The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-16
A Remarkable Tragedy.
NAN AND WIFE FOUND DEAD TOsETHEE-l
A CASsOF DOUBLE eUICIDEf

NAS AND WIFE FOUND DEAD TOsETHEE-H TT
CASE or DOUsLE sUIcIDEl
WASHINGTON March 1j.-Tbe very mys-
ferrous deaths OF John and Jane Riley, man
ana wife. discovered early this morning.
nave caused considerable excitement in the
nefghoorhood where IL occurred--K be-
tween Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets
northwest. Mr.. Ben. Holiday, the WELL
known mail contractor, resides at No. 1871
kSreet northwest. 1t seems that his h0stler,
John Muir, went to the stable In the alley, In
the rear Of Mr.. HolIaday's residence, this
morning to give directions to Mr.. Riley, the
s'aOlemaD, who slept In bedroom over the
stable. Finding the door locked, Muir
raped. but could get no response. He re-
ported the facts to Mr.. Holiday. and they
proceeded to the stable from the inside OF
the yard and forced the door on that side.
Proceeding up stairs the body Of John RI
ley was found on bis bed, stretched at full
length, and the body OF his wife on the
hoor beside the bed, both dead. Riley was
clothed only in his drawers and undersbirt.
His wife had all her clothing on except her
shoes and bonnet. There were no signs OF
violence, no blood, nor any other evidence
OF struggle, or that they had committed
suicide by poison, Is no yials or bottle
showing evidence of having contained poi
son were found in the room.
Mr.. Riley had been in Mr.. Holidays en-
ployment for some time as laborer and sta
bleman. Mrs Riley was in service at the
house OF gentleman on l. street, and was
in the habit OF visiting her husband at his
room over Mr.. Holidays stable. 1t was
ascertained that she had visited her husband
last evening, and that they had left to 60
out about s O'clock last night, she being
somewhat under the influence Of liquor. It
is not known at what hour they returned.
and 1t was rather unusual for her to remain
there at night. The stable-doors were all
secured from within. the KEYS TO each
entrance being found in the locks inside
when the door was forced. Another sin
gular fact is reated-that they were
both very much attached to each other
No quarrel or differ ence had ever been
known to exist between them. They were
both about forty-6ve years Of age. and had
been married about fourteen years, but had
no children living, their only child-a
daughter-having died when quite young
The belief among the household OF Mr.
Holiday is that it was a premeditated sui
eide. Riley was stretched at length on his
back on the single cot.bed in the room, his
knees bent. his feet resting on the bed, and
his eyes closed as il peacefully sleeping.
His wife was beside the bed, her head rest
Ing on the side OF it, one knee-the right
one-bent under her, and the other
leg extended in front, with the chair
tilted over on her back-a position
showing that she had pitched forward.
From the indications on the floor it
appeared that she had yomited while rest
ing in the position in which she was found.
The deceased was member OF Hiberniin
Society. No. /, of this city, in good stand.
ing, and both he and his wife were general
ly popular among their acquaintances and
much respected. They were both born and
raised in Ireland. Riley came here in 1861
as body servant to an officer in New York
regiment, and afterwards was in the employ
Of Lord Lyons as coachman up to the time
Lord Lyons was recalled. He was an eX-
perienced coachman, having been raised at
this service. Lately hc had purchased 4
house and lot on Seventeenth street, for
which he owed part OF the purchase
money, but was not pecuniarily embar-
rassed. HIS wife came here from Philadel-
pba, and they were married while he was
in Lord LyOns's employ, since which time
they bad lived together happily and with
out ever the slightest difference between
them, so far as is known.