The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-05

train; saw Riddle the train and told him the ma
ture of my despatch; he did not seem much affected
at iirst but when we reached New London grew very
anxious; he hired a saiboat, as the hotel steamer
had gone before we reached the city. and with
eral other gentlemen and myself started for the
Edgcombe House; the boat made slow progress.
and when we reached the east shore OF the
Thames opposite New London, Riddle jumped out
and started for the hotel on a run; when arrived
at the Edgcombe House wharf Riddle came down
and met me with cheerful smile and said his wife
was decidedly better; Mr.. Riddle stated to that
she had had dizziness. vertigo aud numbness of the
linbs these effects had passed when arrived; the
contents of the flask had been empted previous to
my arrival; there few drops of LIQUID in the
tumbler which tasted strongly of laudanum; laud-
anum Ia deadly poison when taken in large quanti-
ties returned to Norwich on evening train and
subsequently investigated the matter Of finding laud
anum in the flask; asked Riddle about the transfor
nation and he thought 1t might have been done by
the clerk at the Watch Hill Hotel; Riddle showed me
his medicine closet but found bottle containing
laudanum in juxtaposition with the large bottle
containing the pure port wine from which 1t Is al
legged the flask was filled; Mrs. Riddle was OF dell.
cate organization and very nervous should not
expect from the nature of her former complaints to
see her suffer in the way she did at the Edgcombe
House, week before she went to Eastern Point she
had an attack, the symptoms Of which were like
those of Asiatic cholera; attended her in August.
Der made my last visit; gave her remedies espe-
cially suited to her case. and might possibly have
given her dose of homeopathic arsenic but II
did it was not in VEGETABLE quantities.
In the cross-examlnation by Mr.. Greene witness
said he first attended Mrs. Riddle in 1876 after her
return to Norwich Mrs. Riddle improved until my
visits ceased.
The Court then adjourned till afternoon.
RIDDLES TEXT FOR A FUNERAL SERMON.
During the noon recess the HERALD reporter had
interview with Rev. Hugh Montgomery. who
preached the funeral sermon OF tine late Mrs. Riddle
MIR. Montgomery said that he was called upon by
Mr. Riddle to preach the sermon OF his wife, as none
Of the ministers of her denomination were in
town. He requested me to speak from the
text. "Be sure your sins win ind you
out" The next day he came to- mo
had been q favorite with his wife. afterwsrd
learned that his friends had advised him to take
this course, as they thought capital would be made
out Of the first text the street. had no particu-
lar text in my sermon.
Riddle was taken to downtown restaurant to
dinner, and it is said. still has hearty appetite
When the court reconvened at two O'Clock DR..
Lewis S. Paddock recalled to tho witness stand
aud testified ns to the general character Of bismuth.
and said that the effects of poisoning by inn
pure bisnuth were not similar to those of poison
ing by arsenic; in some specimens of impure bis
nuth one-sixth of per cent of arsenic was
times found; this figure is inaximum; the pre-
to-day's HERALD, is harmless; about one-eiehth
of grain Of arsenic would be found in forty doses
of the medicine.
engagements for taking away other portions Of the
mains Of Mrs Riddle. was in the court room and
was called to the stand, but excused that he
might catch the afternoon train.
Dr. W G. G. Perkins testified as to the characteris-
Wait, who read papers by French physician in the
New York College Of Pharmacy. These stated that
French bismuth was very impure; that it contained
arsenic in such large quantity that the breath Of
patients treated with it smelled strongly Of arsenic
the author of the papers considered it unsafe.
CHARACTER OF MRS. RIDDLES ILLNESS.
DIR. Otis q. Bailey was next called. Had been sew
eral times summoned to attend MIS- Riddle early In
1878; the 3lst of March to the latter part of
April made her three visits daily; during this time
the patient exhibited symptoms of poisoning; she
was but at length recovered sufficiently
was greatly irritated and she took
nourishment; by the 9Th of April she had
able till the first of May; the 21st of May was
again called; she taken with vomiting, gripping
and numDness OF the hands. arms and feet; similar
attacks continued till her DEATH from what he knew
OF her former scknesses he did expect attacks Of
this kinda he gave remedies calculated to rrtate
| her stomach; her violent illness on the 31st
| of March not to ke associated with her former
| complainngs. and in his opinion was not derived
| from them; made legal return of her death as
| being caused by acute gastritis; did not know
what produced gastrtis did not ascertain; her
| dition when she died such should expect
'With the present information in your possession
and your medical knowledge; to what would you at
| ecutor.
.'To arsenic" tersely replied the witness.
DIR. G. v. Wilson was next called:-I attended Mrs.
| Riddle from the 9Th to the 10th Of April 1875
did not prescribe hartshorn bitter for her. although
DR.. Bailey Mrs. Riddles case the I'd OF April;
decided that she Was suffering under acute gastriis
saw her twice that day she was continually vomit-
| hammation; know her condition was one OF nervous
HOW RIDDLE TREATED HIS WIFE,
Mrs. Martha Branch. an elderly nurse. testified
that on the 18th Of April, 1878, she called upon
by Mr. Riddle TO attend his wife, who. he said. was
very sick; she complained OF numbness Of her limbs
and also In her jaws; was with her through the day
and first half Of the night when 9, Riddle relieved
the day time she had high fever and used quanti-
her mouth left ON the 4th Of May. and then most
of the old symptoms had disappeared. though
she complained OF numbness occasionally; MIR.
Riddle was residing on Otis street at this
time; did not hear him ask the doctor
and 1 told him did not know. that 1t was very
strange case; Riddle was sometimes irritable in his
wites presence but generally pleasant; he was also
once twice fractions. but did not say anything
harsh; once. from an adjoining room, heard him
say quickly to her, 81 am sick and tired or you'
Mrs. Riddle. in my hearing. never expressed any
Greene the witness said Mrs. Riddle never spoke
kindly to her husband; she never said anything to
the witness about him; Mrs. Branch refused to
press any opinion on the utterance. II am sick and
tired of you" riddle here spoke to his counsel)
TESTIMONY OF MRS. RIDDLES MOTHER
Mrs. Prudence Mosely. an aged lady. IN heavy
mourning, next placed on the witness stand.
god-rimmed spsctacles could with difficulty be seen
above the railing She said she now resided with
nsr shs lived ws Riddle %nd
them before they moved from willimsntic aud
this city; she loft Riddles house last spring. tho
first years of the married lite Of the Riddles
said and here her soft voice treinbed wasn't very
good; she (meaning Mrs. Riddle never spoke u cross
word to him in the world during the residence
Otis street, before the trip to Eastern Point he
abusive to her; OF these occasions
Mrs. Riddle told her husband IL he ever
expected her to get well he must speak more kindly
to her; there were times when he refused to speak
to her. this in the early part OF 1875 and lasted
until she was taken down in April; he would
only speak to her to answer questions; /
demonstrated with him; he said he would not
have any interference; ut time his wife
offered to leave the house and Riddle agreed to pay
her board elsewhere; for unexplained reasons she
did not go, whom he also refused to pay board away
from home; he treated hcr shamofuly, and at one
time talked her into fit; the witness continued
that Bidde told his wife he hated her, and no also
"God damned her; previous to the Eastern Point
trip Mrs. Riddle had an attack of bilious cholic 1t
came the next night after Riddle went to New
York; he got home when shc in tho sickness;
witness knew nothing about the vino at Eastern
Point until some time after the occurrences; Riddle
told but did not say what allied the wines the
of the change In his manner toward her unknown