The Indianapolis journal., 1885-05-29
CRAZED BY JEALOUSY.
A Remarkable Letter Written by Riley, the
Rush County Murderer and Suicide.


Wm. n Riley the Indianapolis man who
murdered his child and killed himself, at Manil-
Ia, seems to hare devoted great deal of time to
writing statements giving the particulars of his
domestic troubles before committing his bloody
erime. In almost every sentence of what he
wrote there is curse upon his wife. The
viciouness of his jealousy is remarkable, and
the v'ndictiveness OF his hatred for his wife in
bis last hours was extreme. The statement
which he wrote to the prosecuting attorney has
leen found. In it he says:
II made up my mind in the fall of 1882 to do
ss near right as possible, and told my wife So.
From that time up to March 27 L have been to
leF true, affectionate husband. / provided
vel! for my family, and was willing to do all l
could for them. | would go in rags for them
| loved Mrs. Riley for twenty years, and have
never loved another woman, and never can, but
1 to-day hate her as / once loved her, and want
her to live TO curse the day she met Mrs. -.
have and do accuse Mrs. of being all the
cause, but Mrs Riley calls her a lady, and says
she has been sister to her. Yes, sister In
sin and my murderer. Mrs. Riley accused me
of cutting her clothing to prevent her going out
which deny. l was going in rags and letting
my little stock of goods run down to keep peace
in the family, and to buy her and Birdie cloak.
took Birdie from her mother on the street in
indianapolis on the evening of March 81 1885,
at near o'clock. Birdie said that she was with
her mother in front OF saloon, ana
that her mother was motionlng with
her hand for man to come out
asked Birdie if she had ever been there before,
and she said she had, and that that was the
place where the man stayed who visited Mrs.
-. Mrs. Riley was at that time waiting for
TO come out Mrs. Riley claimed
that assaulted her with cane, and abused her
on the street. which deny. Mrs. Riley, when
charged by with infdelity, took an oath
which set down and here give:
"'Oh God, call on you to listen to my promise
and my oath to you and to my husband. Iswear
and promise to thee oh God. and my husband,
that never will go near Mrs. - again or
-. l will never speak to them or have
anything to do with them l will make my
home pleasant let it be ever so poor. Will love
nv husband and child only; will assist my hus
band and make life pleasant for him, and if | do
not keep my oath and promises in this, then
call the curse of my husband and my God on my
head. Amen
81 accuse my wife Of causing me so much
trouble that care not to live. / will see that
my little babe is in heaven before l go to the
other world, for curse her the wifel, will harm
her If such can be done, and, sleeping or awake
will be near her. struck Mrs. Riley in De-
, eemher, 1884 for calling my child from me
Again, about the 10th of the same month, /
struck her again in front of LA East Washington
street. ard think had right to, because she
violated her oath. If Mrs. Riley had done right,
and given me helping hand, and not thought so
much of dress we would of been worth
thousands of dollars. Do not think l am crazy,
for am not; but have been broke up in busi-
ness by the conduct of my wife, and l have no
courage to make another start. love my child
and it hurts me to take her life, but / will not
leave her with her mother to be brought up as
she will certainly do. My head hurts so l can
and write much more. God knows that / am no
Christian, and not prepared to die, but can
stand no more trouble, and bid this world good
bye. thank ali my friends who have done me
favors and ask forgiveness Of all. / want all
to forgive me but those whose names l have
mentioned as being implicated in my trouble.
God will punish them. Newspapers may sneer
&C me- and people too, but care not l do not
do this for love of Mrs. Riley for l despise her,
and pray God that some one, If the prosecuting
attorney does not, will make complaint against
them. / want this paper read to Mrs. Riley,
and see if she will deny dying mans state
ment. I leave Mrs. Riley nothing but my curses.
Forgive me brothers and sisters; my troubles
are too many. Last of all l write and swear
this to be true, and sign my name this 25th day
of May, 1885 WILLIAM H. RILEY
Forty years old April 20, 1885, and member
of George A. Thomas Post, No IL. G. A r
Indianapolis. Dues paid up to July l. 1885,"
Theirs is some doubt about the truthfulness of
Riley's accusations, duplicating woman in this
city as ''sister in sin" with his wife, and, for
that reason. her name is not given. The ex-
penses of the burial of Riley and his child were
borne by George FL. Thomas Post, G.. A. R., this
his relatives check for $25, while the commits
sioners of Rush county allowed $35 for the same
purpose.