The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-08-25
NOT GUILTY..
Acquittal Of RidgeIy for the killing OF
DonaIIy at Cynfhiana---Ladies Inn
plOring the District Attorney I'm his
Behalf--The Usual JnsanIty PIea--Fi-
male of the Double Murder


BehaIi--Thc Usual Insanity PIea--Fi-
male of the Double Murder.
Courier-J ournal, IItk.
We learn from Judge J. Hop Price,
who has just returned from Harrison
county, where he went to attend the trial
of Richard II. Ridgely for the killing oil
DR.. G. P. Donally. in the courthouse at
Cynthiana, while on trial for the murder
Of DIR Peckover, the particulars Of the
trial and the the intelligence that Ridge
ly was acquitted. Our readers are famil-
lar with the details of the double homo-
eide. and we will only give brief resume
/ of the facts Doctors Peckover and Dom
ally had been associated in the practice Of
dentistry, but had dissolved their partner
ship. 1t seems that in the settlement
there was some dispute which resulted in
quarrel at the time. The next day Dom
ally, on meeting Peckover, said that he
| (Peckover) had called him liar the day
previous, and pulling out a pistol shot
him dead. He Immediately surrendered
himself to the authorities and was taken
to the courthouse for trial, which had just
began when young Ridgely, whose sister
Peckover had married walked in, and,
drawing pistol, shot Donally, killing
him instantly. Ridgely was at once taken
into custody, while two souls appeared
before the bar of God, the murderer to
meet his victim face to face.
The sympathy of all went out to Young
Ridgely, who had always borne charac-
ter irreproachable in every respect, being
a member OF the church and constant
attendant on services. He had served
the town of Cynthiana in the capacity of
Marshal, and had always given satisfac~
ton. His family were among the most
respected in the county, and the act which
made him the avenger Of his sisters hus-
band was not looked upon in the light of
murder DR.. Peckoyer was the father of
five or six children, and his death depri>
we'd them ola protector and supporter.
He had been almost a father to Ridgely,
and when the young man learned of the
death of his sisters husband and his own
benefac;or, he did not think of the re-
sponsioility now devolving upon him to in
some way pay back in his sisters behalf
that kindness shown him by his sisters
husband; but, frenzied, shot down him
who, in wronSing his sister, wronged him.
DR.. Donally was an unmarried man.
The trial of Ridgely began Thursday
at Cynthiana, before Judge Perkins,
whose rulings are reported as able and at
all times equitable. Considerable difficult
ty was experienced in getting jurors, it
being almost an impossibiity to find any
one who was not in sympathy with the
act. The Commonwealth was represents
ed by Judge Cleary of Covington, prose-
cutting attorney for the district, who dis
charged his duty to the State with fdeli>
ty and with fairness to the prisoner. The
prisoner was represented by Hon. Quincy
Ward, Harry Ward, anil Judge West,
whose efforts in behalf Of their client
were strenuous and faithful and whose ar
guments were rarely ifever equaled. The
women of the place, who attended the
trial in holy, used every exertion to get
the prosecuting attorney to bear lightly
with the prisoner. The courthouse was
crowded during the entire trial by ladies
and gentlemen, and when the verdict oil
acquittal was rendered, after about an
hours absence of the jury, shout after
shout went up, and young Ridgely was
fairly besieged by his friends and over
whelmed with congratulations. The sym
pathy Tor the young man was so strong
: that the fees paid the defence were made
) up by the citizens, in which they would
not allow the family to bear any part.
: The plea of the defense was insanity a
the time of the commission of the deed
/ the well known and estimable character
| Of the young man prior being strong ar
gument in his favor. The fidelity Of thu
l people of all classes to the fortune o
| Ridgely in his darkest hour is an attesta'
= ton of the fact that his,was a cause which
= while exciting the greatest sympathy, wa
= not devoid of justice, the verdict in hi
5 favor sustaining the assertion.