The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-02
RIDDICK's LETTER.

bath a good day on which to do good
deed "
RIDDICK's LETTER.
Counsel are discussing the propriety
Of admitting this striking letter Of
confession written by the prisoner
TO his wife while confined in jail. The
letter reads
'Lawrenceville, Va. A.. May %, 1900
my Precious Wife and Mother;
"Your dear letter reached me yester-
day afternoon. Not having heard from
you for four days my fear and appre.
hension had again gotten possession OF
me. | cannot describe to you the an
guish Of soul suffered yesterday until
the perusal Of your letter relieved my
mind. God grant that neither Of you
may ever know it unless God, in His
love, sees best for you 80 know, His
will is always good and acceptable and
perfect It has seemed at times most
strange that God should have permitted
such q grief 80 dreadful an afiiiotion to
come 50 me and my wife, pious and no.
BILE parents, who have go long been try.
ing TO serve Him. One time my faith al
most gave way, and was tempted to ask
the horrible question, can there be God?
II there is, why should He permit my
pure. sweet wife to be the victim Of so
horrible q crime, when any one Of 80 many
things might have prevented it2 Why
should He have allowed me 10 become
insane and In my insanity to kill the
poor wretch when the bare exposure OF
his crime would, without danger TO me,
without one hundredth part Of the suf'
fering that has come to myself, to you,
my parents, and all who love me, and
the other consequences to my children
In their Impeachment, possible loss
of fathers guidance and influence
have accomplished what chiefly aimed
TO accomplish when I shot him, name
ly: To make 1t impossible for him to
treat another woman as he had t->ated
YOU. But I understand it be- y.
| God works in this world
strumentality whetf -
prevent wrong, or sh> Inc
cupsof that mans iniqu. IS full.
''God chose me as his Instrument TO
punish his past crimes and to bring 10
a close his dreadful career as a seducer
| of women in childbirth. To fit me for
the work, without sacrificing my life,
and bring upon you and my parents
and other loved ones the dreadful an
guish that my capital punishment
would cause. he permitted my mind
TO become unbalanced, and throughout
the fundamentally Of the Holy
Angels who the Bible tells rs are
ministering spirits sent forth to min
ister 30 them who shall be heirs Of sal
walton and whose ministry must neces-
sarily be effected by an influence
brought to bear upon the human mind,
inspiring Thoughts, affections, purposes.
Ha filled my soul with that moral hor.
ror that sens3 o. unGsocpiable-- ces'
sitv OF most sacred and holy duty that
kindness 30 every other consideration
which would deter, which filed my soul
after had become sure OF his dreadful
crime Old Colonel Tillman WIS right
when he said: That want you, nor
was IA the devil. The devil could not
and would not inspire that holy horror,
that moral indignation, that loyalty to
| dutv. IL was God through the holy
angels fitting me for the service de re-
quired at my hands. Whatever men
may think or say or decree, that deed
of insanity is in the sight OF God 2
deed that was prompted by pure and
holy motives.
"In that faith and hope my heart and
mind rest to-day in perfect peace, stayed
upon Him who is she strength OF my
life and my portion forever. With
tenderest love to father and with more
love than / can express to each OF you.
(Signed) j. e. h. Riddick."