The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 384

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

which I did not understand, and of course could not answer them. He
walked out of the room, remarking "You know nothing about it." He
said if I desired to know all about it, his brother, the doctor, was one
of the head men in the Society, and would take pleasure in initiating
me. He stated that these d-d rebels about town (and there were a
good many of them), has a large quantity of powder, and that they
intended to have it. And that very soon. He said the order had signs
grips and passwords by which they knew each other and that the order
was spreading rapidly, 8: insisted that I should see his brother and be
initiated.
W. W. Reeder Sworn.
[WITNEss.] Ephraim Childs informed me that his brother, Dr. Henry
Childs, was invested with full authority to initiate persons into this
secret organization. He gave me the signs, grip and password. (Witness
then gave them to the Court, which were recognized as being those
of the "Order.")
Dr. Henry Childs Sworn.
[WITNEss.] I initiated my brother, E. Childs, into this secret Order,
of my own choice, and gave him the signs, grip and password.
A volume of evidence might be introduced to show the active
connection of Ephraim Childs with the "Order." The main
features of the testimony in this case being about the same as those
exhibited on the trial of Dr. Childs, it is not deemed necessary
to repeat here, in detail, the long and connected chain of cir-
cumstances which placed the accused beyond the hope of acquital
[sic].
DECISION OF THE COURT
The prisoner, Ephraim Childs, is found guilty, and is sentenced
to be hung on the 4th day of October 1862 at 2 o'clock p.m. of said
day until he is dead. Daniel Montague
Prest Citizens Court
DEATH WARRANT
Capt. A. Boutwell: You are hereby authorized and commanded
in the name and by the authority of the people of the County Cooke
and State of Texas to take into custody the body of Ephraim Childs
and him safely keep until the 4th day of October 1862, and at 2

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