The morning call., 1893-05-12
RIPPEY'S REASON.
No Insanity Mars His
Evidence.
HIS MARVELLOUS MEMORY.
He Cannot Remember Shooting
Mackay, but Recalls the Minu-
ti@ of His History.
3Y'S REASON.
HIS MARVELLOUS MEMORY.

A white-haired old man sat vacantly gaz-
ing around him in Judge SeawelPs court
yesterday the while his enfeebled mind
travelled back through the dark pages of
his life's history amid events that led to
his appearing in the prisoners dock when
he might have reclined at his comfortable
hearth with loving hands to tend him in
his declining years.
1t was w. c. Rippey, listening TO the
evidence that was being piled up against
him in his trial for a murderous assault
upon John w. Mackay, the bonanza king.
And there were those present who,
though noticing Rjppey's emaciated form,
still saw the old fire in an eve that has lost
none OF its brillianey though long years of
trouble ana a desperate struggle back to
existence from the very jaws of death.
w. w. Prior was the first witness called
on resrming proceedings yesterday. He
testified to hearing a pistol shot 10 Lick
alley on the oath of February last, and to
rushing to the spot to find MI Mackay
holding one hand to his back while he
pointed to Rippey with the other, saying,
DO you see that man there? He has shot
me-"
On cross-eXamination witness said that
Rippey was so nervous that he had to use
two hands in shooting. When Rippey fell
witness ran and picked up the pistol.
De Moss Bowers, reporter, told of his
interview with Rppey at The Receiving
Hospital on the night Of the 26h. He said
that Rippey was very dissatisfied and said
that he wished he had killed MackAy.
He'd try and be more successful next
time. He said be had lost money in
ct nfair
dealing.
At this point the prosecution asked to Of
fer in evidence letter found on Rlppey
at the Receiving Hospital. An objection
by the defense was overruled and the let
ter read. II proved IN be a rambling epistle
dated February. 1898. and commencing,
"Mr Editor" 1t detailed how the writer
had lost some So, 900 in stocks and that he
was desperate and that some one should
suffer 4 he had. only strength enough TO
pull n trigger. The letter concluded by
saying that the writer never started to any
country but he got there. and that he
would follow just as soon as the other fell
low.
II. D. Jones, a reporter, told of an inter-
view with Ripley after the shooting when
Rippey said he had tried to Bill Mackay
as he was "a detTiment 10 the whole com
munlty." Witness further stated that
Rippey, when he gat well, sent for him to
the County Jail and professjdE ignorance
OF all that had passed wished him to get
some paper to publish a history of his life.
"as It might have influence with the
jury" He also SAID that he should plead
insanity, as he could plead nothing else,
aud his memory as 10 the shooting was a
blank.
Police Officer Gleason, who watched
Rippey at the hospital, said that he was
present at an interview with RippeY
where the latter in answer 20 questions
N n pra IN
than to others. He desired to make no
statement. All that WAS contained in the
letter he had written was true. He
thought he had killed Mr.. Mackay.
Witness testified that two or three weeks
aiterward, when RiDpey fOund he was not
going to die after all, he asked where was
The shooting.
W L. Wilkins, CALL reporter, testified
TO Rippev, on being taken to the hospital,
saying that death was best for that class
OF men" Rppey further referred to them
as 'mantpulatOrs." He also blamed his
defective eyes!ght for the failure of his
purpose.
Captain Lees. chief of the city detective
force, said he had known Rippey eight or
nine years. He had interviewed him az
the Receiving Hospital on February IS
On witness asking him why he had done
such a deed. Rippey answered: IF you
knew what 1t was to be poor you'd know
why / shot Mackay." Witness stated that
Rippey struck him as being an exception
ally sirOng-minded man.
The prosecution here rested.
Attorney LevnsOn, before calling wit
nesses for the defense. stated 10 the jury
that he expected TO show that Rippey,
although always serupulously honest, has
been unfortunate, that his health had
broken down in consequence. and from
that his mind. He should expect the iGry
10 find a verdict OF not guilty, on the
grOune of INSANITY.
Mary DAILY and Martha Menson of 1920
Powell street, where RipDey has lived for
the past two years, were then called. Ac-
cording to them for the last year Rippey
had paid neither room rent nor board. He
had no money. He seemed very unhappy
and the Witnesses thought that his troubles
had driven him insane, as his actions were
very singular. Dissemination of these
witnesses proved futile, as their minds
were made uD.
William Alfs, a liquor-dealer, said he
had known Rippey ten years. He said
y knew he was financially embarrassed
He came to me TO take his watch out of
pawn IN March, 1891. | did so. and paid
SOB, Keeping OF course the watch. Six
months afterward he asked me TO give
him SO ana keep the watch altogether. l
did SO. Ripley took the money and said,
Mr.. Alfs, this is all the money have
He was very much detected"
Oscar Nathan, barber, said that Rippey
seemed very nervous and shaky while
having his beard trimmed at the Receiving
Hospital.
John Latchwell. W. II. Tnton, James
Towers and A. G. Potter had ali known
RDpey for many years. both in San Fran
cisco and In Denver, Colo, and willingly
testified to his honesty and integrity, as
well IS 10 his cheerful disposition.
Dr. George b. Somers of the Receiving
Hospital described the nature of Rippey'5
wound, and said that in the majority Of
cases such an injury would prove fatal.
And then the defense called upon Rippey
to come up and tell the jury the history Of
his lie and the troubles connected with it,
his voice, scarcely audible at first, seemed
TO gain strength as he proceeded
Rippey, who viii be "A next January,
detailed at great length his travels and
yicissitudes. Married at very early age,
he had left his native town, Pittsburg,
Pa, TO come to California In Decem Der,
1s49. He seems to have lived a rowing
life, as although encumbered with
family he travelled hither and thlther,
mostly following his trade of ships
carpenter. st. Louis and Denver were
the cities that most attracted bis atten-
ton. and he told Il pathetic tale Of how he
kept amassing small capital and losing it
in some venture at the advice of others.
His last and final visit to the coast was in
The spring of 1877, and those who heard
MIN were uucn aSLOniSned al the accuracy
with which lie remembered dates, DAYS,
month and year being given in the Instance
OF his every arrival in and departure from
a town.
Rlppey said he landed here with $50
HIS wife embarked in the grocery business
while he went on Pine street, l. e. dab
bled in stocks. Failing to make money in
that pursuit, Rippey went into the res
taurant business until his final retirement
from active life.
And said Rippey ImpressIvely. "the
man don't breathe the breath of life to
whom / owe money, save to one man, $40.
ior money borrowed which l thought l
could repay"
Questioned closely upon his wanderings
at nights in the vicinity Of North Beach,
RiDpey said, Il got tired of life. I'd rather
not talk about 1t. And l never asked a
man On the face Of God Almighty's green
eaIth Tor 5-cent piece. and before |
bay" NV '""'
But Ripley persisted in saying that he
remembered nothing of the shooting on
te1Tuary a, simply saying that he thought
o. on Mackay. Flood and other large capital