The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-28
THE RILEY TRAGEDY.
Points Of Local Interest About the Rush
County Murder and Suicide.

In the story which reaches an end in William
81. Riley's murder Of his child and killing of
himself, at Manila, Rush county, reported In a
special dispatch to the Journal yesterday, there
are more of the elements of real tragedy than
are found usually in bloody crime
Rileys home, if it may be said
that he had one, was in this
city. He had in the last ten years lived an un-
settled life, moving often. but living in no place
long The story of the tragedy begins with his
marriage, ten years ago. He was, in a small
way, something of business man, if one who
handles the little of everything that is found in
neighborhood store is entitled to such a distinc
ton. Hewas moderately prosperous, and was able
to live comfortably. He was married in 1875 to
Miss Linda Headley, pretty brunette of twenty
years, with voluptuous form and attractive ap
pearance. with whom he became infatuated at
Kokcmo. His passion was of the jealous kind.
His life was one of the doting and doubling,
suspecting and yet fondly loving. He was
the kind of man who ought to
have married homely woman. Any
attentions that his wife received gave to other
men enraged him. Notwithstanding his jealousy
and his suspicious he chung to her. He came to
Indianapolis, and for a time did prosperous
avenue, but suspicion of his wife caused him to
sell out his stock and go to St Louis. tile
lived In st. Louis only short time. He at
tempted to kill his wife there, but reeoncilia-
ton soon followed, and they moved to Chicago.
He remained in Chicago only few months,
until suspicion and jealousy caused him to sud
denly take his wife from there. During the ten
years Of his married life, he moved his home
eight times. He finally drifted back
to Indianapolis. His domestic life here
ono a cd
his wife with being improperly intimate with
Taylor OBannon, a barkeeper, and in last April
he assaulted her ON the street while, as ne
claims, she was flirting with O'Bannon, and
last Tuesday night On the day before commit
ting the crime he wrote letter to Mr.. Robert
e. Smith of this city, whom he had employed as
his attorney, duplicating in the accuse,
lions against his wife oBannon q. and
Riley's suspicious of OBannon were caused
mainly by aletter addressed to his wife while she
was at Manila and which is now in Smiths pos
session. OBannon, however, claims that he only
had passing acquaintance with Mrs. Riley,
and while aware that Riley was jealous Of him,
he says that there was no reason for it.
Riley's vindictiveness towards his wife is ex-
pressed in the most violent language in a fare
well letter to his brothers and sisters, in which
he says:
do not blame me for what am doing. My
troubles are too many. You all know / have
treated Linda WELL I want you to shun her
and keep all my effects Geo. Fl. Thomas Post,
No. II, g. A. r., at Indianapolis, will pay my
funeral expenses. Linda hope will die in mis-
cry and in want r. E. Smith, at 22S North
Delaware street. has some papers; get them, and
be sure and get that Taylor O'Bannon letter, and
see that it is proved genuine. Marsh Headlev
knows it is, and IN it he (OBannon) says he re-
ceived Lindas letter. I leave only So or 81.
See that these letters are posted, as have no
envelopes. See the statement wrote out for
the prosecuting attorney. Do not give her any
thing, if possible, and make her prove all she
can, for, curse her, she has wrecked my life,
when she could have made man Of me. Fine
clothes, flowers and men she can have to her
hea rts content. will watch over her day and
night. Linnie knows she has dene all a woman
could do to bring me to this end.
'W. Fl. RILEY"
Besides being Incompatible, the conflicting
stories told by the friends of Riley and his wife
give reason to believe that they were each of
them more or less in the wrong. Mr.. Smith, the
attorney, claims thatsRiley's provoeation was
greater than anyone supposes. but the friends of
Mrs Riley say that she was unjustly abused by
her husband, and that she was treated with great
cruelty, Riley having several times threatened
and attempted to take her life.