I don’t know how (Mr. Gallison) thought he was not going to get caught, to be honest with you.”

Bill Hedgcorth, St. John's Masonic Lodge

Editor's note: This story was updated at 4:16 p.m. Friday, July 22.

PORTSMOUTH — Bill Hedgcorth, master of the St. John’s Masonic Lodge on Sprague Street, says the money could really come in handy. But now, the St. John’s must play a legal waiting game if it wants to see its fair share.

The Lodge was one of several beneficiaries listed in the will of the late Ray A. Medley, a Barrington man who died in 2012. None of them have seen a dime, however, and an investigation is underway of the former executor of the estate, Raymond E. Gallison Jr. of Bristol. The former lawmaker resigned his District 69 House seat in May.

The FBI recently revealed that just a few days after Mr. Gallison’s resignation, it seized nearly $1 million in assets that were formerly in his control. Of that, more than $180,000 were tied to Mr. Medley, who listed 10 beneficiaries in his will.

One of them was St. John’s Masonic Lodge, which was promised 10 percent of Mr. Medley’s estate in his will. The Lodge wants to know where the money went and has hired Portsmouth attorney Kenneth R. Tremblay to find out.

On Friday, Mr. Tremblay said he believes that 10 percent would translate “to least $20,000” and he’s already received some encouraging news from Warren attorney Thomas E. “Tucker” Wright, a former assistant U.S. attorney. Mr. Wright has been handling the Medley estate since last month, after a probate judge removed Mr. Gallison as executor. 

“He left a message yesterday that they’re trying to make a partial distribution in the future,” Mr. Tremblay said. “The FBI seized the money, but the FBI knows it’s not (Gallison’s) money.”

Mr. Tremblay said he’s confident that St. John’s will be seeing some payout, although it’s difficult to say how much.

“I offered Tucker any assistance I could give him to marshal the assets,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence in Tucker.”

Medley’s connection

On Thursday, Mr. Hedgcorth said Mr. Medley was a Mason associated with a different lodge, but was an honorary member at St. John’s.

“He used to visit us over here,” he said, explaining the reason why St. John’s was listed as a beneficiary.

Mr. Wright first learned of possible financial improprieties before he became involved in the case when. Several months ago the Massasoit Historical Society in Warren, one of the will’s beneficiaries, told him it had not received any money since Mr. Medley’s death four years earlier.

Mr. Hedgcorth said St. John’s did not contact anyone about the funds following Mr. Medley’s death.

“No, because for whatever reason, it got lost in the shuffle,” he said.

After the news broke, however, the Lodge reviewed its financial papers and found no evidence of receiving any money from the will.

Lodge, public would benefit

Whatever funds it receives from the Medley estate would be put to good use, Mr. Hedgcorth said.

“There’s always maintenance that needs to be done on the building and property and all the upkeep,” he said.

The Lodge is also involved in several charities, including the Shriners Burn Institute, which could have benefited from the funds, he said.

“We also do donations to the local community; I know we gave Portsmouth Library a couple hundred bucks. If we see something like that in that community that needs attention and someone comes forward, we weigh in on if and how much we want to contribute,” said Mr. Hedgcorth.

The Lodge also often assists local families that are in crisis but wish to remain anonymous for privacy reasons, he said.

Mr. Hedgcorth said the case involving Mr. Gallison has him shaking his head.

“We’re just a small part of it, but the more you hear, the more shocked you are,” said Mr. Hedgcorth. “I think it’s really a representation of the individual. I don’t know how (Mr. Gallison) thought he was not going to get caught, to be honest with you.” 

On the other hand, Mr. Hedgcorth said he’s not too surprised considering all the other Rhode Island political figures targeted for financial improprieties over the years. 

“Look what happened with Gordon Fox, so I guess it’s not all that shocking,” he said, referring to the former House speaker who resigned in 2014 following an FBI raid on his office and home.