Morris Riely (also spelled Rilley, Riley)

Apart from the newspaper article below which corroborates Thomas Russell’s account of Riely’s (Russell’s spelling) arraignment, character and mode of arrival to the Thornton, no other additional information on this individual has been found.

Ever since foundation of the Colony, there had been a large Irish contingent.

Somewhat ironically, the two original police forces within the province, the British Columbia Police and the Victoria Police, were initially overseen by Irishmen.

Image 1: Victoria Daily Standard Friday 16th September 1870 page 3.