MOLLY MAGUIRES, mh-gwir-s'. A secret order which existed in 1854-77, and possibly after wards, in the anthracite coal mining region of northeastern Pennsylvania. Here 400 collieries employed 60.000 men: Anlerivans, Germans. Welshmen. Englishmen, and Swedes comprised in one-half the number. the remainder being Irish. Among the latter appeared the Molly Maguires, branch of the Physical Force Party of Ireland. The order is alleged to have been affiliated with the 'Ancient Order of Hibernians.' Abont the Molly Maguires first became generally known as a dangerous organization. Lt H75. having been instrumental in forcing a general strike in the coal regions. it suceeeded in obtaining an as cendency in the councils of the miners, and from that period was prominent in assassinations and other outrages. commit fed. usually on the persons and against the property of justices of the peace, police officers. and mining bosses. Only Irish men. or the SOW: of Irishmen. who professed the Catholic faith. wire admitted to membership; hut by the laws of the 1'111111AI they eofahl not re main Catholics in good standing. The order was organized in divisions. each having a chief official known as a 'body-master': and there were signs and passwords to enable members to distinguish each other. These signs and passwords were given to the members by the body-masters, who received them from the county dele gate. who got them from the State delegate, to
whom they Were furnished by the national dele gate or national board in New York City: to time latter they calm- quarterly from Ireland, by the hands of the steward of one of the transatlantic steamships. A central and governing organiza tion known 'The Board of Erin' held quarterly meetings in England, Scotland, or Ireland. The tinal exposure. capture, and punishment of time Molly Maguires was largely due to the energy and determination of Franklin B. (Iowan. presi dent of the Pennsylvania and Reading Coal and Iron Company. through the immediate instru mentality of James Alt-Part:tn. a detective, who joined the Molly Maguires and heeame acquainted with their members and the secrets of their or ganization. Alany members of the Organization were apprehended, tried, and condemned, and their execution—that of a number of them occur ring on time same day—so alarmed the members of the order that it ceased to have any extended influence. Consult: Dewees, The Molly .1Is quires. Me earth, anal rha cacti r of the Oryanization (Philadelphia. and Pinker ton, Thy. .11 ol I y .11 a grams and the Detectives (New York, 1877).