The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 395
641 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Diamond's Account of the Great Hanging
Eli Thomas sworn.
[WITNESS.] John M. Crisp swore me into a secret organization
having for its object the reconstruction of the old Constitution
and Union. He gave me the signs, grip and password.
Crisp, himself, when brought at before the Court, admitted
that he had been initiated into the organization. Pending his trial,
he addressed the Court the following letter;
Fully believing this to be the last time that I will be permitted to
communicate with the Honorable tribunal by which I am to be tried,
I adopt this method to do so; and for this reason: Having never before
been brought before a Court, and my natural disposition and constitu-
tional powers being so framed, the presence of that august body has
the effect to scatter my mind. And while in your presence I cannot
collect my thoughts, I will now make in writing these further state-
ments in behalf of my injured Country:
Some time in the month of August, 1862, Dr Thomas, and Parson
Baker, came to my shop; and being there a short time, went out and
seated themselves some distance from me. They returned and requested
me to initiate him (Thomas), I understanding him to mean, to enter
as a member into the Secret institution to reinstate the old Constitu-
tion, I refused, pointing to Baker, [and] told him to get Baker to do it.
Thomas laughed, and said no; but for me to do it. I told him I was
awkward but would do the best I could. Not having a regular form of
oath, I framed one, in like manner, as I have stated before your Honors
heretofore; giving him the signs, grip, and password. Parson Baker
and myself, about one week before the above stated time, were initiated
by Dr McCarty. McCarty told Baker he could initiate also.
A few days after this I was informed that each member had the right
to initiate his neighbor. I have initiated six persons, in all, to-wit:
Sam'l Crisp, H. J. Essman, Eli Hinkle, I. M. Baily, Mansell Baily,
and Dr Eli Thomas. I suppose Essman and Hinkle are not yet ar-
rested. Dr Thomas informed me that he had initiated an old man, by
the name of Parson Howard.
I desire to explain one other thing, which I named to one of your
honorable body just as I left the jury room. James Harryman came
to my house the day before I was arrested and informed me that they
had held a secret meeting, and said that Capt. Garrison, or Lock, had
been to a Mr Love's in the Chicasaw [sic] Nation and had initiated
him; and that he had plenty of powder that the order could have
whenever they wanted it. And now, I acknowledge my wrong and im-
plore you that while examining the testimony I have given, if I have,395
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963, periodical, 1963; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101196/m1/421/?rotate=270: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.