The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-07-13

the ground of insanity; but the major ity will accompany him In their
 thoughts Co the gallows, believing exc
 cution the punishment he deserved
 During the twenty-three or more lyears that the Ripple family lived in New Britain, their home, more than
 any other before or since, bore a flag rant reputation. The house that they occupied still stands at the corner of the
 Allen Swamp and McClintook roads. The building is small frame structure,
 and the locality Is even now lonely
 one; and, notwithstanding that the
 Nipples have long ago departed from
 New Britain, and, despite the fact that
 a respectable Italian family now owns
 and occupies their former home, the
 house still bears the Ripple name. Re- gently the house was freshly painted and enlarged by small addition to the
 rear.
 When George Ripple and his wife ar- rived at New Britain from Scotland in 1860, their son Thomas was then a
 bright boy of seven years. George Kip pie, the father, was fine workman, and he earned big wages at his trade, Which was that of brass moulding. He was addicted to the use of liquor, how ever, and in addition to this he was a lover of bulldogs and fighting cocks, both ot which he raised and kept for Hghtlng purposes. He also indulged in cdFu playlng and, as a consequence, all or these vices in time brought men of similar tastes in his house. The moth CT, too, took a strong craving for drink, and as a result neglected the training | Of not only her oldest son, Tom, but also Of the rest of her children. Tom grew up according to his surroundings, and, before he reached the age of man. | hood, the tastes that were mere GUS toms in the father developed as vicious | habits in the son. Tom never went to church and rarely Co school, and when he did go to the latter place, the old North school on Osgood Hill, he pre- ferred breaking windows to studying his lessons. His first crime consisted of disorderly conduct at school and he | was punished for tfils in the police court. As he grew older he got drunk and fought and gambled and stole, and for each of these crimes he was arrest ed and prosecuted and either fined or sent to jail. One page in the New Brit ain police court ledger bears the names | of six members of the Ripple family. | Tom was first arrested June 10, 1870 and his appearances In the prisoners pen were periodical after that time up l to the date of his first departure from New Britain. Ripple was not habit ual drunliard, but he often got drunk and he was always regarded as a dan gerous man when under the influence of drink. He was passionately fond of | cock fighting. and playing cards for money whenever he had any to stake One night about nineteen years ago the mother fell into the well in front of the house and was drowned. While 1t was reported that the drowning was due to drunkenness, there was claim at the time that 1t was not accidental A few years later the family broke up, the boys and girls drifting apart to do for themselves. Tom going west and the father to the town house, where he died about four years ago.
 At the age of eighteen Tom learned the brass moulding trade from his fa- ther. and for years he made good wages which he squandered in riotous living. He worked mainly in the Corbin foun- dry and by many he was regarded as the best workman at his trade In the
 
 for fast horses and fine clothing and he seldom appeared in the street on Sun day without having a costly tailor made suit and high silk hat on. Kip pies father once owned a horse which the boys practiced circus and bareback riding on. One of the boys, Edward used to stand on his head on the horses back and perform other feats of @ sim l,I INI hfc amusement of his family. The sight of Tom Ripple driving a fast horse up | and down Main street at q breakneck pace Is still clear in the memories of many. Notwithstanding Nipples im- i moral habits there were periods in his 1 life when he formed and kept good res oluttons For months he would keep out of trouble and away from saloons, l but the degeneracy that was Tn his na- ture always came to the surface In time to throw him back again into his evil paths and reckless ways. He was al- ways crazy, when under liquor and those who generally associated with him, avoided him on such occasions. Ripple had few friends, but these he always retained and treated kindly and literally. ....
 oUCe hlpD1b lHLUtT bought dI ul- tenanted house In New Britain, near where he lived, and this for a time was used as a headquarters for the Ripple minstrels, troupe of which Tom and his brothers were members. A song about the Ripple home, the words of which are known by many to-day, was written for and sung by these same minstrels.
 In 1879 Tom Ripple went west, and, when he returned to New Britain three years later, he said that he had served an enlistment in the regular army. He was well dressed temperate and had a thousand dollars in his pocket. After remaining in New Britain a short time he went to Bridgeport and afterwards to New Haven, where he met the wo- man who afterwards became his wife. i Her maiden name was Mary Peck, but when Ripple began to associate with her she was the wife of Max Foley. | After securing 8 divorce from her hus- band the woman married Ripple, and both went to live with his family at , the old residence in New Britain. They i remained there until 1885, and appar- ently lived a. happy life together. Kip pie abstained from drink and worked . steadily at his trade and he seldom