A Molly Maguire Story

by Patrick Campbell

Book Overview

An outline of the Molly Maguire sagas from the point of view of a descendant of one of the executed Molly Maguire leaders. It describes the trial and execution of Alec Campbell, and it reveals how he... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0681828757
• ISBN13: 9780681828759
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Templecrone Pr
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

HOLLYWOOD ACTOR JIMMY STEWART'S WIFE GLORIA'S GREAT-GRANDFATHER MURDERED BY MOLLY MAGUIRES

Author Patrick Campbell takes the reader on a very interesting first-hand genealogical research high adventure. Patrick travels to northern Ireland to interview relatives of detective Allan Pinkerton sponsored Molly Maguire infiltrator James McParlan. Patrick Campbell's grand-uncle Alexander ("Alec") Campbell was convicted as one of the alleged "Molly Maguire" murderers of Morgan Powell and John P. Jones. This occurred in the Summit Hill-Mauch Chunk (now known as Jim Thorpe), Pennsylvania area of Carbon County. Alexander Campbell was hung in 1877. COINCIDENTALLY, WELSH COAL MINING SUPERVISOR MORGAN POWELL WAS THE GREAT-GRANDFATHER OF HOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR ACTOR JAMES MAITLAND STEWART'S (JIMMY STEWART'S) WIFE GLORIA HATRICK MCLEAN STEWART. The great tragedy of Morgan Powell's murder in 1871 was that Powell left behind a wife named Mary and several children. My great-great grandfather Patrick McKenna and his brother-in-law Thomas P. Fisher were also implicated in the aforementioned Morgan Powell murder. They hid in the bushes when Morgan was shot by accomplices. Patrick McKenna was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to nine years imprisonment. Thomas P. Fisher was hung in 1878. He was one of twenty men hung for Molly Maguire crimes. Patrick McKenna and his brother-in-law Thomas P. Fisher both operated the Rising Sun Hotel and a saloon called "McKenna's" in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania in the 1870's. Author Patrick Campbell describes how he obtained details about Molly Maguire impersonator Jim McParlan. Campbell researched Pinkerton records in Philadelphia and Chicago and obtained facts about McParlan's life in Colorado. McParlan infiltrated my McKenna ancestors by donning the pseudonym of James McKenna. Author Pat Campbell believes that his grand-uncle Alexander ("Alec") Campbell and other alleged "Molly Maguires" were deliberately framed by the Allan Pinkerton detective agency in conjunction with Reading, Pennsylvania railroad magnate Franklin Benjamin Gowen.

An outrage is exposed

Patrick Campbell did a wonderful job detailing an honest and truthful review of a dark chapter of our labor history. The injustice done to his relative who was falsely accused of being a criminal was an outrage, yet, Patrick managed to write this book in a calm and informative way. The tragedy of those wrongly accused for being Molly McGuires speaks for itself and the pain it caused their families lives on motivating Patrick to write this informative book. Get the book as it is an excellent take on the outrageous excesses of this era in our history of labor in the U.S. Ignore some of those reviewers who appear to have written reviews of this book but obviously did not read it. One reviewer from Tannersville especially appeared confused in his/her review of this book. As someone who takes reviewing seriously I need to take such individuals to task as reviewing is very important and needs to be done well.

A Molly maguire story

The main point ,this book told ,was how the state of penna.,walk away from their reasonably to run the trial of these men,and turn it over to a corporation [Reading Railroad] to run these trials.With there own judge,,a hand pick jury ,and a execution date.let not forget this.to be Irish in the 1800's,and a union man, meant your guilt,over making money.

This book throws new light on an old mystery.

In this book the author endeavored to ascertain whether or not his ancestor was guilty of the crime of which he was charged, and for which he was executed. Campbell was forthright in his conclusion that he could not determine to his own satisfaction guilt or innocence beyond any doubt. In the process of his research, he raises many questions about the actual role of the detective McParlan. He also raises serious questions about the legality of the trials. The alleged "leader" of the Mollies, John Kehoe, was exonerated and pardoned by the Governor of Pennsylvania. Campbell deserves our thanks for shedding new light on what is turning out to be an old scandal.