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SECRET BAND OF BROTHERS.
SECRET BAND OF BROTHERS.
A FULL AND TRUE EXPOSITION OF ALL THE VARIOUS Crimes, Villanies, and Misdeeds OF THIS POWERFUL ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES. BY THE "REFORMED GAMBLER," JONATHAN H. GREEN. AUTHOR OF "THE GAMBLER'S LIFE," "GAMBLING EXPOSED," "THE REFORMED GAMBLER; OR, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF J. H. GREEN," ETC. WITH ILLUSTRATIVE ENGRAVINGS. "This is a most fearful and startling exposition of crime, and gives the true and secret history of a daring and powerful secret association, the members of which, residing in all
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
The vice of gambling is peculiarly destructive. It spares neither age nor sex. It visits the domestic hearth with a pestilence more quiet and stealthy, but not less deadly, than intemperance. It is at once the vice of the gentleman, and the passion of the blackguard. With deep shame we are forced to admit that the halls of legislation have not been free from its influence, nor the judicial bench unstained by its pollution. It is against this vice, which is now spreading like a subtle poison thro
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
In perusing the following pages, the reader will learn the history of a class of men, who, for talent, cannot be excelled. He may startle at the horrid features which naked truth will depict—at deeds of darkness which, though presented to an enlightened people, may require a stretch of credulity to believe were ever perpetrated in the glorious nineteenth century. It will, no doubt, elicit many a curious thought, especially with honest men, and the "whys and wherefores" will pass from mouth to mo
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
In a previous work of mine, called " Gambling Unmasked ," an allusion is made to an evident conspiracy against my life, sometime before I became a confirmed gambler. Goodrich was the name which I gave, as the chief actor. This same doubly refined villain, it will be remembered, by all who have read the above work, was foremost to aid in my arrest when I made good my escape to the Pine woods, lying back of New Orleans. The reader will likewise recollect, that I could not, at that time, account fo
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
The colonel's physician advised him to take medicine, to reduce his system, and give him the appearance of one rapidly sinking under a pulmonary affection. He consented, as such a plan was considered the most likely to succeed. It will be readily seen, that the design was to work upon the sympathies of the officers, and thus procure his enlargement. Nor were they disappointed. The colonel's health began to fail. The drugs acted their appropriate part. Some of his friends made vigorous exertions
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
The younger brother was to produce various letters which had been written to him from different parts of the Union, by different individuals. That this could be done will be seen by what follows. The colonel had been an extensive speculator in merchandise of almost every kind. He was extensively known. His correspondence was wide-spread. In his villanous communications, however, letters were never addressed to him in his proper name, unless some one should labour under the impression that he was
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CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
After my interview with Watkins, I felt greatly relieved. I hastened to the hospital to see the colonel, as was my custom, often several times a day. I found him surrounded with visitors, all of whom appeared to be affected while in his presence. He needed sympathy. His mind was tortured. His whole life seemed made up of successive throes of excitement and desperation. His heart was torn by conflicting passions. His confidence and affection for former friends were evidently waning. If any remain
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CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
In returning to my boarding-house I was met by the blackleg pettifogger, who treated me with great coldness. I met him again the next morning at the prison, and he treated me in like manner. But I was especially anxious to hear what more the colonel had to say, and hastened to his room. He began his account where he had left off. "This man, who was dressed in disguise, was greatly alarmed, lest certain of his letters in the package should come to light, which had not been retained. He started fo
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CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII.
Shortly after the events detailed in the foregoing chapter, I had a conversation with Mr. Munger, who told me, he was satisfied that my life was in danger, and advised me to leave the city for a few weeks, or, at least, to change my boarding-place, and keep myself in seclusion. Accordingly, I changed my quarters as soon as possible. I could not well leave the city, as Mr. Munger informed me I must be present to appear in court when Taylor was tried, in case the younger brother acted the part he
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CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX.
From the time the plan was concocted, for making Taylor suffer the penalty of another's crime, the utmost promptitude was required for its execution—the machinery must be actively employed by the friends of the colonel, and his brother. First, the colonel must be made sick, and a sympathy thereby awakened, and hence the plea for his removal would be the more plausible. His enlargement was important. He was a principal man, with whom it would be necessary to have much consultation—an intercourse
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CHAPTER X.
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 p
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CHAPTER XI.
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
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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.
Hanging Rock, Western District of Virginia, July 12, 1798. Section I.— Art. 1. This society shall be known by the name of the Secret Band of Brothers . Art. 2. It shall be governed by brethren who have become prominent by their many valiant deeds for the promotion of the society. Art. 3. The officers of this society shall be known as Grand Masters, and shall be duly authorized, by this constitution, to initiate, as members of this society, any male or female, who comes well and duly recommended
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII.
I have frequently, in the course of this work, had to notice the very intimate connection which those concerned in the administration of justice, or ostensibly in the suppression of crime, had with those who perpetrate it. In all of our large cities, this occasionally forces itself into public notice. Anxious as the authorities always are to conceal any thing of this kind, it accidentally leaks out. The opportunity for concealment, and the advantages afforded by official station, have not been o
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CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
The spring of 1833 found me travelling through the Choctaw nation, which, at that time, with the exception of the government posts, was a wilderness. Fort Towson, Duxborough, Jonesborough, Lost Prairie, Horse Prairie, Pecan Point, and several other places throughout this wild and newly settled country, were crowded with every kind and description of people from the states, from, the government agents and contractors to the wild and mysterious refugee—the latter being very numerous, and having se
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No. 1.
No. 1.
State Prison, Auburn, April 7, 1845. To the Editor of the Tribune: We have had a recent visit from Mr. J. H. Green, the "Reformed Gambler," of whom you have previously spoken favourably in the editorial department of your paper. Many are highly pleased with the man, and think he should be sustained by public patronage and the press, inasmuch as he comes with good credentials of moral and Christian character from the church. Many think his course calculated to do much good, for this and coming ge
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No. 2.
No. 2.
From the Christian Advocate and Journal. GREEN'S FIRST VISIT TO AUBURN STATE PRISON. Doctor Bond :— Dear Sir ,—I shall be happy to contribute to your valuable sheet the following communication: I visited the Auburn State Prison, upon the morning of the 4th instant, accompanied by the Boston Quartet Club, better known in New York city than in this region for their valuable services in calling out so many thousands to hear the eloquence of John B. Gough, in behalf of temperance. We passed through
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No. 3.
No. 3.
From the Christian Advocate and Journal. GREEN'S SECOND VISIT TO AUBURN STATE PRISON. Doctor Bond : Dear Sir ,—I made my second visit to the prison on Sabbath morning, the 6th instant, accompanied by the Boston Quartet Club. As we were winding our way through the halls and passing the gloomy cells, I felt sad and melancholy upon reflecting on the purpose of so large a prison. Is it possible, thought I, that our heaven-favoured land of freedom requires institutions of so extensive a character as
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No. 4.
No. 4.
The following letter was written and published by the unanimous consent of every honest citizen of Cleveland, Ohio, of which place I can only speak in the language of commendation. It is one of the most virtuous cities in the state, according to its population; and from the interest two of the principal organs took in behalf of the anti-gambling cause, I am certain that no filthy sheet can ever pollute its moral principles. To the Editor of the Cleveland Plaindealer : Mr. Gray , Sir—The Herald o
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No. 5.
No. 5.
Cleveland, July 12, 1845. Mr. O.E. Morrill: Dear sir ,—I have just received yours of the 10th. Speaking in regard to Wyatt's case, you state that you was very much surprised at my letters. Why did you not tell me so before they were published? You also heard both the first and second letter before I left your section. Why did you not object to them before? Again, you say, some parts are my own representations. This I deny. I will not say that I have given them verbatim, but this I do say, and wi
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No. 6.
No. 6.
From the Auburn Journal, July 30th. State Prison, Auburn, N.Y., July 25, 1845. Mr. Oliphant :— Sir ,—In justice to an unfortunate prisoner, now in chains awaiting his trial at the next sitting of the court in this place, I feel in duty bound to say to the public, that whatever Wyatt's character or conduct may have been, or however many murders he may have committed, and may ultimately be revealed to the public through the proper channels—yet all Mr. Green has said about Wyatt's having confided t
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No. 7.
No. 7.
Toledo, August 5, 1845. To the Editor of the New York Tribune: Dear sir ,—I beg leave to introduce to your columns the following article, written for the purpose of satisfying the honest part of the community, that a letter written by the Rev. O.E. Morrill, on the 25th of July last, is an unprincipled misrepresentation of my purpose, in bringing to light the horrid deeds of murder committed by Wyatt, now in the Auburn State Prison. I visited Wyatt four times, in company with Mr. Morrill, Chaplai
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No. 8.
No. 8.
Correspondence of the New York Tribune. Perrysburgh, Ohio, August 16, 1845. Mr. Greeley ,—I wish to introduce to the columns of your valuable paper the following. Though it may seem mysterious and out of date, it will be read with much interest by many, and may have a tendency to cast a light upon one of the most horrible murders ever committed in this or any other Christian land. There is not one shade of doubt remaining in my mind but that the murderers, as well as their victim or victims, lon
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DEBATE ON GAMBLING, BETWEEN Mr. Freeman the avowed gambler, and Mr. Green, the reformed gambler; before the citizens of Philadelphia, in the Lecture-room of the Chinese Museum, on the Evenings of the 10th, 13th, and 15th of May, 1847.
DEBATE ON GAMBLING, BETWEEN Mr. Freeman the avowed gambler, and Mr. Green, the reformed gambler; before the citizens of Philadelphia, in the Lecture-room of the Chinese Museum, on the Evenings of the 10th, 13th, and 15th of May, 1847.
Mr. Freeman's challenge, and Mr. Green's acceptance, as published in the papers of the city of Philadelphia . From the Inquirer. It is well known that Mr. Green, the Reformed Gambler, gave a Lecture at the Museum on Monday night last, in which he exposed the arts and devices of the Gambling Fraternity of the Union. His audience was quite large, and his illustrations were listened to with no little interest. It seems from the following article, which we copy from the Sun of yesterday, that a prof
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FALLACY OF LOTTERIES AS A MEANS OF REVENUE.
FALLACY OF LOTTERIES AS A MEANS OF REVENUE.
We are indebted for the following exposition to our moral friend, Capt. John Maginn, of New York city. "Although they may produce, by the various deceptive allurements which they hold forth, a temporary influx into the treasury of the state, yet the prostration of industry, the formation of idle habits, intemperance and various other vices, have invariably been the consequences wherever they have been introduced. No farther evidence of this position is requisite than the fact that in England, wh
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INSURING NUMBERS, OR POLICY DEALING.
INSURING NUMBERS, OR POLICY DEALING.
As the system of insuring numbers is at present practised to a fearful extent in this city, and as its votaries are mostly the ignorant and unthinking portion of the community, we proceed to give a plain matter-of-fact investigation of the chances. There being on the day of drawing a certain number of tickets in the wheel, out of which a particular number of them are to be drawn, it follows that there are so many chances to one against a given number being drawn as the number which are to be dra
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PROF. GODDARD ON LOTTERIES.
PROF. GODDARD ON LOTTERIES.
We give below a very able memorial, from the pen of Prof. Goddard , of Brown University, to the Legislature of Rhode Island. The undersigned, citizens of Rhode Island, have long regarded the lottery system with unqualified reprobation. They believe it to be a multiform social evil, which is obnoxious to the severest reprehension of the moralist, and which it is the duty of the legislator, in all cases, to visit with the most effective prohibitory sanctions. Entertaining these convictions, the un
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LOTTERY COMBINATIONS.
LOTTERY COMBINATIONS.
The numbers on lottery tickets are formed by combinations of certain numbers previously agreed upon; as from 1 to 60, 1 to 75, 1 to 78, &c., &c. Combination consists in taking a less number of things out of a greater, without any regard to the order in which they stand; no two combinations having the same quantities or numbers. Problem. —To find the number of combinations which can be taken from any given number of things, all different from each other, taking a given number at a
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