten and watch stolen watch
;
returned.
May 5.
ofiice,
Oil-house at Locust Summit, used as a temporary telegraph -
burned.
May
5.
Stable at Locust Spring colliery robbed of thirty bushels
of corn and oats.
May
five
5.
Heavy wire rope
hundred
stroyed by
May
6.
fire.
at
Gordon Plane No.
Telegraph-office at Locust
dollars.
Loss,
two hundred and
fifty
Attempt made to destroy the
I cut.
Loss about
Summit again
de-
dollars.
trestles at
Locust
Gap by
boring holes in the timbers and charging them with dualin.
George
Keich and Wenscle, working at Newkirk colliery, were told that it
was a pity they were not both killed, and if they were not careful they
would be attacked on their way home.
May 7. At Excelsior Summit, Locust Gap, and Garretson's, the
hose was cut from the water columns and tanks by
unknown
per-
sons.
Breaker of Enterprise colliery destroyed by fire; supposed

9.
be the work of an incendiary.
May 10. A mob of about two hundred and fifty armed men stopped
May
to
the
men who were
about starting to work at Hickory Ridge
col-
Some party drove off the workmen

maltreating the mine boss.
at the Lancaster
An incendiary notice served on a man at a
colliery.
Mount Carmel colliery. (See notice marked "
F.") Charles ShafTstal,
West Brookside colliery, threatened and abused with bad
language at
liery,
Tower
City for working.
APENDIX.
May
Assistant foreman
ii.
365
Henry Lloyd,
at
Beechwood
colliery,
badly beaten by strange men.
May
and
St.
May
at
on
Stones, logs, etc., placed on track between
13.
18.
May
John Veith,
19.
No.
May
at
City
district
at
Beechwood
colliery, fired
superintendent at Locust Gap, house
window broken.
stoned and
liery
Laflfy, a workman
home from work.
Michael
14.
his return
May
Mahanoy
Nicholas.
2,
Signal tower at Majjanoy Plane, east of Bear Ridge colat four o'clock A.M.
burned
Ticket- and telegraph-office at Excelsior station burned
19.
about two A.M.
No
George Woart worked at East Franklin colliery, but was

by being called blackleg and other names that he was
stop work and move his family to Tremont.
date.
so abused
obliged to
May
20.
Newkirk
May
A party of
colliery.
25.
about twenty strikers attacked
Two
of the
Carpenter-shop
at
men working
at
workmen wounded.
Palo Alto broken
to the value of thirty-five dollars stolen.
into,
and a
lot
Railroad iron and
of tools
sills
were
placed upon the track at two points between Excelsior and Shamokin,
by some unknown person, supposed with the intention of throwing
passenger-train from the track.
engine attached
The
to passenger-train
obstructions were
removed by the
without damage.
June 2. Obstructions were placed upon track on Shenandoah

branch by some persons unknown, with the intention of throwing pasThe obstructions were discovered and
senger-train from the track.
removed before
arrival of the train.
"
Gem," conveying Mr. J. H. Olhausen, superinEngine
was
fired
at
when near Mahanoy City by some persons untendent,
known. No injury sustained.
June
3.
June
3.
In the morning about seven o'clock, a large body of men,

five hundred to one thousand in number, from Hazle-
estimated to be from
made their appearance in the neighborhood of Mahanoy City and stopped the men working the North Mahanoy, Primrose,
About
Jones, Ward & Oliver's, Beaver Run, and Hartford collieries.
twelve o'clock a mob of men from Shenandoah and other localities in
this region, numbering about twelve hundred, marched through Mahanoy City. Their first act was to demand the release from the lock-up
ton and vicinity,
of a
man who had been
this they effected
of the
mob gathered
morning by the chief burgess ;

At two o'clock several hundred
worked by King, Tyler & Co., and
arrested in the
by paying the
fine.
at the colliery
31*
APPENDIX.
366
compelled their
men
to quit
work.
Sheriff
Werner ordered
the rioters
and was reading the riot act, when he and his posse were
fired upon by the rioters.
Two policemen of the Mahanoy City force
were slightly wounded. After this attack, the mob marched to St.
to disperse,
Nicholas colliery and dispersed.

Governor Hartranft, having been
called upon, ordered companies of troops to Mahanoy City and Shenandoah to protect lives and property.
On the morning of same day
(June 3) a large body of
men
gathered about the West Shenandoah
men working
there, but were prevented

from making an attack by the force of armed police under Joseph
Heisler.
An attempt was made to throw the night passenger-train to
colliery, threatening to stop the
Shenandoah from the track, by obstructing the road with stone^, but
the attempt was discovered in time to prevent an accident.
party
of about thirty men, towards evening, while still daylight, went to the
worked by William Schwenk, near Mount Carmel, and dearound until it was consumed.
The colliery had worked since June I at reduced wages.
colliery
liberately fired the breaker, standing
June
4.
Just before daylight, a
body of men
fired
upon the police
guarding the Centennial colliery, near Shenandoah, but, their

returned with effect, they dispersed without further attempt.
fire
being
party
Clair in the morning, going in the direction of New
Castle, stopped the men working for Joseph Denning screening coal-
of
men
left St.
banks, also the

party visited
men working at Ellsworth colliery. In the afternoon a

Hill Gap and Beechwood collieries, but did nothing
Mine
aggressive.
June 8. Some of the men going to work at the Locust Run colwere driven back by a mob. The same day the party molested
the platform-men at Locust Run colliery and drove two men home.
liery
June 9. One of the workmen at Eagle Hill colliery attacked by

two discharged men.
June 12. At about half-past three o'clock P.M., Robert Gilgore and
James O'Leary, contractors at the Oakdale colliery, left the mines to
return to Forestville, their residence.
As they were crossing the mountain lying between Oakdale and Forestville, they were fired upon from
the bushes by three men armed with shot-guns.
O'Leary was shot in
the arm in three places; Gilgore received a great number of shot in
his arms, hands, and lower limbs.
The persons who made the attack
were unknown to Gilgore and O'Leary.
June 28. About five o'clock in the morning, William Thomas was
attacked in the stable of the Shoemaker colliery, near Mahanoy City, by
seven strange men, firing at him several times, striking him in three
APPENDIX.
367
in the neck, leg, and about the front of the body.

During the
Thomas's
horse was killed, and a mule was shot in the leg.
John Blair, engineer, and Thomas Chapinjuries were not dangerous.
places,
firing a
man,
were
stable boss,
in the stable at the time.
At the Centralia
colliery, the night engineer of pumpingupon by two men from door of engine-house, but was
not injured. The two former engineers, James McBraerty and Patrick
Devine, had struck against a reduction of wages, and the man fired at
July 4.
engine was
fired
had taken one of their places.

About half-past two o'clock in the morning, police officer
July 6.
Frank Yost, of the Tamaqua police, was shot by two men in Tamaqua.
He lived until about ten o'clock that morning. Officer McCarron, who
was standing across the street, fired at the men, but hit neither of them.
At the time Yost was shot, he was on a ladder, at a lamp-post, turning
off the gas.
July 15.
He
had
The
just got
depot, at
night was very dark.
Another attempt was made
to assassinate
William Thomas.
Lehigh Valley Railroad

the purpose of going home to Shoemaker's
into a passenger-car at the
Mahanoy
when he
City, for
men watching him.

Immediately surmising their object, he started to go out of the car, the
train just leaving the depot, and as he jumped from the car a shot was
This party were
fired at him from the platform, but without effect.
colliery,
noticed several rough-looking
also strangers.
Mr. John Taylor
go but
if
you are
if you dont you

you one week to
die
Remember and
Please leave Glen Carbon, or
will suffer; by order of the B. S.

alive
H.
We
will give
on next Saturday you
will
leave.
(No
Now men
but
signature.)
have warented ye before and i willnt warind you no mor

yo the will be the report of the revolver.
will gwrintee
APPENDIX.
368
O.
Notice
is
here given to you
no man
men
the
Down
first
and the
last
Notice that
After to Night if yo
Do you Can Bring your Coffion Along With you for By the internal
mean What this Notice says you Drift man stop at home and
Crist
you
will get for
to
go
this slope
We
Cut no more Coal
let
him go and get Coal himself
Dont mean En-
gineer or firemans let them mine there one Work now men the Next
Notice you Will get I Dont mean to Do it with my Pen I Will Do it
With
that there
Rolver
Don't
Want no more Black
legs at this Col-
lary.
(No
signature.)
3D.
Notice you have Caried this

you three Bosses Be Carefull
short Time.
as far as
if
the
you can By cheating thy men
Above dont Be your home
From
in a
a Stranger
he nowes you
APPENDIX.
369
IE.
Take
notice
Plac will have
Aneny Black Leg that will Take Aney Eunnion man

hard Road to travel you will Rot in this shape if you
wish
to
s^*
Escape
this
home
~z*
\^<^^
^VO~/
Coal
By
a stranger
IF1 .
If
Thomas Martin Dont Stop we
will
burn down his Breaker.
(No
signature.)
G-.
NOTICE.
Any blackleg that takes a Union Mans job while
His Rights will have a hard Road to travel and
have to Suffer the consequences
He is standing for
He dont he will
if
Beacher and Tilton
NOTICE.
Any man Starting to Work on the rail road now going to begin under
So black legs to notice.
the basis will have to Stand the consequnces.
M. M. N.
APPENDIX.
370
Black Legs Take Notice-
you are in dang er of your Life by working in the mines without

men of Swatara Branch 14 Dis
that
the Consent of the union
at
Middle Crick mines.
I.
Frackville Dec. 28, 1874
J.
H. OLHAUSEN
Supt
Dear
Sir
At a
M. W. B.
special meeting of
Branch No. 3 of the
Members of the Branch comprising the whole working

force of the Road Plane and Level, that they have decided to quit
work at 6 o'clock P. M. New Year eve for to attend their first Annual
Ball.
who
Ass.
Hoping
that
you
will arrange accordingly with this
will present you. with this
I remain
committee
copy
Yours
truly
W. F. Payne Prest
Chas Hartsog Secty
II.
Gordon Feb
9, 1875.
of gordon members of the M. W. B. A. of gordon

do petition officers of the M. H. M. S. divission to grant us the privillege of going to work at 7 o'clock A. M. but no later than seven but
The employees
work before seven

when engine or crew goes out
the officers want us to
are willing to go to
if
2nd
at 7
that
o'clock A.
do so
M. and comes in
same as they get
6 o'clock P. M. that they receive a day for it the

on other parts of the divission 3nd when an engine with a regular crew
is sent to work on another
part of this divission the crew belongs to
at
go along with her for it has been a practice when an

Engine was wanted at Shamokin and other parts of the divissioH the
engine was sent and the regular crew of said engine had to lay off the
said engine to
APPENDIX.
at
gordon do ask
employees
have those matters
37I
as a favor the officers of this divission to
we remain
settled.
Respectfully your Committe.

P.
H. Nolan
T.
C. A. Miller
J.
Smith
C. S. Wilson
zzz.
Moh
The
B. Ass.
Plane Mar. 19 1875

J. H. Olhausen Supt
following resolution were passed by Branch No. 3. of M. & W.

That all Branches of Industry cease work to-morrow morn-
ing Sat.
Mar 20
|
75 and will not work
till
such members as were des-
charged are reinstated
By
order of the Branch
Chas Hartsog
Secty
(Notice found posted at Locust Summit, March 31, 1875.)
NOTICE
Mr. Black-legs if you dont leave
their will Bee an open war
in 2
days time you meet your
doom
imeateatly
V.
(Notice found in yard of D. Patchen, Engineer, Cressona.)
from the gap
Daniel Patch
remember you will be running in this

you took an nothermans engin we will give you
and some more. V. L.
coal region at night

fair
warning
M. M. H.
in time
S. T.
APPENDIX.
372
we
hear notify you to leave th
Road
for
you took a nother man chop
take a warning to Save your live

to
(From
Yost
the Miners' Journal,
March
30, 1867.)
MURDERS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DURING THE

LAST THREE YEARS.
As
is now paid by the press abroad to the

crime in Schuylkill County and the insecurity of
and property, and as legislation is asked on this important matter,
considerable attention
terrible prevalence of
life
we
publish below the murders
county from January
I,
known
to
1863, to this date.
have been committed
The
list is
in this
a startling record.
1863.
2.
January
March
3.
James Bergen, killed by shooting, Coal Castle.

Mary Cochlin, killed by ill-treatment from her husband,
Pottsville.
April
6.
April
8.
Ellen Shay, killed by her husband, Timothy Shay,

Joseph Riland, killed by Felix Cilley, Fottsville.
April 26.
St. Clair-
Patrick Gillon, killed by A. Leary, by stabbing, Nor-
wegian Township.
August
Daniel Eckerly, killed by James Burk, by stabbing,
15.
Ashland.
August 23.
August 30.
Gilmore, killed by cause unknown, Pottsville.

killed by shooting with a
John W. W. Noble,
pistol,
Pottsville.
September 25. Charles Mendham, killed by shooting, Pottsville.

October 17. Patrick J. Hassey, killed by shooting, St. Clair.
November
Margaret Brown, killed by kicks and blows, Nor-
17.
wegian Township.
November
2.
Man unknown,
killed by cause
unknown, Tremont
Township.
November
13.
David Davis, killed by cause unknown, Mount
Laffee.
APPENDIX.
373
1864.
Patrick Ormsby, killed by pistol-shot,
12.
January
Mahanoy Town-
ship.
February
Hiram Freher, killed by beating, Tremont Township.

John Stinson, killed by stabbing, Blythe Township.
James Shiels, killed by Hugh Curran, by stabbing,
13.
February 27.
February 27.
Blythe Township.
March
killed by cause
Mary Brennan,
17.
unknown, Cass Town-
ship.
Michael Curren, killed by John
April II.
Hill Gap.
August
by shooting, Mine
Alice Devlan, killed by cause unknown, Cass Township.
14.
August
Britt,
Unknown man
21.
Township.
August 29.
killed
by being mutilated, Mahanoy
Elizabeth O'Brien, killed by cause unknown, Cass
Township.
September 1 1. Robert Gardner, killed by clubs and axes by Dennis
Aiken, John Donnelly, and a man unknown, Tremont Township.
October 10. Michael Bemerick, killed by shooting, Minersville.
October II. George W. Thompson, killed by violence, Tremont
Township.
November
November
10.
20.
Reese Jenkins, killed by pistol-shot, Mahanoy City.

John Lawler, killed by Patrick Dolan, by stabbing,
Foster Township.
1865.
January
Edward McAtee,
3.
killed
by Andrew Sorocco, blows and
kicks, Pottsville.
January
18.
Michael Darken, killed by Michael Merrick, by shoot-
ing, St. Clair.
May
15.
William Williams, killed by John Barnet, by shooting,
Blythe Township.
June
6.
April 3.
William A. Boyle, killed by cause unknown, Pottsville.

killed by Lewis Hurtig, by stabbing, Port
Enoch Evans,
Carbon.
April 30.
Shenandoah
April 30.
Patrick Clawes, killed by James Brennan, by pistol-shot,

City.
Michael Clawes, killed by James Brennan and John De-
laney, by pistol-shot,
Shenandoah
City.
32
APPENDIX.
374
July 2. Thomas J. Hagerty, killed by Hugh Riddle, by stabbing,

North Manheim Township.
August 14. Nicholas Burkhard, killed by shooting, Pottsville.
August 25. David Muir, killed by shooting, Reilly Township.

October 23. John McMachy, killed by Patrick Delaney, by stabbing,
Foster Township.
December
Thomas
Albert Pittz, killed by
25.
Griffith,
by blow,
Locust Dale.
1866.
January
10.
H. H. Dunne,
19.
Mark Mala,
killed
by shooting, Norwegian Town-
ship.
January
killed
by Thomas McAnalley, by shooting,
Mahanoy Township.
Patrick Dooling, shot and killed while attempting
April 2.
der Mr. Lewis, boss at Cole's colliery, Mahanoy Township.
July
to
mur-
Lewis Williams, killed by Patrick Conners, by shooting,
4.-
Llewellyn.
September
shooting,
George Theobold, killed by unknown person, by
9.
Mahanoy
City.
1867.
February
Michael Kain, killed by John Kain, by shooting,
9.
New
Philadelphia.
February
all's
John Donohoe, shot and
1.
killed while attacking North-
house, Tuscarora.
March
William H. Littlehales,
15.
shooting, Cass Township.

March 22. Patrick Stinson, killed by
Mahanoy Township.
March 23. Jacob Johnson,
killed
killed
by unknown men, by
James Gallagher, by shooting,
by
Irish robber,
by shooting,
Union Township.
In
all, fifty
murders.
The murder
of Mr. Littlehales and that of Mr. Johnson are too new

need comment.
In 1866 six murderous assaults, in which parties were seriously injured, and twenty-seven robberies recorded.
to
In 1867, to March 16, there were six murderous assaults and twenty-
seven robberies, which

of the murders.
we have been
called
upon
to record,
independent
APPENDIX.
We
375
have heard of several other murders and homicides, of which

removed
the particulars could not be obtained, the bodies

having been
secretly.
But few
arrests of the
murderers have been made.
TEST, SIGNS,
TEST.
AND PASSWORDS *
do declare and promise,
in the
name and through
the as-
sistance of the A. O. H., that I will endeavor to keep inviolable all

the secrets of this board or fraternal society from all but those I believe
to be regular
members and bound
in the
same
fraternal ties.
declare and promise that I will support the present Constitution and By-Laws of the A. O. H. in preference to any other.
1st.
2d. That
I will
be true and steadfast
to the brethren of this society,
dedicated to Saint Patrick, the holy patron of Ireland, in all things lawful, and not otherwise, and that I will duly and regularly attend when
my
lawful superiors shall think proper, and conform myself to the regumade by them, so long as those who are or may be in trust shall
lations
think proper.
3d. That I will not knowingly or willingly provoke, challenge, or
any of my brothers. If a brother should be ill spoken, or other-
fight
wise treated unjustly, I will, according to circumstances, espouse his

cause and give him the earliest information; aiding him with my
sincere friendship when in distress.
4th. I also declare and promise that I will not admit or propose any
person of bad or suspicious character into our honorable board knowing him to be such, and that I will endeavor to propagate friendship
and brotherly love among such of my acquaintances as may be thought
worthy of such confidence.

5th. That I will not at any meeting drink to intoxication, so as to
endanger a disclosure of names, regulations, or members thereof.
6th. That in towns and counties I will be attached to our national
interest according as opportunity may answer, and I will not wrong a
brother to
7th.
my
That
knowledge.
not withdraw myself from
I will
this
honorable board or
join in society with persons of other denominations, not
The
test, signs,
and kindly placed
meaning
and passwords here printed were discovered by the detectives
at
my
disposal.
F. P.
D.
APPENDIX.
37 6
(This is laid on the floor, then

picked up with the right hand and kissed.)
8th. I,
having made the above promises of my own
free will and accord, may our brethren assist me in my endeavors to
trade societies, sailors, or soldiers.
fulfill
the
same and
protect our friendship,

forth to the
we may show
of grace, that
honorable Knights of
St.
Patrick
SIGNS
Q.
What
A.
An
and grant us to live in a state

world that we are true and
Amen.
AND PASSWORDS.
remedy for Irish grievances

Parliament in College Green.
Q. Will the Irish hold on for their rights?
is
the best
A. Yes
their rights they will tight for,
QUARRELING TOAST.
A.
Irish
am
SIGN.
Q.
What
is
the
and
in justice
meaning of
must have.
all
this?
insulted.
Two
first
fingers of the right
hand downwards on the apple
of the throat.
Two
Answer.
first
fingers of the left
firm stand
Q.
May
hand
to the side of the nose.
the exiles so noble and brave
still
A. Yes;
we make tremble and hope our country

Dot on last o but one on card.
Q. What do you think of our nation?
for tyrants
to save.
PRIVATE MARK.
TOAST.
A. The land question
Q.
A.
will cause great vexation.
The
tory landlords will oppose the bill.

Yes; Bishop McIIale will praise their master
WINTER NIGHT PASSWORDS.
Q.
The winter
still.
nights are sharp
and
clear.
A. Yes
hope heresy will soon disappear.
QUARRELING TOAST. Q. Friend, do not be too fast.

A. I am too much aggravated.
SIGN. The right forefinger and thumb to the point of
the vest, be-
tween second and third button-holes.

Answer. The left hand to the bottom of the sleeve.
BODY-MASTER'S TOAST. Q. May all Irishmen in peace agree
A. And in friendship bands our country free.
TOAST. Q. What is the cause of this council at Rome?
A. To show heresy the way to salvation and eternal freedom
to gain.
Q. Will the Bishop at Rome Erin's friendship despise ?

A. No; it is the key to protection and true faith to keep alive.
32*
Dark
nights are unpleasant.
APPENDIX.
A. Yes,
for strangers to travel.
QUARRELING TOAST.
A.
377
have reason
to
Q. Friend, what
is
wrong with you
complain.
The right hand to the right eyebrow.

The left hand to the left eyebrow.
SIGN.
Answer.
agiee
Q.
Erin's sons for tenant rights all
May
A. Yes, from tithes and taxes we trust to be free.

TOAST. Q. What do the powers of Europe intend
A. To cripple the Church heresy has in view.
to
do?
Q. If France, Spain, and Austria does firm stand, they will drive
Emanuel from the Pope's land?
Victor
A. (Not given.)

A. Yes
a storm
is
QUARRELING TOAST.
A.
my
It is
The
SIGN.
The
Q.
clouds are heavy.
approaching.
Q.
What
is
the offense, sir?
fault.
forefinger of the right
hand drawn down on
the point of
the nose.
The
Answer.
forefinger of the left
hand drawn over the apple of
the throat.
BODY-MASTER'S TOAST. Q. May our race all with us unite

like Derry and Belfast, to give us liberty and right.
PRIVATE MARK. A pen-hole through the last c on card.
TOAST. Q. What is your opinion of the present state of affairs
!
A. Yes,
France
A. The
,
in
Irish President will
hold the reins of power.
Q. Will the French unite to avenge their wrongs?

A. Yes; with McMahon at their head they will gain what Napoleon
lost.
QUARRELING TOAST.
A. Not
SIGN.
I,
tried
and
Q.
Who
is
in the
wrong?
true.
The thumb of the right hand under the chin.

The left hand grasping the left collar of the
Answer.
coat.
BODY-MASTER'S TOAST. Q. May the hills and glens of Motherland

once more resound to the tramp of the Irish clans!
A. Yes, and place the green victoriously above the red.
PRIVATE MARK. A dot on the first m on the card.
TOAST. Q. What do you think of England's bigotry?
A. Ireland has gained a grand victory. Mr. Butt has let the bigot
Saxon see that one noble bishop must be free.
APPENDIX.
378
QUARRELING TOAST.
I am always so.
You
Q.
are very
stiff, sir.
A.
Catch the
SIGN.
The
Answer.
ear with the right hand.

to the right ear.
left
left
hand
May
Q.
the sons of St. Patrick unite to be
free!
A. Yes, and protect the Church against heresy.

PRIVATE MARK. A dot on the first v on the card.
TAST.
What
Q.
A. Gladstone
Q. France
is
is
is
your opinion of the education question?

to give Ireland her demands.
bound
preparing ?
is the Czar.
A. Yes, and so
Yes, and Ireland for her liberty
when
they proclaim war.

A. Yes, so
is
QUARRELING TOAST.
A. Yes, but
The
SIGN.
Q.
The
night
is
on the
turn.
our enemies.
I see I
right
Q.
am
hand
You seem
unpleasant,
sir.
astray.
to the
bottom of the
vest,
and
pull
down by
the waist.
Answer. The left hand on the left hip.

BODY-MASTER'S TOAST. Q. May all Catholic nations unite and agree!
A. Yes, and break down Bismark's plans and protect the Holy See.
PRIVATE MARK. Make a stroke across the last a on card.
TOAST. Q. What is your opinion of the coming election?
A.
We
hope rulers will carry the sway.

Q. Ireland must get what she wants.
A. Yes, with the united action of the clergy and people.
WINTER NIGHT PASSWORDS. Q. There is a change on the nights.
A. The times are also changing.
QUARRELING TOAST.
A.
I will not disgrace
SIGN.
Rub
Q.
my
Be not
afraid.
country.
with the middle finger of the right hand inside the right
side of shirt neck.
Answer. The middle
finger of the left
hand
inside the left side of
shirt-neck.
UODY-MASTER'S TOAST. Q. May the President of France and

Carlos of Spain unite to restore the Pope back to his right again
!
A. (Not given.)
PRIVATE MARK.
dot on
first
on card.
What do you think of the Liberal cause?

A. They have made a great change in the country's laws.
TOAST.
Q.
Don
APPENDIX.
379
Q. Yes, the tones' power is not so great.

A. Yes, we have a change in the power of state.
QUARRELING TOAST. Q. For what do you quarrel, sir?

A. For want of patience.
SIGN. The two first fingers of the right hand to the chin.
Answer. The left hand to the left eyebrow.
BODY-MASTER'S TOAST. Q. May our cause now be firm,
day
is at
.
hand
when
Yes,
tyrants
PRIVATE MARK.
TOAST.
Q.
A. Yes,
if
We
may
tremble and
Pen-hole through
from our land.
on card.
What
is your opinion of the land bill ?

Gladstone holds our country in bondage
we had
honest
men
sorry for
still.
our cause to take
by union could have a power in

Q. Why do you
am
flee
last s
QUARRELING TOAST.
A.
for the
state.
ruffle
me,
sir?
it.
The right hand to the lower lip, pulling it down.

The left hand to the right elbow, with a rub.
SIGN.
Answer.
Q.
May
our union be firm and true
A. Yes, our cause has done great work, and

PRIVATE MARK. Dot on first c on card.
(From
When
the
affairs in this
Shenandoah Herald, June

county were
"
DEAR
SIR
:"
(The
first
few
8,
has more to do.
1876.)
in a very different condition
what they are in to-day, the following

editor of the Herald :
"
still
letter
from
was received by the
GlRARDVlLLE, PENNSYLVANIA.
lines refer to a matter of business,
the
upon which the

printing of some Ancient Order of Hibernia charters,
" I am
writer wishes no remarks to be made.)
surprised at the zest
medium
of the daily (Herald} on the

and believe that the stand taken by
are thoroughly aware that lawless acts have
displayed by you through the
situation of affairs in the county,
you is unwarrantable. We
been committed during the past few months, but does the
'
REIGN OF TERROR'
facilitate a return to quietness and good feeling ?

I
ested in this matter, for I am under the impression,
am
deeply inter-
which has been
APPENDIX.
3 8o
conveyed to my mind from the remarks of various journals, that with

them Mullie Maguireism' is made synonymous with the Ancient Order
of Hibernians, which is a chartered organization, recognized by the
Commonwealth, and composed of men who are law-abiding and seek
'
It was only a few days since one

of the county journals asserted that Mr. Collin, candidate for County
'
Commissioner, was a Mollie Maguire,' and, on being contradicted,
asked if he were not a Hibernian, thus making, as I have said, the
the elevation of their members.
one synonymous with the other. Now, nothing can be more unjust
than to charge the order with any acts of lawlessness, and nothing can
be more inconsistent with the wishes of the people than the agitation
The articles which
of this matter by the leading papers of this county.
have appeared on
this
matter have done an incalculable amount of harm,
I
and, as a friend to law and order, I would advise their cessation.
speak from experience in this matter, and I dare assert that the un-
necessary
FIRING OF FIRE-ARMS
throughout the county, and other minor deeds of lawlessness, are committed by men who are the drones of society, and who hope by these
means to receive an appointment which, though they are unable to
sustain,
would
afford
them an indolent
*'
am
"
" October
living.
yours respectfully,
JOHN KEHOE,
10, 1875."
THE END.
C.
D. A. O. H.
University of Toronto
Library
DO NOT
REMOVE
THE
CARD
FROM
THIS
POCKET

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THE

GROWTH, AND CHARACTER

A MEMBER OF THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY BAR.

'There arc more things 't\vixt heaven and earth, Horatio,

Copyright, 1877, by J. B. LlPPlNCOTT

his employers to visit Schuylkill County,

join the organization, and,

was to be his duty to

undertake the task,

such as described was possible.

hard and spend

pay-day they get drunk, and

whilst they are under the influence of liquor, and in the

but that does not imply organization, nor is there

to the anthracite coal regions with the expecta-

tion that in a few

months he would be able

that his impressions as to the condition of

had been wrong, and that the "Molly Maguires"

The criminal character and purposes of the organization

There is much misapprehension prehowever, as to the extent of the organization,

confound the members of the "Labor Union" with the

and labor they are disposed

the side of capital, because they believe that in the coal

regions the laborer

body of the Irish-American

citizens residing there are well-disposed

The laborer of the coal region is not a criminal, nor does

its extent and influence, and to

with living men, and with events of the present day.

would be impossible to give credit

Whilst valuable aid has been ren-

dered by many, special acknowledgment is to be made to

of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Hon. F. B. Gowen

and the United States

Relation of the Labor Union and the Molly Maguire

The Pinkerton Agency]

McParlan the Detective

and Carbon Counties, 186*

The Ancient Order

Anthracite Coal Regions of Pennsylvania

The Major Murder

Attempted Assassination of William M. Thomas

Work The Murder

Attempted Murder of Riles

Arrests of Molly Maguires

for the Trials

Their Lives threatened

Murder of Sanger and Uren McParlan on a Committee to murder

Kerrigan the Informer

Preparations for the

Molly Plots Trial of Alec Campbell Trial of Thomas Munley

Trial of Yellow Jack

and Shamokin Regions

County during the Years 1864, 1865, 1866, and

THE MOLLY MAGUIRES.

AND THE UNITED

and terriand murders in the

identified with sad