The Molly Maguires and the Detectives
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The Molly Maguires and the Detectives. An analysis of the relationship between the use of undercover policing and violent labor conflict. Master’s program in Modern History Master’s thesis, 45 credits Author: Constantin Torve Supervisor: Helene Lööw Seminar chair: Björn Furuhagen Date of defense: June 01 2021 Semester: VT 2021 HISTORISKA INSTITUTIONEN Abstract This paper evaluates the role of private policing in the patterns of violence that were prevalent in the mining regions of eastern Pennsylvania during the 1860s and 1870s, and which were attributed to an Irish secret society called the “Molly Maguires”. This topic has long been subject to academic and political controversy, and the use of agent provocateur tactics by the Pinkerton agency has been strongly suggested, but never conclusively proven. Drawing on existing research on secret societies, private policing, and the role of the agent provocateur, this paper combines two strands of research that have so far largely been discussed separately. The study then attempts to close the gap on the agent provocateur question by applying methods from criminological history. Through treating different sources as conflicting testimonies, as well as using GIS to provide new insights on crime patterns in the region, it analyzes the complex relationship between undercover policing and the groups under its surveillance. The results provide decisive new evidence regarding the agent provocateur question and the role of the Pinkerton agency during the Molly Maguire trials, as well as the character of the surviving evidence. Keywords: Molly Maguires, Pinkertons, criminological history, labor unions, policing, Irish diaspora, migration, Pennsylvania. Acknowledgments As Mark Bulik notes in his analysis of the cultural backgrounds of the Molly Maguires, “in south Fermanagh […] to “join” work means to begin it—the assumption being that work cannot be begun alone.”1 This thesis is an example of just how true that statement is, as I joined work with the finest, most brilliant, and most mutually supportive class any student could hope for. First of all, my deepest gratitude goes to everyone in the Uppsala University Modern History Class of 2021. Your support and encouragement kept me going in these challenging times, especially as the deadline was drawing closer. Specifically, to Martha Dunster, Erik Larsson, and my dear friend, Sam Marknäs, who embodies the best aspects of rural American culture. I am greatly in debt for the endless hours of discussion which helped shape my understanding of that odd and peculiar part of the world. I would also like to thank my supervisor, Helene Lööw, whose advice across different stages of this project was outstanding, and whose invaluable expertise in the history of policing enabled me to develop this thesis into something so much more complex and multi-faceted than I initially imagined it to be. Lars M. Andersson, Uppsala University, for the incredible dedication and support he gave to all students in this program, and his encouragement that I pursue this particular topic. Finally, Kevin Kenny, author of Making Sense of the Molly Maguires, for a very enlightening e-mail exchange. Being able to discuss my work and my initial theories with the leading expert in the field was a great honor, and I truly appreciate him taking the time to do so. 1 Bulik 2015, p. 33 iii Table of contents 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Black Thursday .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 The eye that never sleeps ................................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Theory ................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Previous research ............................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Approach, purpose, and research questions .................................................................................. 4 2. Methods ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 3. Irish Ways and Irish Laws ....................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Steelboys, Ribbonmen and Whiteboys: social banditry and retributive justice ........................ 9 3.2 Mummery and mythology .............................................................................................................. 14 3.3 The children of Molly Maguire ...................................................................................................... 15 3.4 The Ancient Order of Hibernians ................................................................................................ 17 4. A surrender of sovereignty ................................................................................................................... 20 4.1 Private policing ................................................................................................................................ 21 4.2 The Pinkertons ................................................................................................................................ 24 4.3 Informants, infiltrators, and agents provocateurs ...................................................................... 28 5. The migration of a specter .................................................................................................................... 32 5.1 The making of a scapegoat ............................................................................................................ 34 5.2 The first wave................................................................................................................................... 40 5.3 The Pinkertons become involved ................................................................................................. 51 5.4 Trial by perjury ................................................................................................................................. 60 5.5 Aftermath ......................................................................................................................................... 68 6. On the ‘agent provocateur’ theory ...................................................................................................... 71 6.1 Existing literature ............................................................................................................................ 72 6.2 Assessing the evidence .................................................................................................................... 75 6.2.1 The case of Gomer James ...................................................................................................... 76 6.2.2 Other cases ............................................................................................................................... 80 6.2.3 Changes in leadership .............................................................................................................. 82 6.2.4 Ethnic tensions ........................................................................................................................ 84 6.2.5 Vigilantism ................................................................................................................................ 86 6.3 GIS analysis ...................................................................................................................................... 87 7. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 94 8. Sources and literature ............................................................................................................................ 99 8.1 Unpublished sources ....................................................................................................................... 99 8.2 Published sources ............................................................................................................................ 99 8.3 Literature......................................................................................................................................... 100 9. Appendix ............................................................................................................................................... 105 Appendix A: Membership list of the AOH ..................................................................................... 105 Appendix B: Letters............................................................................................................................. 108 Appendix C: Newspaper clippings .................................................................................................... 114 Appendix D: Database of incidents for chapter 6.3 ....................................................................... 117 List of figures Figure 1: Map of Schuylkill County, 1870s, Library of Congress........................................................ 34 Figure 2: Coffin notice published in the Miners’ Journal,