The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-25
RIPPEY'S QUEER LIFE.
He Has Been a Restless Man and
Wanderer.
But His Own People Would Never
Have Thought of Him as
Murderer.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

CINCINNATI. Ohio, Feb. 24-The family
OF Wesley c. Rippey. who made the al
tempt oniMackay's life. lives in the suburbs
of this city. His wife lives with her son
William at Idle wild, six miles north OF here
He is connected with canning company on
| Elm street, and another son. Wesley u
| Rippey, lives in the eastern part OF Colum'
/ bia. and is a Government gauger OF spirits
| and n man of unblemished reputation.
Naturally the news to-day caused them
| terrible shock. Thirty years or more
| ago the would be murderer was
engaged in trade here, connected
| with river interests. He was restless,
| and removed about 1868 TO Cape Giradeau,
| Mo-, and from there his too rowing temper
led him farther west dis family renamed
| a while at Cape Giradeau and then returned
to Cincinnati. where they have remained
| ever since, and only incidentally did they
hear of the strange man during ali these
years, as news come only now and then OF
his wanderings on the plains and In the
Rockies. They supposed he was at Denver
six years ago. About six months ago W IL
liam Rippey got letter from the Safe De-
post Bank in San Francisco asking for a
reference, because his father had applied
there TO make a deposit of valuables IN the
banks safety deposit vaults.
Inc only CleW LU6 TepUILttS Hdu III biaC-
ing Rippey was the similar sound OF the
names, Wesley C. and William c. Rppey.
Both live in distant suburbs. which could
be reached only by carriages over dark and
bad roads, and the lateness Of the hour aud
the necessary hurry of the interviews
caused some discrepancies In the reports.
They are in accord, however, on the main
points, though there may be some disagree
ments.
The family say the father was never sus-
pected of mental arrangement. but that he
had mania ter rowing, which tore him
away from his family ties. Neither was he
disagreeable in his conduct when at home
with his family, and nothing they ever saw
of him when lie was with them had ever
prepared them to believe that he would at
tempt to murder any one. They now be-
lieve that he must have lost his reason. His
true name IS Wesley c. Rippey
DENVER, Colo. Feb. 24.-WeSley G. Rip
pey, the man who shot John W. Nackay,
was an old C0loradOan. He came to this
State from Pennsylvania IN 1872. having
had trouble with his wfe's relatives in
Pennsylvania, and he left the East on that
account He spent some time in the mining
camps was at Boulder and Central City for
period and came to Denver in 1875. He
was the proprietor of the old fremont
House, at 208 Thirteenth street. for year
or more, and then went into the commission
business on Blake street, the firm name
O6IltS OldIh IlIppey ~ ". IAlppbJ uocu W
frequent the place kept by Vischer, and
known as THE Hole in the Wall" but he
did not drink heavily and did not gamble at
cards. lie used to dabble in stocks quite
extensively. He went to California about
1877.
II knew Ripley quite well" said Casper
c. Hartman. livery man of this city, land
after lie went to California | heard from
former partner Of his that be was dabbling
in mining stocks. ] suppose he lost and
shot Mackay at the first chance, fancying
that he was responsible for his losses. His
was a disposition from which one would
infer this. He was very nervous and very
passionate when he thought he had been
injured, though not ordinarily a quarrel
some man. / do not think he was insane.
The deed was done as a result Of brooding
over what he believed to be his wrongs"
Later it was learned that Rippey came TO
Denver from Virginia. and was fairly we'll
off. He followed the business OF trading in
fast horses. In 1876 Rippey first met
Mackay, and this fact is in direct contradic-
ton of the report from San Francisco that
Mackay does not know his assalant.
Rippey left Denver in the latter part of
1876, and at one time, it is said, was inter-
ested with James McNasser In the horse
breeding business at Sacramento.
Charles Leiehsenrng, who knew both
Mackay and Rippey, says that they were
we'll acquainted and had many business
jinua