Today in Labour History

The Mollie Maguires were a secret organization of Irish-American coal miners in Pennsylvania, named for an Irish widow who had led anti-landlord agitators in Ireland. They agitated against  the oppressive industrial and living conditions in the 19th century. Acts of sabotage and terrorist murders in the coalfields were blamed on the Mollies.  Mine owners hired a detective to infiltrate the organization. Based on his testimony, ten Mollies were convicted of murder and hanged. One of them was Thomas Munley, who was arrested on 10 February 1876, charged with the murder of a colliery boss and his companion and hanged in Pottsville jail.