The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-30
Mr.. R|S[EYS DENIAL.
Stories In Connection With the Charges
Made Against Him.
AN INTERESTING LETTER
Used in War Time TO Prove Him Con-
spirstor. and member OF the
Famous knights OF the Golden
= Circle.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind, March 30.-The
mphatic denial entered by John +. Risley,
Of New York, minister to Denmark, that
be was connected with the Knights of the
Golden Circle or the Sons of Liberty dur
Ing the war, or that he absconded with
funds of the latter organization, which
had been given him to go to New York in
1863 to buy arms, has angered the Terre
Haute Democrats who make the accusa-
tions. They express surprise that Risley
should put himself on record so strongly
when there are so many people here who
knew the facts
Minister Risley says in his denial: 81
never belonged to any secret society In my
life political or otherwise, and rs to the
charge that was engaged in any plan to
resist the draft during the war, / never so
much as heard of any purpose on the part
Of any citizens to make such resistapce."
In 1864 after Risley's trip to New York.
from which he never returned for % years,
he wrote letter TO II. ii. Dodd, who was
commander of the Sons Of Liberty in this
state, and which ran as follows
New YORK, Aug. 8, 1884
10 H. II. Dodd, ESQ.,, indianapolis;
Ny DEAR SIR-Hunt a. Co have played the
devil according 10 reports Does he attempt
90 implicate any of our friends, and does II
affect our people in any degree? Can Morton
oyerawe our people by his military organiza-
tion? have read with deep interest the
meager newspaper reports of affairs In our
state and am anxious TO learn more. Write
TO me il your can find leisure. Direct In care
of Thomas Parker q Co.. 40 Wall street Very
truly yours JoHN +. RIsLEY.
The Morton referred to was Governor
Morton, who was then crushing out the
eopperhead element in Indiana.
This Letter Was Seized
by Colonel X. w. Thompson, later ex-
secretary Of the navy, who was then mill
tary commander of this district, and
turned over by him TO Major Darlington.
The latter officer made it part of an Of
fetal report to Governor Morton as show
ing Risley's connection with the order and
that he was one of the conspirators with
Dodd i'm opposing the draft in this state.
Samuel w. Rigney, lifelong Demo
crat, said yesterday: II contributed to the
fund for the purchase of the arms, and
many others here did so also Each of us
was to pay 50, as il was understood that
was the sum each gun would cost.
II paid my money to Joseph H. Blake
and also John Dawson's money at the
same time and got his receipt for it.
Blake, who was then count clerk, was
handling the funds. Risley went down to
New York and / have never seen him
since. had no transactions with Risley
myself, only paid sls to Blake, which
was to go to Risley. 1 can't say how much
che fund amounted to, but don't think IL
was as large as $500, the sum mentioned" 7"
He Failed to Return.
Ex-County Clerk Joseph II. Blake, also
q lifelong Democrat, said "All there is to
II is that Risley went down to New York
with the money, / don't remember how
much now, and be was TO buy supply of
guns We never saw the money or the
guns"
Samuel 7. Jones, Populist elector for
Weaver at the last election, said: II was
q member of company c, Eighty-ffth In
diana regiment, during the war, and Lem
Risley, brother of John f. Risley, was
member of company II, same regiment.
He was strong union man. i remem-
Der well of talking to Lem about his
brother while we were in Tennessee.
asked him II he really thought John had
run off with the money.
s'He said John had intended to move to
New York for some time. and IL he had
got hold of the money, the fellows who
paid il would never see a cent of il, as John
WAS not coming hack ~