The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-25

below the right shoulder blade, struck tho
verterbr@ and lodged in one Of the spinal
processes. The doctor said the wound
was not necessarily fatal, but it was too
soon to foretell the termination Of it.
William c. Rippey was we'll known to
the old-timerS in San Francisco. He was
born in Cincinnati, and leaves . wife and
family there. At one time he was worth
500, 900, and made about $4,000 on Com
stock mining stock. He came to San
Francisco aud commenced gambling in
stocks and soon lost his money. At one
time he lived in Denver, where he owned
. lot Of property. Lately he had been
without means and very Respondent. He
is about q years of age. 1t is said that
Rippey had grievance against Mackay.
fancied or otherwise, dating back to min
ing days, and sought in this manner to
kill him.
At q. m. Rippey was reported to be
resting easier, having somewhat recovered
from tho first shock of the wound, but his
physicians have no expectation of his
recovery. Mackay was said to be doing
we'll.
LONDON. Feb. A-Mrs Mackay received
dispatch from America this evening,
stating that her husband had been shot
in San Francisco. Anothe. dispatch re-
ceived shortly after 10 o'clock states that
the wound is not serious and that there il
no need of her going to San Francisco.
Shortly after she retired for the night.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 24-The family Of
Wesley Rippey, who made the attempt on
Mackay's life, live In suburb of this city.
His wife lives with her son, William, at
Idlewiide, seven miles north Of here. He
is connected with cannery on Elm street.
Another son. Wesley c. Ripley, lives in
the eastern part of Columbia, is . govern
ment gauger Of spirits and . man Of un-
blemished reputation. Naturally the news
today caused them q terrible shock.
Thirty years or more ago the would-be
murderer was engaged in trade here con-
nected with the river interests. He was rest
less and removed about 1868 to Cape Girar
deau, Mo. Then his rowing temper led him
further West. His family remained for .
while at Cape Girardeau and then returned
to Cincinnati, where they have remained
ever since. Only incidentally did they hear
of the strange man during all these
years. News came now and then of his
wanderings on the plains and in the
Rockies. They supposed he was at Den
yer six years ago. About six months ago
Wesley Rippey got letter from safe de-
post bank in San Francisco. asking for .
reference because he applied there to
make deposit of valuables in the banks
safety deposit vaults.
The only clue the reporters had was the
familiar sound of the names, Wesley G.
and c. Rippey. Both live in distant
suburbs, which could be reached only by
carriages, over dark and bad roads. The
latenesS of the hour and the necessary
hurry of the interviews caused some dis
crepancies in the reports.
They are in accord. however, on the
main points. though there may be some
disagreements. The family say they never
suspected any mental arrangement in the
husband and father. but he had mania
for rowing which tore him away from the
family ties. Neither was he disagreeable
in conduct when at home with his family.
Nothing they ever saw of him when he
was with them ever prepared them to be-
lieve that he would attempt to murder
any one. They now believe he must have
lost his reason. His name is Wesley c.
Rippey.
DENVER, COL, Feb. M.-W. C. R;ppey,
who shot Millionaire Mackay. il well
known by many OF the pioneers of Dem
yer. Rippey came to Denver in 1861 from
Virginia, and is fairly we'll off. He fol-
lowed the business of trading in fast
horses. In 1876 Rippey first met Mackay.
This fact is a direct contradiction of the
report from San Francisco that Mackay
does not know his assailant. Rip.
pey left Denver in the latter part
of 1876, and at one time, it is said. was
interested with J. McNasser in the horse
breeding business at Sacramento. Charles
Leichsenring, who knew both parties, says
they were well acquainted and had busi-
ness dealings.