Secret Band of Brothers Part 5

Colonel Brown was a Grand Master of the band of Secret Brothers. The members of the fraternity who sought his ruin were of the same degree, together with those holding the relation of Vice-grand Master. He had nothing to fear from the common brotherhood, who were kept in perfect ignorance of the transactions of those more advanced. Indeed, they were his warmest friends, and regarded him with especial reverence, because he commended himself to their confidence and esteem by his naturally good disposition, and, most of all, by his relation of Grand Master, which is always accompanied either with dread or marked respect. The inferior order was very numerous, but seldom wealthy, generally of a suspicious character, who had no fixed residence, but wandered from place to place, preying upon the community in the character of bar-keepers, pickpockets, thieves, gamblers, horse-racers, and sometimes murderers. They may be found in all parts of the United States and Canada. These were controlled by some two hundred Grand Masters, conveniently located, who were generally men of wealth and respectability, and often connected with some learned profession, yet but seldom applying themselves to their profession sufficient to gain a livelihood. These men, of both orders, would often confer together, especially when one had been detected in any crime--or some dirty job was to be done, which was likely to bring into the hands of the superior order any considerable wealth. In fact, these so-called respectable men would lay plans which they dared not execute for fear of detection, but having any number of agents in readiness among the common brotherhood who had nothing to lose in point of character, they would employ them, and if successful, be sure to pocket all the spoils--except enough to satisfy the immediate wants of their jackals. If they were not successful, but detected in their villany, these unfortunate agents could lay claim to their aid, and were permitted to make drafts of money to procure bail in case of indictment or to defray the expenses of a trial. We have sometimes wondered that certain felons should get clear, when their guilt has been established beyond a doubt. We will not wonder when we learn that there are men of wealth and influence in almost every town, who are sworn to aid and befriend these villains. They are sometimes lawyers, and jurors, and even judges. But their conduct and relations will be more clearly seen, when I publish their letters and const.i.tution. It is only necessary to remark in this connection, that the only persons really benefited in this organized system of land piracy, are their Grand Masters. They lay most of the plans, and receive and control the money,--confer among themselves, but never with a common brother, only using him as a tool for the accomplishment of some foul purpose. Here is policy. It would not be safe to commit their secrets to the many hundreds under them, but only to such as are judged suitable after years of trial, and those beneath are often looking forward for promotion, which is a pledge of their fidelity. The reader will perceive that if this higher order was ever to be fully exposed, it must be by some one of their own number, for one of an inferior degree knows no more of their proceedings than the uninitiated.

The danger of a full exposure now threatened them in connection with Colonel Brown; at least they apprehended it. They knew they deserved it, and the circ.u.mstances of their accomplice pointed in that direction. He had the means--their own letters, and a knowledge of their deeds. It was only necessary to give information to a third person, and the work would be done. Besides, he was a man of extensive acquaintance and influence--a ruling spirit among his fellows. A revelation from him would have been direful in the extreme, as, in addition, he had in his possession the const.i.tution and by-laws of the fraternity, which were always lodged with the ruling Grand Master. Under these circ.u.mstances we need not wonder that there was excitement, that every expedient was employed to rescue the doc.u.ments or make away with their possessor. He was now in confinement. It was vital to their designs to keep him there till they could secure the letters and const.i.tution above referred to, or, in case of failure, make his life pay the forfeit. They cared but little for his brother, as he was of an inferior grade. The Grand Masters, then in office, had but one object in view, and that they were intent upon accomplis.h.i.+ng. The acquittal or conviction of the two brothers was a matter of no consequence compared with their own personal safety. To secure this they would not scruple even to commit murder.

That this is the case, will be seen by an article in their const.i.tution.

I may further remark in this connection, that their laws required, that the Grand Master shall be a.s.sisted by six Vice-grand Masters, but these latter cannot be admitted into the secrets of the former till they are promoted, although they are obligated to do his bidding. The members who had been advanced to the highest degree, and hold the princ.i.p.al secrets of the order in connection with the colonel their leader, were about two hundred. These were the individuals conspiring against his life, in case they could not procure their letters and other doc.u.ments. Their main and first object was, therefore, to bring those papers to the city.

The papers were sent for, as before stated, and all their designs, of a public and private nature, set in active operation. Of this the colonel had no knowledge at the time. Mrs. B. was to give them up to the committee appointed for the purpose of inspecting them. All that would have any tendency to injure or expose the fraternity, if brought to light, were to be selected, and the rest brought forward for the purpose of convicting Taylor. The intention of bringing these papers to the city being, in the mean time, made known to the colonel, he gave directions to his sister-in-law to reserve such papers as he specified, and hand the balance over to the committee. The trunk in which they were deposited having arrived, Mrs. B. acted according to directions, reserving the notable package which she concealed between her beds, while she conveyed the residue to the prison office for legal purposes--to be used by the committee, who met there by consent of one of the prison keepers--he being a Grand Master of the secret band and one of the princ.i.p.al policemen. After delivering up the papers, she returned and found her valuable deposit had been removed as previously stated.

The fact of their removal being made known to the brotherhood, they thought some base person had robbed the lady of her important charge.

This opinion prevailed with the fraternity generally. Not so with the two hundred grandees. Their opinion a.s.sumed the character of their former suspicions, while their suspicions were converted into fact. They were now fully convinced that the colonel contemplated the destruction of their order, and was intent upon keeping the papers in his own power: that he had even entered upon the act of defeating the very purpose they had in view, in bringing those papers to the city. At this time the city was crowded with the members of this secret society, and private rewards were offered by the two hundred or that portion of this band then in the city, for the recovery of the papers. These rewards made a great stir, especially with the officers of all parties, both those for and against the colonel. Taylor was a mark to be shot at by about seven-eighths of the band, and the remaining one-eighth was ready to go to the highest bidder, to do service for him who would give the highest wages. He found means to secure the friends.h.i.+p of the latter, many of whom were considered quite respectable men, and were never suspected by the brotherhood of any thing dishonourable. The head men const.i.tuted still another party. Thus these villains were divided into three factions. These were the friends of Taylor, known as Taylorites, and the supporters of Brown, called Brownites. These only were publicly known; while the third party, embracing the royal grandees, were actively engaged in disengaging themselves from the coils which they supposed had been deliberately laid for their destruction. They showed, by their efforts, they had more at stake than all the rest. Though their movements were not publicly recognised, yet they had every influence that would favour their cause in operation, to consummate their h.e.l.lish purposes.

The const.i.tution, by-laws, and about one thousand and three hundred letters, including copies and original, were missing; and the destiny of the whole band of Grand Masters depended upon their recovery, before ever they fell into the hands of one who could explain them to the brotherhood; and still more calamitous would be the condition of the entire fraternity, if they were ever revealed to the public. Those more immediately concerned were confirmed in the opinion that the colonel had secreted them for future use. Finding they had not accomplished what they intended, in bringing the papers to the city, they had recourse to a certain clause in the const.i.tution, to compel the colonel to produce some of them, if in his possession. That clause required the holder of an original letter to return the same, when requested by the writer, after copying, if desirable. This law applied, however, only to letters having the secret "qualities," or, in other words, the private description of the bearer in full, which was written in acid, and could be read only after subjection to chemical action. Three hundred and seventy-nine of the letters in the package were of this kind; one thousand were copies, whose original had been returned. The former had been written to the colonel, and one bore date as far back as July 9th, 1819; the latter had been addressed to various individuals, and some bore date as far back as 1798.

To secure these letters was a work of great delicacy. Though the const.i.tution granted the right of asking the unreturned letters, yet the writers feared to make the requisition of the colonel, lest he might suspect them of a conspiracy, and being thus exasperated, let loose his engines of destruction. They finally fixed upon the following plan. They were to hold out the idea that they were ready to bail him, provided he would leave the country. In case he consented, they were to request the retention of the letters, feeling confident he had not destroyed them.

The plan was laid open to the colonel by the man from Dearborn county, Indiana, the same who was dressed in disguise. He was told by the colonel that the papers (meaning the package) had been taken, and he could not furnish them, as he had no possible knowledge who had done the deed. This reply, to the council of Grand Masters, was like "a clap of thunder in a cloudless sky," so confident were they that he had them and would produce them when thus requested. There was now only one alternative, the life of the colonel must be taken, which they could and did accomplish, as the sequel will show.

CHAPTER X.

From the time of the visit by the Dearborn county man till the death of Colonel Brown, embracing about six weeks, there were constant and fierce wranglings among the fraternity. A considerable change had been made in the feelings of some of the colonel's former sworn friends, which of course made those who knew him innocent more bitter against any one they might suspect guilty of bringing such a calamity upon him. His friends and foes were equally interested in finding the retainer of the lost package, but all to no purpose. There was, however, but one sentiment in the Grand Council; they still believed that the colonel had them, and designed, as soon as he was liberated, to make a general exposure of the whole organization to the world. But their own consciousness of personal injury--of having acted a treacherous part against this man--was, in reality, the ground of their conviction as to his guilt; for it was not in the nature of the man to be false to his pledged honour. It only remained that they should prevent his liberation; and the most effectual way was to act in accordance with the a.s.sa.s.sin's maxim, "Dead men tell no tales." Their hatred rose to such a pitch that they began to exhibit their enmity toward any one that either sympathized, befriended, or was even familiar with the colonel. Here was the ground of their deadly animosity toward me. They supposed I was his confidant, and might be an agent for the execution of his designs.

These murderers,--(I ask no pardon for so harsh an epithet, for they were such in thought and deed,)--these Grand Masters, who visited the colonel while I waited upon him, and thus became personally known, have, ever since that event, a.s.sumed a hostile att.i.tude toward me. It is true they have never attacked me publicly, yet I am confident they have hired others to do it. From the time I drew the money put in deposit by Sandford, and bore off that object of curiosity, so carefully concealed in the bed, until the day I was chased as a mad dog by an infuriated mob through the streets of New Orleans, and finally made good my escape through a troop of less hostile cotton snakes, as recorded in my Gambling Unmasked, I was singled out as an object of open and private hate by the whole tribe of organized desperadoes. To recover those papers, no steps were too desperate for the Grand Masters--they having any amount of money to accomplish their object; and I am now about to present the reader with another exhibition of their daring and indefatigable perseverance.

They now came to the conclusion that those papers had been given to the officers of the bank, and were deposited in the clerk's office of the United States court, to be used against them at some future day. They offered rewards to several of the inferior grade, for the purpose of getting possession of the box containing the plates, counterfeit money, and, as they supposed, the lost package. Their only hope now lay in getting that box. The time of Taylor's trial had been fixed. Mr. Munger informed me I could leave the city for a few days, and he would let me know when my services were wanted. I went to Bayou Sara, one hundred and fifty miles above New Orleans. A few days after my arrival, Mr. Munger came after me in great haste, bringing the information that a great and daring burglary had been committed the same night I left the city. The clerk's office had been entered, and the box, containing Taylor's indictments, plates, and spurious money, had been taken. Taylor's jury had not agreed, and he would get clear, in case the box could not be recovered. He informed me that I had been suspected and accused of the deed; but that he knew I was innocent, for he had inquired of the boat, and found I had left on the previous night, some time before the robbery was committed. He did not wish any one to know that he had any knowledge of my location, but told me I had nothing to fear. Indeed, I knew I could prove an ALIBI by more than one person, and I consented to return.

While on our way back to the city, I told Mr. Munger I did not wish to go into the prison where the younger Brown was confined; I feared he had some designs upon my life.

"Do not have any apprehensions," said he, "on that account. You will not be hurt, for you will be put into the debtor's apartment, where Brown is not permitted to visit, and of course can have no chance to do you an injury."

I was placed in prison upon my return--a position of greater safety to me than any other. Being a.s.sured by Mr. Munger of protection, I went without hesitation--expecting to be released the next day. The next morning I was brought out and informed, to my great surprise, that if discharged I must furnish a very heavy bail. This was a source of alarm; but my friend calmed my fears, by saying that all would be right when I was examined; that the excitement was great, and it was only necessary to wait for the return of the Lady of the Lake--which was on a trip to Natchez, and would be back in a few days--when abundant evidence in my favour would be secured, and I would be acquitted.

In a few days, I was accordingly set at liberty. The plates and papers had been found in Natchez, and a man by the name of King had been arrested--who confessed the crime, but alleged that he had been hired by a certain party to do the deed. This King was one of the brotherhood, and had been employed by the committee of Grand Masters to enter the office and secure for them the box, by which they expected to obtain the package. In this they were mistaken, and placed in a worse dilemma than before.

On the day of my discharge I was visited by a man, to me unknown. He informed me that he had procured my acquittal, and was my sincere friend and well-wisher; that he desired always to remain the same--and would, during life, on condition that I acted in accordance with his wishes.

I considered him a strange person, to introduce himself in so singular a manner. He advised me to leave the city as soon as possible. I told him that was my intention. I likewise informed Mr. Munger of the same, and he readily consented, as Taylor's trial had been put off. Arrangements being made with him, I expected to leave the next day. In the mean time, I had an interview with Cunningham, who told me I must look out, for the brotherhood in general suspected me of foul play as to the papers. I denied all knowledge of them--for I found it my only safety to pursue one uniform course.

He continued: "The party are determined to have them at all hazards, and are now more convinced than ever that you are in the secret. All the circ.u.mstances are against you--more especially since the custom-house was broken open, which robbery was perpetrated for the express purpose of finding the papers. It was thought if the colonel had disposed of them, they would be found there; but now they will hold you responsible.

I bid you farewell."

On the same evening I had this conversation with Cunningham, I went with Smith to the gambling-house: the same day, too, on which I won seventy dollars in the flat boat--the first and dearest money I ever won at gaming, as it nearly cost me my life--the full account of which is given in the work previously mentioned.

On the second day after this, as I was about leaving for Mobile, I met the gentleman who had procured my release. He advised me to depart forthwith, promising to meet me at another time. As we were separating he placed in my hands a box.

"Here," said he, "is a box, containing something I wish you to keep with great care. You must not open it till I give you permission."

I took the same. It was a small box, made of oak, three inches high, eight long, and five wide. Its possession gave me much uneasiness for twelve years--during which time I remained faithful to my instructions.

I frequently met with my benefactor. The last time I saw him was in Philadelphia, in 1841. I have received from him nine letters, in all, of a good moral character, and always referring to the box. This individual's name I have never been able to learn. No two letters ever bore the same signature, but the ident.i.ty of their contents convinced me they were all from the same person. That mysterious box I have preserved to the present day.

It will be remembered by the reader that I confided the papers, taken from Mrs. B., with a man by the name of Watkins. This individual died with the cholera, in 1832. I called upon his wife for the package, who returned the same to me at Cincinnati, in 1833. I found every thing as I had left it, excepting the blank parchments. They were gone. Here was a mystery I could not solve. How should a part be missing and not the whole? I never gained any satisfactory information until last summer.

While travelling through the state of New York, I had occasion to visit the state's prison, where I met with a certain convict who pa.s.sed by the name of Wyatt, but whose real name was Robert H. North. He gave me information about a certain "FLASH," or comprehensive language used among professional gamblers and blacklegs. Many of the phrases were familiar, but I never could ascertain their origin. He was soon convinced of my ignorance, and then informed me of the society whence they originated. He likewise explained the reason why I was so persecuted by the notorious Goodrich. "It is known," said he, "wherever the fraternity exist, that you obtained the package; but they are satisfied you destroyed the same, and it is well you did, or else you would have been put out of the way long before this."

I told him I had taken the package, but there was nothing in it save letters and a few blank parchments.

He laughed and said:

"If you had WARMED those parchments, they would have presented an exhibition worthy of your attention."

This information made me restless with excitement and anxiety to peruse those letters and notes which I still had in my possession. I may here remark, the letters were, for the most part, unintelligible to a common reader, because of the secret language in which they were written. I had examined them again and again, without much satisfaction. I knew they were penned for the purpose of clandestinely carrying on a wholesale plunder--a deliberate imposition upon public and private rights. By frequent perusal I had become familiar with many of the terms which were often explained to me by those who were acquainted with their use, though they are used by thousands, without any knowledge of their origin.

After I commenced an exposure of the vice of gambling, I was often attacked by certain low, vulgar editors in a manner that indicated deep-seated malice. I could not account for their abuse. They would admit that society should be rid of the evil in question, but at the same time exhibited the most bitter hostility to me as one who had dared to expose the abominations of gaming. I was conscious there was something that moved them in their work of calumny not yet developed.

The mystery rendered me unhappy. I was anxious to know the cause of this public opposition, and the more so, that I might satisfy the people that the whole arose from influences akin to the vice I was labouring to destroy. The secret was soon discovered, and I am now prepared to satisfy the public mind that the attacks upon my present relation to society have arisen from something more than an ignorant prejudice.

These hireling editors knew I had the materials to draw their portraits at full length in all their moral hideousness; and they feared society would be thrown into spasms at the sight, and they would be hurled from their stations of trust by an enraged and insulted people. It has only been necessary in one or two instances to give them a few hints of the information I possessed, and they were hushed up INSTANTER.

A long time had elapsed since I heard from the mysterious stranger who gave me the box,--long enough, I had supposed, to free me from obligation of further restraint upon my curiosity. It had now been in my possession several years, and I felt myself at liberty to examine its contents. Having consulted with a few friends previously, I then made known, in the fall of 1842, to Rev. John F. Wright--formerly of the Methodist Book Concern, Cincinnati--that I had such a box, and my intentions. I likewise gave the same information to Arthur Vance--formerly of Lawrenceburgh, Indiana--Mr. John Norton, of Lexington, Kentucky--Thomas M. Gallay, of Wheeling, Virginia. I informed each of them how I came by the box, and the unaccountable conduct of the man who placed it in my hands. Having opened it, I found the same number of parchments I had missed from the package, all blank in appearance. In these was a note, which read as follows:

"THE PARCHMENTS, NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE POSSESSOR, CONTAIN MUCH SAD INTELLIGENCE, AND CAN BE READ, PROVIDED THEY ARE HEATED. THEY ARE EXPOSED BY A BROTHER OF THE BAND, A DOOMED MAN, ONE THE WORLD HAS KNOWN TO ITS SORROW FOR FORTY YEARS. MAY THE OWNER AND HOLDER CONSIDER THE DOOMED ONE A MOST KIND FRIEND FOR EVER!

"New Orleans, May 3d, 1832."

I soon hastened to ascertain the contents of the parchments, and found the statement made correct.

CHAPTER XI.

The contents of these papers are such as almost stagger belief, even in the most credulous. They not only go to prove the existence of a league of villany, but also laid open the machinery by which their wickedness was concealed; still, from many incidents of my own life, and from what I have learned by observing events which have transpired around me, as well as from narratives of undoubted truth which I have heard, I am constrained to believe that the band above alluded to does now exist, and that it has flourished for a long time, with astonis.h.i.+ng power.

I have reason to suppose that many of the band settled in and about Lawrenceburgh, Indiana; and from the year 1800 to 1827, they were very numerous, and some of them wealthy; they were mostly close traders, who turned every cent they got, honestly or dishonestly, into real estate.

Many of them, also, were well educated, and composed the _aristocracy_, while the _poor honest_ man was crowded down by these _influential members of society_.

There are now three cla.s.ses of wealthy men in that neighbourhood: the honest, whose property was obtained fairly; the members of the band; and some, of whom I am doubtful whether they belong to the band or not. If they do not, they are villains by nature, and do not need their a.s.sistance.

In the year 1846, I delivered a lecture at Lawrenceburgh, in which I exposed this band, and showed the manner in which their correspondence was carried on. The old members of the band had art enough to persuade the doubtful rogues that they were the persons alluded to, and they believed it. Whether conscience had any thing to do with their belief or not, I do not pretend to say; but the community generally seemed quite ready to grant them that honour. It was very amusing to notice the difference between the conduct of the guilty and that of the innocent, in relation to the exposure. The "Brotherhood," all at once, were very much concerned about the fair fame of their neighbourhood--called me a slanderer, and in fact caused a much greater excitement against themselves than would have occurred, had they kept still; while the honest citizens quietly asked for the names of the "brothers," and whether any of their relations belonged to them; they begged me to go on, and expose every member.

Since 1802, many robberies have been committed under circ.u.mstances which strongly indicate that such a band existed. Public agents, and other highly respectable citizens, have been robbed of funds which they held in trust, and no trace of the robbers could be found, and no curiosity seemed to be excited by the fact. Sometimes the person robbed shared in the spoils, and sometimes they were innocent; and it has sometimes happened that the innocent man was suspected. The honest citizens of Lawrenceburgh have, for forty years, known what a curse it is to have bad neighbours.

During the excitement occasioned by my lectures above mentioned, a resident of Lawrenceburgh related the following incident, which is only one among many which might be named to show the nature of the transactions in which these men engaged, and their facilities for carrying them out. I will give it as nearly as I can recollect in his own words:

"During the year 1832, a stranger came into the town of Lawrenceburgh, and for several days was noticed in the public places watching every one who pa.s.sed, as if looking for some one. At length he came to me, and told me that he wished my a.s.sistance in the business on which he came, but that it would be necessary to keep the matter secret. I answered, that if it were proper, I had no objections to secrecy. He then related the following facts as introductory to his business.

"He resided in Ohio; some eighteen months previous a friend had been induced to purchase a large drove of hogs for the market; he made the purchase on credit, with a promise to pay when he returned. While he was preparing to start, Daniel and James Brown bargained and contracted for them, to be delivered at a certain landing on Lake Erie, at a certain day, at which place and time they promised to meet and pay him. He gathered his drove, and proceeded to the landing, where he arrived several days before the time appointed. He was there met by some men, who told him that Brown had been there, and left word for him to drive the hogs to a landing two or three days' journey further on, where he had made arrangements to butcher and pack them. He went as directed; he found neither of the Browns there, but found the men who had directed him before; they informed him that they had orders to commence killing and packing the hogs, and that Mr. Brown would be there that day, or the next. He consented, and the hogs were killed and packed. A merchant at the landing advanced money to pay the man, and also furnished salt, and barrels on credit. On the day that all was finished, the two Browns arrived, bringing with them another large drove. They pretended to be very much surprised to find our friend there, and much more so to find the hogs butchered. They declared that they had not bargained for the slaughter of the hogs, and that they contracted for them in another place, and would have nothing to do with them here; that he had broken his contract, and they should demand heavy damages. He sought for the men who had directed him hither, but they had dispersed as soon as paid, and no trace of them was to be found. He told the Browns how he had been deceived, but they denied all knowledge of the affair, and again talked of damages. The merchant then presented his bill for supplies, and money advanced to butchers and packers. Our friend not having the money, he seized on the pork. What could he do? The case was desperate. He had bought on credit; would his pitiful story satisfy his creditors? His character was ruined. You may imagine the state of his mind. At this crisis, the Messrs. Brown took him aside, and told him that since he was in difficulty, they were willing to befriend him, and to show him how he could soon make money enough to pay off his creditors. An oath of secrecy was required and given. They then offered to settle the merchant's bills, which were very extravagant, and pay him for the pork in counterfeit money, at twenty per cent., with which he was to buy stock through the country. In his despair, he consented; a few days after he was detected, arrested, and tried, under a false name, and condemned to the Ohio penitentiary. His friends, remaining entirely ignorant of his fate, began to suspect foul play. The Messrs. Brown effected his pardon, and hurried him away; but not before he had contrived to make known his story, and the fact that he was under restraint among a band of bad men, and that he could not escape without a.s.sistance. He was never heard of more.

"The stranger gave me his address, and requested that I would keep an eye upon the people who should come there, and if I should see the Browns, or hear of his unfortunate friend, that I should let him know.

He had visited Lawrenceburgh, because that was the former residence of these two men, and he hoped to see them; but being disappointed, he was compelled to go back to the family of the lost neighbour without having received any intelligence of his fate."