# Title: Second note on Simonds Rider (to O. Cowdery), Messenger and Advocate II:9, p. 334
# Date: 1836-06
# Source: http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/RigWrit/RigWrit3d.htm | Provenance: signed SIDNEY RIGDON. High confidence.

Br. O. Cowdery:

Sir -- I have just received the desperate information, that Simons Rider, in consequence
of the notice which I have taken of him, is going to prosecute me; and I greatly desire, through the
medium of your paper, to plead with him for quarters. For O! I do not want to be sued for the terrible
crime of telling the truth about a man.

I know that the truth is a tight fit upon Simons, and I think it is likely that it hurts him some too;
as no chastisement for the present is joyous but grievous, nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable
fruits of righteousness to them who are exercised therewith. And could Simons avoid suing me, for a
little season, perhaps it might have that effect upon him. O Simons! do not sue me if you can any way
avoid it!

But if Simons cannot in his patience possess his soul, I think I can put him on a better scheme to
ally his feelings, and I think gratify them perhaps more.

I have an old uncle in the state of Maryland, that was never married, and he possesses a large property.
I would say to him, get his brother Adamson Bentley (for he is an animal of his own kidney) and go
there; he is now about eighty years of age, & of course it is will -- making time, and about the right age
for Bentley to prevail on him to make a will that will disinherit a monstrous heretic. I think it is
probable there will be no difficulty in engaging Bentley in his service; seeing he has been so successful
in his former attempt with old Mr. Brooks, my wife's father, and got his own wife so -- well fattened
on other people's property. -- He can, no doubt, be engaged again for the same service. Be sure my uncle
is not a Campbellite in religion, but a regular Baptist; but that will not make any difference; for
Bentley can become all things to all men, that he may gain some.

This course I think may satisfy Simons until his chastisement works out the peaceable fruits of
righteousness, and I will escape being sued; and if my family should lose a few thousand dollars, if
Bentley's wife only gets it, it is as well; it is all in the family.

Simons would do well also to say to his brother Darwin Atwater, as he has a great deal of labor to carry
about and read Howe's book, that he can be favored with the history of old Clapp, his wife's father,
to carry with him; so that he can shew the people Campbellism unveiled also.

Yours in great haste, and you may well think, not without some anxiety too.

SIDNEY RIGDON.
