The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-31
The Story that Risley Was Member of the
Sons of Liberty Denounced as a"Wretched
Lie" When Facts Show lie Wasan officer.
An Important Nonpartisan Question
Under Discussion in the Senate.
Adjournment TO Take Place in Two Weeks
Charge that the New Russian and French
Treaties Are in the Nature of Bribea
SON OF LIBERTY RIsLEY.

Senator Voorhees, and Col. Mclean Fruitlessiy
Try to Clear the skirts of Their Friend.
WASHINGTON. March Ex-senator Voor.
hees to-day sent the following dispatch to
his law partner in regard to the Golden
Circle charges made against Minister John
Z. Risley:
Hon. John z. Lamb. Terre Haute, Ind:
The statement that ever connected Mr. Ris-
ley's name with the papers seized in my former
law office by General Darlington, in 1854, is
utterly false Risley was married and went 10
New York in October. 1868. He visited Terre
Haute In the spring OF 1865 and has continued
to do so at least once year from that time TO
the present During this period of twehty- eight
at indianapolis and different parts of the State
IN the trial of in court and In the construc-
ton of the indianapolis, Bloomington a. Western
and the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield
railroads. He never received hint or a sugges-
ton that he owed anybody anything on account
OF the transaction spoken or until his appoint
ment appeared In the papers. OF course, the
moro than twenty-nine years, Risley viii NOS
plead the statute OF limitations il any one wishes
TO bring SUIT II money was raised, as alleged,
it stuck to somebody's hands who now wishes to
shift his own guilt
Whether Mr. Risley was a member of the
Knights of the Golden Circle or Sons of Liberty.
no higher authority can exist than Col William
T. Mclean, who Is here. Colonel Mclean was
member OF the celebrated military court that
oughly investigated the origin and history
of those organizations. de authorizes me t0
state that the record of that trial shows that said
orders or organizations came into prominence in
Indiana during the winter OF 1868 and 1854,
which was after Risley married and went to New
York in october, 1868. and that neither Risleys
name nor anything pointing TO him as q member
Of either of these Organizations was discovered
in the proceedings OF that vigilant military
court. The trial was published in book form,
and the name OF every member was ascertained.
sworn to and preserved The record. therefore,,
absolutely excludes the possibility that Risley
: a m n n a ha hQa a oof
missioner of the order or orders, with funds ta
buy arms or for any other purpose. Colonel No
Lean also we'll remembers Risley's repeated WIS.,
its TO Terre Haute since 1865, and says that with
all his familiarity with the people Of Terre
has heard word of the charge in regard TO the
money III question. ID. W. VOORHEES,.
AS will be seen on the fourth page of to-
days Journal both Senator Voorhees, and
Colonel Mclean have blundered into error
by trusting to their memories. If either
gentleman had consulted the treason
trials" he would have found that William
NJ Harrison. in his testimony before the
court. of which Colonel Mclean was q
member, swore that he was present at a
meeting of the Grand Council of the Sons
of Liberty, held in Terre Haute, Ind, about
the 9th of August, 1868; that John L. Ris-
ley was present. and was elected tempo
rary grand secretary, and that he HarrisonI
was chosen assistant secretary. The next
meeting was held in Indianapolis, ct which
Mr.. Harrison was elected permanent grand
secretary.