The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-29
MISUNDERSTANDING HErFREN.
The Commissions for the knights of the
Golden Circle from Jefferson Daxis


Golden Circle from Jefferson Davis
Corresp ondenco Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
The Knights of the Golden Circle ought to
have been relegated to the province OF
ancient history, but certain papers keep harp
ing upon the subject because they think ID
annoys my friend, General Horace Heffren
None of the papers which have printed tho
attacks upon him have ever parsed to ask
whether there were any mitigating circum-
stances which might have caused his peculiar
conduct. He was in the army, and upon the
certificate of one of the most reputable med
cal men in this State (then surgeon OF his
regiment and to-day Republican, he was
discharged because of disability incurred
while in the line of his duty. In 1864, after
his arrest, and while incarcerated in the mil
itary bastile, the following letter was received
concerning him:
SALEM, Oct. 10, 1864.
Denr Sir-Having been informed that you are
employed to defend Horace Heffren, take this
opportunity to inform you that he has
been insane for lhe last two years,
and some part of the time raving
crazy. This can be made to appear by the best
men in this place, such John L. Menaugh,
DR.. Pointer, Lafayette Prov ana William John
son and igany others OF this there can be no
doubt. Horace Is my son. ELIJAH EEFFREN.
Ifyou are not employed, please communicate
this to his counsel c.
I have copied the above from the original,
which is in my possession to-day -"
To-day Mr.. f1eHren gave me the following.
which at my request he wrote out:
Heffren was II witness III the trial OF the case
OF Milligan va. Hovey and others. in the Circuit
Court of the United States, for false imprisan.
ment In the before the military commits
sion, and offered to swear, and would have
sworn had II not been held inadmssbIe by thu
court. THAT Michael G, Bright brought six com
missions from Richmond, Va, from the Oat-
feterate government, and signed by President
Jefferson Davis, for the officers of the knights
of the Golden Circle iii Indiana follows One
to Dick Dodd as general one to Horace Heffran
RS Northumberland and one each to William
A Bowies -Inhn c. Walker. Lamhdn p. Milligan
aud Andrew HUMPHREYS mai0r-generals. Ha
received his from Mr. Bright. and saw the other
ave They were genuine. 'a.-.,
Mr. Heffren having seen the commissions,
and having received his, states that they
were the genuine Jacob Townsend docu-
ments. DIR. Walker, Generals Humphreys
and Millisan are still living, end can tell
whether they ever received theirs or not. "A
commission of such high rank in the late
war Is entitled to be preserved as valuable
mementos. and should be framed and hung
up. But hope the editors who, have beer
attacking General Heffren will moderate
their tone after his frank explanation. He
is now the most active Democrat in the
House and though he has introduced more
bills than any other member, not one of them
has been political in its character.
The correspondent in the News OF Satur.
day explains that the paper as to the com,
mission was written by gentleman init.
mately connected with the defense in the
case of Millgan versus Hovey. ..,,..,..