Mr. Franklin was, the same evening, duly instructed where the detective intended to be the next night and informed of the probability that he would succeed in frustrating the designs of the bridge-burners, at even the last moment, as he had his own plans, should there come a failure in creating a disturbance which would result in a disbandment of the two forces engaged in the matter—the Mollies, as well as non-Mollies. The agent also suggested and described a medium through which the Superintendent might communicate with him, by telegraph, before the arrival of the decisive time, should he find it important to do so. Up to the hour of leaving Shenandoah, to attend the Tuesday night meeting in the bush, however, no telegram came, hence McKenna knew that he was entrusted with the entire management of his side of the transaction, the Agency being left to take care of the other.
Tuesday, April 6, 1875, came, bright and cloudless, as though dark desires and hellish passions were not swaying the human breast, and danger threatening the lives of those 272who reveled in the clear sunlight of the present, buoyant and hopeful for the future. Passing the day in talking with the principal Mollies interested in the bridge enterprise, the Secretary started, at about eight in the evening, accompanied by Pat Butler—who still seemed determined to wait and learn what the outsiders had to say about the thing before he committed himself and his division to the scheme—for the place on the verge of the mountain. Butler was more than half inclined, the Shenandoah Secretary was pleased to see, to let the outsiders have the plot their own way and allow the same parties to perform the work of destruction by themselves. McAndrew, who soon joined Butler and McKenna, was also averse to receiving any assistance from those not within the order. Still all were agreed to attend the preliminary meeting, hence they gathered, under the starlight, at Number Three Hill.
McKenna was not afraid of the outside citizens executing the job, unaided, after having fully disclosed their ideas to the Mollies, and was equally certain that the brotherhood would refuse to do it under similar circumstances, hence his obvious labor was to foment division, and make its performance impossible for either party. This he proceeded to do, and found it no easy task. Strong words had to be employed with the Mollies, most of whom were greatly in favor of the undertaking, to make them willing to abandon it. His principal reliance he found to be the jealousy of the society regarding the interference of all other combinations, and its disinclination to join in an overt act with people not members. Using this as his piece de resistance, in the commencement, he added to it, from time to time, such suggestive incidents as came to mind.
"I'll go to the divil, or just anywhere," he said, "with the right sort of people, but these strangers I'm not so quick to follow! I'm forninst colloguin' wid men not known to be friends."
273"So am I!" said Pat Butler, a hardy little fellow, with black hair, a keen eye, and a look of resolution on his sharp face.
"And I," echoed McAndrew.
The scene presented at Number Three Hill was impressive, but almost shrouded in darkness. Seated on rocks, bits of logs, and heaps of earth, and leaning against the bodies of stunted trees, the men were grouped, recognizing each other by their shapes and the sound of their voices. The stars gave just light enough, at that hour and season of the year, to make human faces and figures dimly visible.
Brennan, who had been so forward in the inception of the job, hearing, early in the day, from a voluntary emissary of McKenna, that Shenandoah Division was greatly opposed to the joint movement, did not make his appearance at Number Three on that particular evening, nor did any of the non-Mollies, who had been promised, assemble at the spot. The following persons were there: John Thompson, John Dean, Pat Butler, John Gibbons, Frank McAndrew, Fenton Cooney, Mike Doyle, Ed Sweeney, Mike Casey, Chas. Hayes, Mike Murphy, Pat Whalen, and James McKenna.
Not a pipe was smoked in that silent conclave. Men spoke in whispers, and moved with stealthy tread, for fear that a spark of fire or loud word might disclose the whereabouts of the conspirators. McKenna stood among the rest, leaning against the trunk of a tree, expecting every moment to hear the sound of approaching footsteps, announcing the arrival of the allies of the Mollies; but in this way an hour passed and nobody came; then, as silently as they had come together, the crowd dispersed, and the enterprise was a pronounced failure.
At McHale's saloon, in Shenandoah, an hour later, the principal Mollies reconvened, in a convivial way, when, no others being present, drinks were procured and all pledged themselves never to have anything to do with business of a 274serious character when any outsider was to be interested. Especially were they to refuse co-operation where they themselves were not the persons to plan an entire movement.
The same night Gibbons informed McKenna that he had been several days trying to induce Thompson, of Number Three Hill, to aid him in a plan by which the company—the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company—would be greatly injured. The idea was to go, in the dark, and run a ld truck, then standing at Grover's Breaker, down the railrtrack, when a train would be coming from an opposite direction. It must then occur that the train, locomotive and cars, would come in collision with the coal car and all be smashed in pieces. Thompson had thus far refused, as he was sure that the engineer, fireman, and brakemen, and possibly others, would be killed. Beside he thought the engine might naturally be crowded with workmen, returning to their homes, and he was not favorable to killing innocent persons merely in order to spite one corporation. Gibbons argued that the train would not be thrown off, only the truck smashed, track torn up, and consequent delay in shipping coal insured.
Here was another thing that the detective must have an eye upon. It added to the now constant pressure upon his mind. The elements were around. Violence was in the air. McKenna should have a care for himself, and for the great purpose of all his thoughts and acts. He knew not what the morrow might bring forth.
At this time it was calculated by those who had every facility for knowing, that there were thirty thousand members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians—otherwise the Mollie Maguires—in the State of Pennsylvania, and, in the county of Schuylkill alone, where my agents were most actively operating, some two thousand five hundred. These figures may be exaggerated, or may not, but it is undoubtedly 275true that there were enough in the Commonwealth to carry the elections and to produce wide-spread terror in the coal regions. So invincible was their power, that they had but to say the word and a priceless life was thenceforth worth no more than the powder burnt in its destruction. The County Delegate, Kehoe, needed only to crook his little finger or call upon the officers of any adjoining county for help, in any nefarious undertaking, and it was forthcoming. From the assassination of a man to the burning of a breaker, or the whipping of a boss who refused to obey an order to leave the country, he had but to command to be obeyed. The same rule applied—only not to so wide an extent—with the Bodymasters of the different divisions. Over their subordinates these officials exercised complete control. Sometimes, it was true, as in the matter of Gomer James, at Shenandoah, the members undertook to lead. But in McAndrew the vengeful McHugh and Hurley found their match. He, when repeatedly urged, even as late as the first of May, 1875, utterly refused to have anything done, ending all cavil by once more promising that, when the resumption came—if ever it did come—and the attention of the people would be diverted from their society, he would get the men from Northumberland County and have the Welshman silenced. Finding that they had not sufficient force at command to put him out, the bloodthirsty trio were compelled to wait. That is, for a time, they did wait, and McAndrew still remained at the head of affairs.
Considering the increasing turbulence prevailing in the coal country, and the rapid accumulation of crime since the dullness in the mining business had set in, I, at this time, deemed it advisable to visit Philadelphia, and hold a consultation with Mr. Franklin and McParlan, alias McKenna. This was, therefore, accomplished on the 28th of April, 1875. After talking the matter over with Mr. Franklin, and fully exchanging views as to the future, Mr. F. B. Gowen, 276President of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, and of the Coal and Iron Company of the same name, was sent for. He was ill at the time, but came promptly, and we held a long and absorbing talk with him in my private parlor. The work of the past two years was passed in review, supported by copies of the reports from the Philadelphia Agency, and much said about the task remaining to be performed, having in sight the early breaking up of the powerful Mollie organization. From all we had heard, the society was now more powerful than ever before. Its numbers were rapidly increasing, its work becoming more desperate. Evidently something must be entered upon that would have the effect of reducing the latter, and ending the bloody deeds of the monsters who were deliberately planning to sacrifice human life and millions of property.
Mr. Gowen was disposed to defer to my judgment in the business, knowing that, for many months, I had made a study of the society, its rules and modus operandi in accomplishing its sanguinary purposes. He believed that I could best suggest the plot for the coming campaign, which everything portended was to be a bitter one.
"Mr. Gowen," said I, upon receiving this information, "I wish, in this connection, to ask you a legal question. Should I bring to the State a number of my operatives, and have them sworn in as Coal and Iron Police, under General Pleasants, and if they, in consequence of reports received through detective McParlan, were to go to a certain locality and there make the arrest of persons in the act of committing crimes, would they be compelled subsequently to reveal the source of their knowledge? That is, can such service be performed without at present uncovering McParlan to the Mollie Maguires?"
I was anxious that McParlan—otherwise the good Mollie, James McKenna—should remain incognito for as great a length of time as possible, and when no longer useful in this 277way, to be secretly removed to some safe place, as I was aware of the fact that, without his voluntary consent, his testimony in convicting the Mollies could not be used. I had pledged him my word for that, and was not the man to change, whatever consequences might impend.
Mr. Gowen replied:
"It will not be actually necessary to disclose our source of information!"
"Very well," I added. "I am pleased that it is so! This being settled, I will have a good and trusted employé sent here from Chicago, with orders to go thoroughly through the country and over the ground, secure an understanding of the localities in which it is supposed outrages may be committed, and select a proper rendezvous for such persons as he may need for his support. At this point, McParlan, alias McKenna, can send to or give them such information as he may secure, in time for the prevention of crime or the capture, in the very act, of its perpetrators. I want five or six of my best and most resolute attachés, with an equal number of the Coal and Iron Police, who have been duly tried and found fearless and capable, placed under control of the chief operative who may be sent, thus forming a company of twelve, to be at all times at command, to prevent murders and act upon such suggestions as Messrs. Franklin and McParlan may furnish. I think, in due season, we may succeed in breaking up this body of assassins and cut-throats, and, in the course of a few months, perform labor which will strike terror even to the black heart of the organization!"
"Anything and everything that we can legally give, you shall have! I suggest Capt. Heisler, who has been Chief of the Coal and Iron Police, as your lieutenant from that force. He is an intelligent and courageous man, familiar with the topography of the entire locality, and the most suitable officer I can select for the duty. When you are ready for work, let us know, and he and a picked six of the 278police shall be ordered to report to your local Superintendent. We must also communicate with General Pleasants, who, as chief engineer, is General Superintendent of the Coal and Iron Police, and he will see that your agents are sworn in and made regular members of the corps. As for the details, and the management, I leave them, as heretofore, wholly in your hands, and will approve all suggestions made by you!"
I thanked Mr. Gowen for the confidence still reposed in me, and said I would endeavor to be worthy of it.
"I will at once telegraph to Chicago," I concluded, "for the men needed, and proceed to their organization. When prepared, I will consult you again."
Mr. Gowen then left, and I summoned McParlan to meet me. I was somewhat surprised to observe the change that two years had wrought in the appearance of my operative. While there was no doubt that once more I grasped McParlan by the hand, yet I could scarcely bring myself to believe it. The voice was familiar, and the eye, but all beside seemed different. Much of this transformation was probably owing to out-door exposure, the hard life he had lived, and the yellow wig, which he had been constrained to use after the loss of his hair. I was glad to see that his general health was quite sound again, and the young man still strong and hopeful for the success of his undertaking. Dressed once more, for a few hours at least, in his former decent habiliments, and having taken a bath and enjoyed some manipulations in the barber's chair, with a dressing down of the artificial head-covering, he seemed more like his former self, and we held a long and profitable interview, during which he related, much more graphically than I can describe, some of the incidents of his life among the Mollies which I have woven into the warp and woof of this narration.
A dispatch, purporting to come from McKenna's sister, saying she was to be married, and wanting him to come to 279the wedding, had been sent, as per arrangement, preparatory to the meeting with me, demanding the detective's presence at the Agency.
McParlan's sister was not married, but I wanted to see him; this he distinctly understood, but his friends in Shenandoah did not. It rested with the detective to answer all the questions that McAndrew, Lawler, and the rest of the Mollies might ask him regarding the nuptials and how he enjoyed himself. I knew he was capable of inventing stories, when on detective duty, which would hang together and satisfy all his acquaintances. That night, with a lighter heart and vigorous determination to labor for the extinction of the hateful clan, McKenna bid me adieu and returned to his former headquarters.
He told McAndrew a fine tale about the magnificence of his sister's wedding, the name of her husband, the articles comprising the bridal supper, the brands of champagne and wines they consumed, with other particulars too minute for use in these pages. He ended by saying that he had met his old partner in the "queer" business, and made a raise of enough money to last him for some time—a large balance having been invested in a speculation in the city, from which he was to hear regularly by letter. This last item of information, as he expected it would, reached the post-office within the course of a few days, and at once relieved the mind of the delivery clerk as to a man of McKenna's character keeping up such an extended correspondence. The aforesaid clerk would have told the public nothing, at any rate, but it was just as well to have his thoughts at rest on the subject. And, as the detective might have occasion to spend money more freely, he felt compelled to make an early exhibit of the source from whence the cash came.
In the meantime the Annual County Convention had been held, and Kehoe duly elected County Delegate, having, until the occurrence of that event, been holding the 280office under appointment of the State branch of the order. Now Kehoe was King of the Mollies in Schuylkill, in fact as well as in name. The wily fellow had accomplished his purpose. We shall see what he did with his power.
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