Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-11
DIVORCED BY CRIME.
Application for Release from the Bonds
of MatrimOny with a aurderess.

of Matrimony with a Aurderess.
From PhiladeEphia Special to the Herald,
Nay s.
The pages of a report IN a divorce suit
filed with the Prothonotory to-day recall
| the story of a forgotten murder. The suit
was entered by John Ridley, against his
wife Mary, under the act of 1854, which
provides that a conviction of felony
/ and sentence for two years and
more shall be sufficient cause for
! a divorce. Mrs. Ridley was found guilty
OF a double murder in the second
degree twenty years ago and sentenced
TO an imprisonment OF eishteen years and
seven months. The circumstances of the
double crime, as shown by the testimony,
are of uncommon horror. Mrs. Ridley
was Of great personal beauty and some
| intellectual attainments. She was, how
ever, inclined to dissipation. and had an
irritable and violent temperament. her
career had caused her husband much an
noyance and unhappiness. She paid
small heed to his authority, however, it
is said, and sometimes searched for him n
the streets and made scenes in public.
A TERRIBLE CRIME.
On July 3, 1860, she sought for him at a
saloon on Third street. She apparently
had been drinking. Joseph and Isaac
Sides, brothers, were in a sitting room be-
Yond the drinking saloon. They were
friends Of hers. She inquired whether her
husband was in. Joseph answered, jest
ingly:
Eyes, he's out in the yard"
She hurried out. In a moment she re-
turned her eyes blazing wildly.
"What are you fOOling me fOr| she
cried, with an epithet.
eve were not fooIing you," Joseph an
swered.
''You lie," she furiously cried, and
drawing a dirk knife from the pocket of
her dress, sprang toward him. He
turned. Quick as fash she plunged the
knife into his back. Sides shreked and
staggered. Constable Cahill at that in
slant hurried into the room and the muir
dered man fell into his arms. He was
dead. His heart had been cut through.
The brother of the murdered man sprang
toward the woman and attempted TO seize
her. She had withdrawn the knife from
her first victims body. and now sent If
into the abdomen of the other. He, too,
fell mortally wounded. In few days he
died.
MURDER NOT IN COLD BLOOD.
She was placed on trial first for the kill
ing of Joseph Sides. She pleaded not
guilty. AS a defense against judgment
of guilty Of murder in the first degree it
was strongly contended that the crime
was not premeditated, but had been COM
mitted in hot blood. The jury, after a
long elaboration, returned verdict of
murder in the second degree. The pris-
Oner pleaded guilty to the murder Of Isaac
Sides, and after hearing testimony judges
Ludlow and Allison decided that it, too,
was of the second grade. The punish
ment of both crimes made up the term of
eighteen years and seven months.
After having served a few years she
was 'durng the great pardoning period
pardOned by Gov. Geary." She is now
living in New JERSEY. She never had any
children. Master Fow says that as the
records of the court produced in evidence
leave no doubt as to Mrs. Ridey's convic-
ton and sentence, he recommends that a
decree be granted. The report will be
submitted to judges Ludlow, Finletter
and Yerkes, of the Common Pleas Court,
Saturday.