Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-22

tue policeman neard THIS ne Igntene
his grip upon Ternes, and, going {
his brother Johns house, ailthrse :
them wenk to. the dssignaied spot an
waited. Meanwhile, they questione
him, but he refused to say anythin
further. Time passed awy, but still
Mrs. Ritter did not come, and at hall
past 10 the trio went home, Tierne
being allowed to 60 in peace. 1t ma
be that Mrs. Ritter came to the plac
of meeting, but, discovering who wa
awaiting her, slipped away again int
the darkness.
Tierney was allowed to 60, but in
vestigation on the morrow proved tina
he did not go home. His wife had 0
course heard of the matter and fo
some reason she believed in he
husbands guilt. de is a hare
drinker, and is not at all noted fol
amiable, or other virtues. After tn,
trouble with Jim" Ritter the first sht
heard of him was by note requesting
that she send some clean linen to him
She did not comply with the request
and Tierney coming home in the af
ternoon OF that day in drunken fury
and blamed his wife for all that had
happened. and picking up chair he
attempted to brain her. But for hei
timely escape from the house atragedy
might have been added to the story.
Tierney was drinking, no unusual
thing with him, and when he went
away he continued his spree. That
evening he met Daniel 0'Counel.
brother of Mrs Ritter, who, half
crazed by his sisters shame, had
sought relief in drink. Maddened by
the sight OF the mao whom he con.
sidered had so cruelty wronged his
family, he asked him why he had done
it. A quarrel arose, and stung to
desperation, O'Connel attempted to
kill the other. He had in his hand
a rusty ice pick of large size, and he
used this as a weapon OF offense, strik>
log Tierney several times across the
head and shoulders. He was badly
hurt, but when Officers Sussman and
Shortall interrupted the fight aud
took 0Connell to the Central Police
Station, he refused to prosecute. They
did not know how badly he was hurt.
and knowing nothing of the case
allowed him to 60, while as soon as
the assailant was sober he was re-
leased.
Afraid of the vengeance of the
Ritters, Tierney Immediately left
Cincinnati, and took refuge at the
house Of his sister, Ann McElroy, on
Greenup street, Covington. There
his wounds healed, but about a
week ago he discovered that his
left side was becoming paraIyzed.
He consulted DR.. Freeman, of this
city, who was of the opinion that he
was suffering from blood poisoning
caused by the rusty ice pick. He
steadily became worse, and on Sunday
be sent message to the Ritters, tell
ing them that he was a dying man, and
begging that they would allow him to
go unmolested to the hospital. To
this appeal no opposition was made,
aud yesterday Tierney was brought to
the institution, where he was seen in
the afternoon by reporter. His entire
left side is paralyzed, and he is grad
ually growing worse. He talks with
difficulty, seems at a loss 70 remember
words, and appears to be in the last
stage Of sickness and decrepitude
To the reporter, he said that Mrs.
Ritter had sent a note to the place
where he was employed, on John street,
near Front, asking him to meet her at
the depot. This he did, but beyond
that be knew nothing of her. When
pressed as to whore she was at pres
ent, he thought she was in Columbus.
When questioned more closely, he
went back on his original statement
and said that Mrs Ritter had been all
this time at the Good Samaritan Hos
pital where she was confined with a
broken leg. Then again he stated that
she was In the habit of drinking heaV.
lily, and that it did not matter much
what became OF the poor, besotted
creature. His story was vague and
contradictory, and in many parts not
10 unison with actual facts. 1t must
be remembered that Tieruey had
recently changed his place Of work,
and that Mrs Ritter should know
where his place Of business was and
send a note there is absurd. He app
peared to be in great fear of bodily
harm from the Ritters, and would
continually protest that he was blame
less.
The sad affair has completely
changed Mr.. John Ritter, and he has
been drinking heavily since these re
cent developments. Mrs. Tierney, as
has been stated, is convinced that her
husband is guilty, and that her home
is deselate. Daniel O'Connel, whose
assault Is likely 10 prove fatal. is al
most wild with despair and grief, and
all the actors in the tragedy are sor-
rowful over the sad termination OF the
disgraceful affair.
-Four years ago Mr.. John Ritter
transferred bis house and property Il
her, and since that time she has en-
deavored to run the household She
thua has considerable property in hel
own name and it may be that il is THU
upon which she is living, and which
has caused her paramount, Tierney, t
desert his true wife and home. Il i
somewhat singular that in this slow
lingering manner he, the one princi
lpsils 70 blame for the affair, should a
The sape tins meet his fate and pun
ishmept,