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THE MOLLY MAGUIRES

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 25, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 21.

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THE MOLLY MAGUIRES.

By M. WOOD

The following, which I clip from the Boston Herald, of May 10, 1876, furnishes but a slight inkling of what we may expect in a little while from this:—
“POTTSVILLE, PENN., May 9. In the Yost murder trial here, detective James McParlan testified that the Molly Maguires, of which he had become a member, were a branch of the ancient order of Hibernians, with test oaths binding them to murder any person obnoxious to them or their organization; and that Yost was murdered by two members of one society. A murder of any outsider was made the occasion of promoting the murderer. None but Catholic Irishmen can be members. The detective swore that Patrick Collins, a county commissioner, is master of one division of Molly Maguires in Palo Alto.
“Witness testified to being asked by Pierce Condon, ex-watchman at the jail, for a pistol with which to shoot a certain party suspected of having been connected with the killing of the McAllisters of Waggon Patch. He also testified that he knew who shot Gomer James, and that the pistol with which the deed was done was now in his possession.
“Witness attended a county convention at Girardville, July 4, last, in the capacity of secretary of the Shenandoah division of the order. A number of prominent members of the order were there; among them James Kerrigan, now in Bethlehem jail, awaiting the penalty of the law for the murder of Jones. Witness further testified that John J. Slattery, at one time a candidate for the associate judgeship of this county, was expelled from the order, he having told a man that ‘he was a mark for a pistol,’ thus preventing the accomplishment of their plans. The testimony creates great consternation among the members of the Molly Maguires.”
What may we expect when the winds are let loose, and the restraining hand of God is removed from among men?
M. WOOD.