Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-03-30
MEMORIES REVIVED.
Democrats Pour vialS Of
Wrath on RisIey.
A LETTER OF THE WAR
ID ggsd Before the Pubic to Sub
stantiate Opponents Claims.

TERRE HAUTE. Ind. March 30-Th,
of New York, minister TO Denmark, that
he was connected with the Knights of the
Golden Circle OF the Sons Of Liberty dur
ing the war, or that he absconded with
funds of the latter organization, which
had been given him to 20 to New York IL
1888 TO buy arms, has angered the Terr
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; "
never belonged to any secret society in my
life, political or otherwise, and as to the
charge that was engaged in any plan tt
resist the draft during the war, never sc
much as heard Of any purpose on the part
of any citizens to make such resistance"
In 1854 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 thi.
state, and which ran as follows:
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 1854.
To II. ii. Dodd, ESQ.,, Indianapolis
MY DEAR SIR-Hunt q Co. have played th
devil according 20 reports. Does he attemp
to implicate any of our friends, and does II
affect our people In any degree? Can Morton
overawe our people by his military organiza
tionf / have read with deep interest the
meager newspaper reports of affairs In oui
state and am anxious to learn more. Write
TO me II your can find leisure. Direct in cart
Of Thomas Parker q Co.. 40 Wall street. Very
truly yours, JOHN 4. RIsLEY.
The Morton referred to was Governor
Morton, who was then crushing out the
copperhead element in Indiana.
This Letter Was Seized
by Colonel r. 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 1t 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 in opposing the draft in this state.
Samuel w. Rigney, q 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 %, as it was understood that
was the sum each gun would cost.
IL paid my money to Joseph II. Blake
and also John DawsolSss money at the
same time and got his receipt for it,
Blake, who was then county clerk, was
handling the funds. Risley went down TO
New York and / have never seen him
since. had no transactions with Risley
myself, only l paid SIS to Blake, which
was to go to Risley. can't say how much
the fund amounted to, but don't think it
was as large as $500, the sum mentioned. !"
And He Never Came Back.
Ex-County Clerk Joseph II. Blake, also
"A lifelong Democrat, said: "All there is &.
IL IL that Risley went down to New York
with the money, don't remember how
much now, and he was to buy upply Of
guns. We never saw the money or the
guns"
samuel T. Jones, Populist elector for
Weaver at the last election, said: IL was
a member of company G, Eighty-fifth In
diana regiment, during the war, and Lem
Risley, brother of John Il. Risley, was a
member of company ii, same regiment.
He was a strong union man. l remem-
ber well of talking to Lem about his
brother while we were in Tennessee.
asked him if he really thought John had
run off with the money.
"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 ii would never see cent of it, as John
was not coming back"