Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1858 — The Forty Thieves in Florida. [ARTICLE]

The Forty Thieves in Florida.

The Tampa (Florida) Peninsular publishes the constitution and by-laws of a secret band, whose object is supposed to be mur* der, robbery and thpft, that is said to exist in Hillsborough county, in that State: After a careful reading o’s the constitution and by-laws, we do noj. see any such principles set forth, though We doubt not its ulterior object is spme scheme of rascality, though it proposes to be’nothing more than a mutual aid society. It is said to be composed of some of the most respectable portion of the citizens of the county, among whom are Government officers. The order is styled the “Mystic Circle of Alchemy,” and is presided over by ona W. M. Volkenstein, who is styled the Grand Magi, and one A. Moriarty is Secretary. One of the members of the band, by the name of Wm. Wilson, hiss been arrested in Cincinnati as a counterfeiter, upon whose person was found a lot of bogus and unfinished coin, and a certificate of membership in the order, and also the password for 1857, which was “union.” The signs of recognition are—raise the left hand to the chin, the thumb beneath and the forefinger resting on the chin. If the person questioned is a member, he returns the sign by raising his left hand tp his breast. The first party dien presents Kis right hand, which is taken by the second party with the two last fingers of the right hand cljosed. The strongest evidence of the rascality of the order, found |in their constitution, is the following: “The vast accumulation of wealth at different points with incredible rapidjjy; all of this ito be done by the use of articles and means thati are now considered of little,or no value. Also artificial and artistic means of creating wealth; the mixtures I metals; and artistic means of creating wealth which every person can use with profit to himself and his circle.” Perry, of Florida, got into a controversy with a stageadriver last week, and as the driver seemed to think himself a better man with his fists than the Governor of the State, the latter, desirous of correcting the erroneous impression, pulled off his coat, and after a few minutes’ sharp practice, the driver to his heart’s content.