St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-02
MIR. WOOLLEY TALKS BACK
The BEST ISLAND APOSTLE HAS HIS
SAY
BEFORE a LARGE AUDIENCE
He Meets the Charges of His Ac-
cusers in Clear and Exhaust
i've statement History of the
Retreat and His Connection
Therewith-His Trip to Europe.
and Its Outcome.


Retreat and His Connection
Therewith-His Trip to Europe
and Its Outcome.
John G. Woolley, the temperance adj
Yocate and the founder of the Rest Is
land retreat. yesterday addressed
large audience upon the charges Of
diverting the funds of the institution
and of loose methods in connection with
the management herewith. The talk
occurred at Plymouth Congregational
church, which was filed with the
friends of the apostle.
1t was announced that Mr.. Woolley
would meet his friends and accusers at
o'clock, and at that hour the main
body OF the church was crowded to
Overlooking. Mr.. Woolley appeared
promptly on the platform, accompanied
by Rev. Dr.. Welles. the pastor OF the
church. and he at once proceeded to the
charges. reading his statement from
manuscript. The latter was apparently
a plain and lucid explanation of his
! connection with the island, and
Succinct history of the re-
treat since its inception. In
starting out he paid his respects to
tue Chicago papers. which he character
lied as sensation mOngers, saying that
while they kept the wires hot with
attacks on his work and character, they
had refused TO publish his side OF the
story. The malicious attacks. he said,
originated from his enemies in ST. Paul,
ana had been taken up by the press Of
Minneapolis. and especially by the
Journal, which had been particularly
bitter in its treatment of the case. In
the course or his remarks he made sew
eral very sarcastic home thruStS at the
journal and the Minneapolis contingent
that has been egging on the charges.
Mr.. Wooiley devoted large share of
/ his time TO explaining his connection
with Mrs. Eta Thompson and Lady
Somerset. Regarding the former, he
spoke Of their business dealings when
first acquainted, and of the confidence
and trust she reposed in him, which
afterwards, however, was turned into
| a relentless persecution. He eXonerated
Mrs. Thompson personally, acknowl-
edging his indie btedness. which came
about through the purchase from her of
the hotels and buildings, explaining
that she had reminded him that she had
made an error of judgment in putting
up the buildings and should be made to
suffer for it. She had alsOassured him
! that she did not care to press him for
| the Indebtedness. but that he could pay
| the money when he could safely do so.
| Regarding his relations with Lady
| Somerset he produced figures showing
| that he had paid over the proceeds of
| her lectures. and he offered a schedule
| of the moneys received through her for
| the retreat and the disposition made
| of it.
OF his trip abroad he spoke at length.
detailing the non-succesS of his lectures
from a financial standpoint. AS an
Illustration he spoke III Swansea eign-
teen times in one week, and collected
$50. Upon his return he found Mrs.
Thompson had turned against him.
She asked him if ne would make her a
preferred creditor, and he replied no,
Tor the reason that he did not intend to
fail. AS to the charge of apprOpriatIng
! money collected in Plymouth church,
he explained that a collection had been
taken up for the work, but that he had
no knowledge of it until after the move
ment had been cOnsummated. Regard
| ing the use of mission funds ne ac-
knowted ged receiving $500 from G. A.
PillSbury. which he still owed, money
from Judge Shaw and others. and small
loans from the Lake City bank. the lat
| derstoOd that this money was for the
mission. 1t was so applied.
1T has been charged" said Mr..
| WOolley, that DR.. L. NJ. Mckay, my
! friend and brother. has been interested
! in this persecution and foul conspiracy
| to break me up. but he has assured me
| that such is not the case. and | am
proud to call him my Christian brother"
As 10 the charge of converting
| diamond ring to his own use, the said
| ring said TO have been worth $500. had
| been given him by Baptist lady, the
! intention being to dispose of 1t and ap-
! ply the proceeds to the mission. He
| took the stone to an expert. and found
! il was worth $40 or $50, and he had
afterwards tried to dispose of it to
! Baptist congregation, thinking 1t might
! go well as a matter Of sentiment, but
| the plan did not pan out. He expected
| 10 return the ring TO the donor today.
Mr.. W0olley here digressed TO admin
| lister roast to his WhilOm attorney, 4.
! 5. Moore, whom he charged with a be-
| trayal OF professional confidence. As TO
| not fixing his meeting for Monday, he
said that the time OF holding it had been
| IN charge OF certain newspapers and the
| masked murderers of his character and
the robbers Of his good name. Regard
! ing the assaults OF b. 5. Undertake ne
said that the threats to attempt 10 ruin
! him had been carried out, and he sug-
! gested that man who tried to break up
! another is fit subject for Investigate
ion himself.
He had been charged with not giving
a schedule Of his affairs to all neWspa-
pers, and his enemies. This he did not
regard as proper. but he had invited
| such men as Judge Shaw, Messrs.
| ND q nd nth m
| Investigate his affairs, but they had re-
fused. He then gave detailed state
ment of the work at Rest island. and of
the assets and liabilities. The assets he
figured at S19.S35, and liabilities consid-
| erably lower. In connection with his
work, he said when he had started in
he had life insurance policy for SI3,-
600. all of which had been sacrificed,
and his wife and sons had been made to
suffer priYations. In conclusion. he
said he would abide by the decision of
those present, and that he would ask no
count, if the statement, for which he
would give up his life blood, was not
believed. If 1t was not believed, he
wanted them TO push WOolIey and give
him no quarter. He asked for a verdict
for his own and his Wife's and his fam
! ily's sake, and for the cause of religion.
and, if favorable, the retreat would be
hereafter known as the Mary WoolIey
mission.
He also stated that the next issue of
the Rest Island paper would contain
matter concerning his accusers which
would not be proper to speak OF in
church. and finally he asked all who
had anything to say to speak at this
time.
Judge Shaw arose and said what Mr.
WoolIey had stated about inviting him
to visit Rest island and investigate the
charges, was true.
II was one OF the original subscrib-
ers," said Judge Shaw, land l gave the
money to MI. WoOlley to use as he saw
fit. | exacted no pledge; knew he wa:
a poor man. and if he needed any of the
money for the support of his family ht
had a right to use it. l have read the
attacks in the Journal, and cannot un