M^CKENNA TAKES UP THE TRAIL AT TAMAQUA. The wounding of Thomas, and subsequent murder of Yost, were enough to assure me that more work of the same character would speedily follow, unless earnest endeavors were put forth to prevent. Do the best I could, the Mollie Maguires would cause blood to flow. Their thirst had been excited by the sight of the crimson tide, and other victims must be struck down before the appetite was appeased. Maddened by the goadings of the few turbulent spirits in their midst, I knew they would never stop until they found the unavoidable avenger on their track and the outraged law strong enough to punish, blood for blood, life for life, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” It was my duty to commence the work, upon the small foundation furnished, in building up a force which should withstand the efforts of the league and successfully battle with the midnight foe. My plans were quickly formed, as quickly transmitted to Philadelphia, and Mr. Franklin gave them, as far as was thought advisable, to the operatives engaged in the mining country. Linden, laboring somewhat openly—though not ostensibly for me—was secretly to co-operate with McParlan, _alias_ McKenna, who was by no means to be acknowledged by any one as in the most distant manner connected with the Agency. On the contrary, everything was to be done to keep down a suspicion, should one arise, ever so faintly foreshadowing any such relation. McParlan must be depended upon to perform the principal service, in keeping track and securing the arrest of the men who had attacked Thomas, as well as those who were guilty of assassinating policeman Yost. The substantial chain of circumstances, and the testimony, must be so direct, unequivocal and convincing as to leave no chance loophole for the escape of the murderers, no scope for an _alibi_, before a single guilty man could be captured and brought to the prisoner’s box. Never had a defendant, a member of this thoroughly organized association for murder and all sorts of crime, received punishment through the verdict of a jury, and many good men despaired of ever accomplishing such a work; but I truly considered that, if given plenty of time and saved from the intermeddling of others, I could surmount the trouble, and after a while drive the Mollie Maguires from their strongholds. I would not be spurred on to take precipitate action. My plans must all be brought to their proper denouement. Assuming such safeguards as he might think for the best, McParlan was directed to go to Tamaqua and learn, if possible, who had killed Yost, and there lay the groundwork of a superstructure upon which the prosecution of the assassins might be founded. He was to obtain such information as he could, using his official relation with the order, as far as it might go, and any other artifice, or detective scheme, which should appear useful in gaining the desired results.