The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-19
ROBERT RIDLEY HANGED
HE MAKES A full CONFESSION TO
A TIMES REPRESENTaTIvE.
He Went to Mr.. Williamo' House With the
Intention Of Killing Him -Ridiey's In
difference Sketch OF His Crime.

NAVERLY. VA, Oct. iS.-Special.-
Robert Ridley. who murdered Mr.. VIII
liam Williams last Christmas, to-day paid
the penalty OF his crime at Sussex Court
house. The day was warm, and crowd
OF about three or four hundred people
had come 10 witness the prisoners march
10 the scaffold and TO see him executed,
but with the exception OF the sheriff and
his deputies and the newspaper repre-
sentatives. only few were admitted 10
the enclosure, which was erected on tie
north side OF the jail, In fun view cs
Ritley's cell.
The builder OF the scaffold, Mr.. @. W.
Hogwood. said that during the course OF
Its erection he was frequently interrupt
ed by the prisoner. who watched him
baiid II, but at no time did ne show any
dread OF the fate he was 50 soon TO meet
thereon.
HIS JUST DESERTS.
Before going TO the jaii Sheriff Grizxard
extended me the privilege OF interviewing
Ridley In his cell. The questions asked
were all answered promptly. lie said.
during his confession TO me. that ne en-
tertained no malice against any one; that
he had received fair ana impafuai
tril. and was about TO meet his Just de-
serts. and asked the blessing OF the
Almighty upon the one who should puii
the cord 10 the trap-doOr lie showed no
signs OF being afraid 10 die. he also saii
during the interview that he went TO the
house OF Mr.. WILLIAMS with tne ihtehtoh
OF killing him.
sheriff Grizzari entered the Jail with
his deputies at i2i5 l.. NJ, and LETT the
cell at IL 40 l.. NJ, the Sheriff IN the lead.
followed by Ridley and a deputy on
either side Ridley stepped frmiy on the
march to the scaffoid. singing all the way
I'm an indistinct undertone lie ascended
the scanold at 2:5o r. NJ; In an indN.
ferent way. looking as II he was not
aware OF the seriousness of the situation.
HIS LAST MoMtSs.
In reply to a question from the Sheriff,
he said he wished 10 speak, ana wanted
those on the outside to hear what ne had
TO say. He spoke for about twenty
minutes again confessing his crime. AZ
TO whether the murdered man had
pitchfork I'm his hand when he fired, as
was stated in the trial, he entertained
some doubt After Ridley had nnished
his remarks, Rev. ID. j. Richardson Scoi-
ored) led In prayer and was folowed by
Rev +. l.. Mason In a few well-chosen
words.
The rope was adjusted at "a Z. NJ.
and after the death warrant was read by
the Sheriff. the steps were taken away
and the cap drawn over his head by Two
deputies, who stood on either side OF him
as the preparations were MADE. The
drop fell at i:N +. NJ. and just eleven and
a half minutes afterwards Ridley was
llVUONlCfA Itdl ~ li1. 'idNiVths tF-f'Nff
and McChesney The body was taken
down at 2'oi T. NJ. and placed In a coffin,
but was afterwards turned over 10 MI
Il. ". Rawls, who shipped IL to the Medl-
cal College or Virginia In Nchmohd.
MVLtN', sHIv
The crime for which Ridley paid the
penalty to-day was the brutal murder
OF William Williams. a well-known citi-
zen of Sussex county.
The murder. which was a most unpro-
yoked one. occurred the latter part OF
December. 1891. MIR. Williams was at
shann's MILL near Hilda. in Sussex coun-
| ty, conyersing with some friends, when
there was knock at the door. VII
liams answered The knock and found
| that the caller was Ridley. with whom
he had previously had some angry words.
/ Ridley was very impudent TO Williams,
ana the latter ordered him TO leave.
Ridley went off to neighboring house.
/ occupied by a negro. from whom he bor-
rowed an old army mnsket. under the
/ pretence that he wanted 10 go off in the
woods TO shoot squirrels, lnsteac, how
! ever, ne used IL 10 Kill MIR. Williams,
for he Immediately returned TO Sham >
mill. He knocked at the door, and. as
| before, the cali vas answered by Mr..
Williams. As soon as Mr. Williams
made his appearance at the door Ridley
shot him dead In his tracks. The muir
derer fled to the woods.
THs fs,ApY.
y
| OF the murderer. but he eluded his pur-
! suers and went TO his brother >. IN Bruns-
| wick county. Subsequently Ridley went
| over into Dinwddie county. where b.
hired himself to a farmer OF that county i.
| and TO whom ne told his real name. The
! farmer read in the papers an account -
| the murder which had been coinmittt :
| by Robert Ridley, negro, and frgm tht
description given OF the murderer Tie
farmer WAS satisfied that the man ~ Nii
and h,4 "a a.
| placed Ridley under arrest lie N"o
brought to Petersburg and committed 10
! fail, where he was Subsequently iden'i'fA
by Mr.. h. ID. Tench. OF Hilda, Jnst r.,
| county, who had taken "A very active l''I
| In securing MS arrest.
Ridley was Afterwards taken 70 tI"
! ian OF Sussex. but he was only kept a. ~
| "A few days. as open threats OF F"'.ii'.
him were made. by order of JudSe > =
| West of the County Court 0f sussex. 10
| lev was brought back TO Petersburg TOR
safe-kceping. and was kept In duHseoA
| cell
TuR LAST TIGHr FOR irry.
Al the February term OF the County
Court OF Sussex Ridley was ccnNicifi ri
murder In the first degree and senie..' "a
! to be hanged on the lflh day or Jni.
1895. A motion for new trlal N'n
made but fl was ovcrruled b JANst
West An appeal was taken 70 gre
| Circuit Court and the argument near IT,
this city before Judge b \. hthN'N So.
The time was drawing near for "a" ,A'
c,ition' when Judge Hsncock issued a
viii ~ slDersedeas, staying the sxcel-
ton of the sentence until he could g.
anime rho records In the case. jsiH'
Hancock. after examining INC ,p.l 'it.
refused to grant the condemu'a ~ in
a new trial He was afterwards tar %
back 10 Sussex Courthouse, where ls
Mas reseutenced by Judge West 20 rf
hanged on the 18th day of October, -
An effort was made By kidley's btoth'i
10 raise money enough to take the O.
TO the Supreme Court Of Appeals, d.
the effort was unsuccessful
Ridley has ALI the while acl.nowleagc'
that he shot Williams, but claims TO nav
done IL i'm self-defencc.