Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1877 — MOLLIE MAGUIRES. [ARTICLE]

MOLLIE MAGUIRES.

History of the Organization—How the Pennsylvania Murderers were Brought to Justice—A Detective’s Perilous YVork. [From the Chicago Times.] The Molne Maguires have been to Pennsylvania what tlie Ku-Klux have been to tlie South. Both came into prominence immediately following the war, and the two will go out simultaneously. It is claimed by well-in-formed persons that no less than a hundred murders can be laid at the door of Mollie Maguireism during tlie past dozen years, and to-day is the first time that the law has been able to execute its vengeance. It probably began as a sort of labor movement, but by-and-by been me a semi-political organization, and it is‘ not too much to say that at one time it controlled the politics of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. All these general facts aro known of Mollie Maguireism, but - the inside view is still wanting, though a good deal of light has of late been thrown upon it. It was when the great coal centers, and especially Schuylkill county, were completely—politically and otherwise—in the hands of the Mallies, that Franklin B. Gowan, President of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company, and the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, who in former days had been Prosecuting Attorney for Schuylkill county, and was, perhaps, better informed ns to Mollie Maguireism than any other man outside of the order, determined, in the name of good order and civilization, as well as in the interest of the corporation he represented, to root out this curse. It is now four years ago that he conferred with Mr. Allan Pinkerton, of Chicago, with reference rto this matter, and three years were required before the work could be consummated, and a part of the murderers brought to justice. Civilization will ever owe James McParlan a debt of gratitude. When Mr. Pinkerton undertook to hunt down the Mollies, he looked about him for a trusted agent. He found one in James McParlan, a Catholic Irishman, who, at the time, was “ piping off” Chicago street-railway conductors for Mr. Pinkerton. McParlan entered, into the work with zeal, but with the understanding that he was never to be used as a witness. Being a good hand at most anything, he dressed himself as a miner, took on rough ways and at last succeeded in getting himself initiated a Mollie. Thereafter he was able to supply liis employers with considerable information as to intended murders, and by this means several lives were saved, while a dozen or more have been or will be brought to the gallows. Amcng the Mollie's James McParlan was known as James McKenna, ana he rose to be secretary of one of the lodges. Finally after several murders had been mysteriously frustrated, and the Yost and other murderers had been arrested, it became evident thaf. there was a traitor in the camp. At last suspicion fell on “McKenna.” He held his ground for a considerable time under most threatening auspices, but finally was compelled to made a somewhat precipitate retreat. McParlan’s experiences among the Mollies, as recited by Allan Pinkerton in a book just published, make exceedingly racy reading. When the time for trial came, and it seemed doubtful if the murderers would receive justice, on account of some missing links in the testimony, McParlan stepped manfully to the front, and signified liis willingness to testify. It was a supreme moment in tlie history of Mol-lie-Maguireism. When McParlan consented to give his testimony, the back of Mollie-Maguireism was broken. Those who hold that Mollie-Maguire-ism is far-reaching contend that the Mollies were known as the Ribbonmen of Ireland, and that the order sprung up at a time when there was an organized resistance in Ireland to the payment of rents. The malcontents became known as Ribbonmen, and they generally made their attacks upon the agents of tlie non-resident land-owners, or upon constables or bailiffs who attempted to collect the rents. Their object was to intimidate and hold in terror all those to whom they owed money, or who were employed in its collection. As a branch of this society, and growing out of it, sprung' the Mollie Maguires, and their name arose from the circumstance that, in the perpetration of their crimes, they frequently dressed as women, and generally “ducked” or beat their victims, or inflicted some such punishment as infuriated women would be likely to administer. How the association was transplanted to this country is not known. It never appeared in its true colors, but sailed for public purposes under the name of Ancient Order of Hibernians. According to McParlan, the pass-words and signals issued quarterly came from Ireland. These are issued to subordinate lodges in all parts of the world. The initiation is simple. The novitiate kneels bareheaded while a document called a “test” is read to him. The “test” contains the general rules to be observed. They arc to obey the officers in all things lawful, but not otherwise; to report if they hear members ill-spoken of, and to keep the secrets of the organization. The candidate then kisses the “test,” and is declared a member. There is a national office in the United States with headquarters in New York. The national officers are selected by the State officers, who are selected by the county officers, who are chosen by the division officers, who in turn are elected by the members of their division. The chief division officer is the “Body-master.” McParlan states, however, that the practice of

the organization in this country was widely different from the precepts laid down in the “test,” constitution or by-laws. Punishment is never inflicted for crimes committed on persons outside of the order. On the contrary, such conduct is highly esteemed, and if a member informs on anotlier who has committed a crime he is expelled. When a member has a grievance against an outsider, he lays his case before the head of the division, or lodge, that is the ‘ ‘ bodymaster,” and it is then considered by this officer, together with the most trustworthy members of the lodge, and these only. If the offender’s death is determined on, the “ body-master ” of neighboring division is called on to furnish men to do the work, the understanding being that the courtesy will be reciprocated when required. Thus it generally happened that the cold-blooded assassins would see their victims for the first time the moment they were about to take their lives. This bloody reciprocity obtained in the murder for which the assassins broke their necks to-day. Thus the murder of Policeman Yost was planned because he bail given offense to a mail named Duffy, whom he hal arrested some time before. The division to which McGlieehan and Doyle belonged was called on to furnish the assassins, and did *p, and in return Duffy’* division un-

xlertook the work of killing John P. Jones, the Lansforxl mine-boss, who had discharged McGkekan, so incurring the latter’s enmity, and the contract was faithfully performed. For fifteen years this murderous organization terrorized Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties, committing arson, murder and robberies with absolute impunity. The first murder laid to their charge is that of F. W. S. Langdon, on the 14th of June, 1862. Langdon was a breakerboss at a colliery near Andenried, Carbon county. He was attacked by a party of men and literally beaten to death. For this murder Jack Kelioe, a big mogul among the Mollies, and whilom a vast political power, has been sentenced to dcatli, and will no doubt hang. Alter that murder followed murder in rapid succession, until it was asserted that in Schuylkill county alone the number of victims numbered fifty-five in the course of throe years. The center of all this crime was Tamaqua, in Schuylkill county, where Policeman Yost was murdered. It was here most of the deviltry converged. The Mollies were also known ns “Buckshots,” “Blacjt Spots,” and “ Sleepers,” and it is alleged of them that they always opened their conclaves in which murder was concocted by calling for the divine blessing and guidance on their deliberations.