They came from Ireland to get away from a life of misery and suffering. Most of them landed in New York and Philadelphia, and then they made their way west. The Irish who migrated to the mining areas of Pennsylvania in the middle of the 19th century, were survivors of An Gorta Mor, (The Great Hunger) of the late 1840s in Ireland. They were a disliked group in most parts of their new world. They were discriminated against because of their religion and their nationality. It was no different for the Irish in Tamaqua, Girardville, Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe), Shamokin, Summit Hill, Audenreid, Pennsylvania, than it was in Ireland. The laborers were Irish and Catholic. The landowners and mine owners were English and Protestant. The old conditions prevailed, only 3,000 miles away from the original sites.
The problems encountered by the Irish in the 1870s, in Pennsylvania began as far back as 1862. One of the problems they experienced was the draft issue of the Civil War period. They were not unique in Pennsylvania, as riots broke out in many cities throughout the United States during that period of turmoil. President Lincoln's call for thousands of additional troops was met with resistance because of the discrimination practices applied to the draft. The draft was a lob sided affair. If you had money, you could buy your way out of Army service. The Irish in the coal mines of Pennsylvania were not exactly flush with money. Therefore, their services could be secured, where a person of wealth could pay his way out. The poor man's attitude was viewed by many as seditious to the Union. However, thousands of Irish emigrants from many States, including Pennsylvania, served with distinction in regiments on many battlefields during the war, (92 Irish born men won the Medal of Honor during the conflict). It was Franklin Gowen, some thirteen years later, who blamed the riots in the Pennsylvania coal region on a secret Irish organization, known as the Molly Maguires.
In addition to Franklin Gowen, Asa Packer and Charles Parrish controlled the mining interests in the region. Because of their mine and railroad holdings, they combined their interests with other power people in New York and became part of a price-fixing cartel, the first of its kind in American history. Gowen's ambition went beyond being a major player in the coal mining business. He wanted to become a major power in the politics of the state as well. However, there were two hurdles he had to overcome, the Workers Benevolent Association (WBA) and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH).
The stage was set for confrontation. Gowen, with the backing of Packer and Parrish began a campaign that would associate labor unrest and violence with a secret Irish organization called the Molly Maguires, and to link the Molly Maguires with the AOH, and the AOH with the WBA. Their goal was to eliminate both groups.
The "Molly Maguires" became a convenient target of opportunity for Gowen. He placed the title on his enemies and with the assistance of the press, informants, the Pinkertons and in some instances the Catholic clergy, he was able to enhance the belief, that he was the victim.
The Gowen Gang, in order to eliminate their adversaries, the WBA and the AOH, utilized their own police force, The Coal and Iron Police. The latter police unit was a private enforcement group, owned and financed by the mine owners. Not having any faith in conventional police methods, Gowen engaged the services of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The last icon, necessary to complete this band of rogues was the informer. The Pinkerton Agency accomplished that task, and very successfully.
The greatest damnation to any Irish cause, regardless of location, has always been the informer. Pennsylvania in 1870s, was no different. The mission of this unsavory lot was to eliminate the WBA and the AOH. They went about their task by having many Irishmen who were members of the Ancient Order of Hibernian, arrested by their private police force. The arrests were based on information obtained by the Pinkertons through informants and spies. Over a period of twenty eight months, twenty Irishmen went to the gallows. They were arrested by a private police force. Convicted by a hand-picked jury, no Irish catholic sat on the jury, and prosecuted by a hand-picked prosecutor. The sheriff who was tasked with the incarceration and who prepared the place of execution had an opportunity to stay some of the hangings, however, he intentionally ignored the paper, and based on descriptive accounts, took much pleasure in his assignments.
Part of this tragedy has to lie on the shoulders of the catholic clergy of the day. The Archbishop of Philadelphia, James Frederic Wood, a converted Episcopalian, was an acquaintance of Franklin Gowen. It has been documented that Gowen made many charitable contributions to the Archbishop. Draw your own conclusions. However, two priests, Father McDermott and Father Gately gave spiritual comfort to the men and their families before they were executed.
Were they guilty? Was there enough cause or reason to arrest? Did the accused receive due process? Why did the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania allow this private police force to act as a bona fide law enforcement agency? Those, and many other pertinent questions surround this travesty of American history.
An admission and an exoneration by the Governor of Pennsylvania for all the men executed during those trouble times, were enacted in 1976. The Governor stated, " the men were not extended the right of due process of law that was every Americans right."